SOM 4020 - RETEST FOR TECHNICAL ISSUES

Authorizing Body:

Office of Medical Education

Date Issued:

May 26, 2021

Last Update:

September 3, 2026

Last Review: 

September 3, 2026

Rationale:

To provide a standardized process of review and approval for retesting in situations when technical issues arise during an exam.

Scope and Applicability:

This policy specifically applies to exams administered during the preclinical and clinical years of the curriculum.

Standard Practice Guideline:

A student who experiences a significant technical disruption during an exam will be provided the opportunity to retest.

Exams that this policy applies to include:

• NBME
• Examplify
• OSCE
• STARS

Procedures:

1. The student must notify the exam proctor of the issue immediately. 
2. If the issue is resolved within 10 minutes:
   1. The exam proctor will document the issue and the student will continue the exam.
3.  If the issue is not resolved within 10 minutes:
   1. The exam proctor will document the issue.  
   2. The exam proctor will notify the applicable Associate Dean of Medical Education, the applicable Course or Clerkship Director, and the applicable Course or Clerkship Coordinator.
   3. The student may have the option to retest.  
   4. The student must acknowledge that the results of the initial exam will be invalidated and will not be used to calculate the final course or clerkship grade.
   5. The student must retest within three weeks (15 business days), as determined by the Office of Medical Education, so long as it does not interfere with other mandatory curricular or clinical responsibilities (e.g. IDS/Assembly Day).

Definitions:

Significant technical disruption:  An interruption or delay in testing that lasts more than 10 minutes after the exam start time.

Related Policies and Guidelines:

M3 and M4 Clerkship Grading
Satisfactory Academic Progress to Maintain Enrollment Eligibility

Appendix:

N/A