The NPLEX Part I – Biomedical Science Examination (BSE) is the first licensing milestone on your path to becoming a naturopathic doctor. It tests whether you can apply anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, and pathology to a real patient, not just recall facts.
Below are six free practice questions from the BoardVitals NPLEX Part I question bank, built around one case cluster, the same format you’ll see on exam day. Each question includes a full explanation of the correct answer and why the other choices are wrong. Work through them, then use the exam overview, study tips, and FAQ to plan the rest of your prep.
Taking the exam in February or August? Sign up for a free NPLEX Part I trial today. No credit card required.
NPLEX 1 Sample Questions
How’d you do? Not exactly the answers you expected, right? No matter if you scored well or didn’t perform up to your standards, know that there’s always room for improvement.
NPLEX Part I at a Glance
The Part I BSE is a 200-question, case-based exam given in two 100-question sections on one day, twice a year.
There is no fixed passing percentage and no curve. The NABNE uses the Angoff method, in which licensed NDs estimate how a minimally competent candidate would perform on each question. The cut score varies slightly from one exam to the next, and you must pass both general exam areas in the same sitting:
- Structure/Function: anatomy, biochemistry & genetics, and physiology
- Disease/Dysfunction: microbiology & immunology and pathology
If you fail either area, you retake the entire exam. That’s why balanced preparation matters more than overstudying your favorite subject.
How NPLEX Part I Case Clusters Work
Every NPLEX question is tied to a single patient. You read a short clinical summary, then answer several questions about that same case. On Part I, the summary is brief, and the questions ask about the biomedical basis of the patient’s condition, not diagnosis or treatment. That comes later, on Part II.
In practice, one case can test several subjects at once. A single patient might prompt a microbiology question about the causative organism, an immunology question about the host response, and a pathology question about the tissue findings. The six questions above follow this pattern.
Confused about case clusters? Here are some tips:
- Read the case once, carefully, before the first question. Details you skim past often answer question four or five.
- Treat each question independently. Getting one item wrong doesn’t mean the rest of the cluster is lost, so don’t second-guess later answers based on an earlier one.
Ready for More NPLEX Part I Practice?
These six questions are a starting point. The BoardVitals NPLEX Part I question bank gives you 500+ case-based questions written and reviewed by licensed naturopathic doctors, detailed explanations for every answer, performance tracking by subject, and a 100% Pass Guarantee. And if you’re looking for help with the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination Part 2, then look no further than our NPLEX Part 2 question bank.
Start your free NPLEX Part I trial today. No credit card required.
