Your Guide to the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Achievement Test (COMAT)
What are the COMAT Exams?
The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Achievement Test (COMAT) exams are subject-specific assessments developed by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME). These exams evaluate osteopathic medical students’ knowledge and clinical skills across core clinical disciplines during their clerkship years.
The COMAT exams serve as important tools for assessing readiness for advanced clinical training and help schools evaluate student performance against national benchmarks.
Eligibility Requirements
To take the COMAT exams, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Enrollment in an Accredited Program: Candidates must be enrolled in an osteopathic medical school accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).
- School Authorization: Students are typically scheduled to take COMAT exams as part of their curriculum and must be authorized by their school.
Exam Structure
The COMAT exams are computer-based, multiple-choice assessments. Each exam focuses on a specific core clinical discipline:
- Disciplines: Include Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emergency Medicine, and Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OPP).
- Number of Questions: Each exam consists of approximately 125 questions.
- Time Limit: Students are given 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete each exam.
Exam Administration
- Test Centers: COMAT exams are administered at schools or authorized proctored testing locations.
- Scheduling: Exams are scheduled through the student’s osteopathic medical school as part of the curriculum requirements.
Scoring and Reporting
COMAT exams are scored based on the number of correct answers. Scores are reported on a scale ranging from 200 to 800, with a national mean of approximately 500. Results are sent to the student’s medical school, which determines the passing criteria and how the scores are utilized for assessment.
Preparing for the COMAT Exams
Preparation for the COMAT exams should focus on mastering core clinical knowledge, osteopathic principles, and patient management skills. Use comprehensive resources such as question banks, case studies, and review guides tailored to each discipline to ensure success.