NBME Family Medicine Shelf Exam Review Questions and Practice Tests

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“This Q-bank is awesome. When I used this bank for the first time, I said to myself 'oh wow' because I was missing little bits and pieces which I filled in with BoardVitals. These questions are hard but very similar to questions on NBME exams. I would strongly recommend BoardVitals for everyone who is studying for Step 1, 2, 3 and shelf exams. I used this bank for Step 1, and right now I'm using it for Step 2 and for my upcoming Internal Medicine shelf exam.”

Nadia Badar
Medical Student

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Family Medicine Shelf Exam Board Review Topics Covered:

  • Dermatology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Neurology
  • Hematology
  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • Psychiatry
  • Respiratory
  • Nephrology
  • Endocrinology / Metabolism
  • Reproductive-Female
  • Population-Based Care
  • Statistics / Study Design
  • Ear, Nose, Throat
  • Musculoskeletal
  • Patient Based Systems
  • Nonspecific
  • Special sensory

Medical Editor

Elise Torres, MD

Our Family Medicine editor, Elise Torres, MD, is a board-certified family physician who practices full spectrum family medicine and telemedicine. After graduating from Stanford University and Harvard Medical School, she completed her family residency training at the Stanford O'Connor Family Medicine Residency and obstetrics fellowship at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, CA.

About the NBME Family Medicine Shelf Exam (Subject Exam)

As outlined by the NBME, the Subject Exams are designed to provide institutions with effective evaluation tools and useful examinee performance data that can be compared with a large representative group of examinees at the same stage of training.

What content is covered on the Family Medicine Shelf Exam?

According to the NBME Clinical Science Family Medicine Modular content outline, the following topics are covered on the Core portion of the exam:

  • General Principles, Including Normal Age-Related Findings and Care of the Well Patient 5% – 10%
  • Immune System 1% – 5%
  • Blood & Lymphoreticular System 1% – 5%
  • Behavioral Health 5% – 10%
  • Nervous System & Special Senses 1% – 5%
  • Skin & Subcutaneous Tissue 3% – 7%
  • Musculoskeletal System (% increases with the addition of the Musculoskeletal module) 5% – 10%
  • Cardiovascular System 5% – 10%
  • Respiratory System 5% – 10%
  • Gastrointestinal System 5% – 10%
  • Renal & Urinary System 1% – 5%
  • Pregnancy, Childbirth, & the Puerperium 1% – 5%
  • Female Reproductive System & Breast 1% – 5%
  • Male Reproductive System 1% – 5%
  • Endocrine System 5% – 10%
  • Multisystem Processes & Disorders 1%–5%
  • Biostatistics, Epidemiology/Population Health, & Interpretation of the Medical Lit. 1% – 5%
  • Social Sciences 5% – 10%
  • Communication and interpersonal skills
  • Medical ethics and jurisprudence
  • Systems-based practice and patient safety

In addition to the Core portion of the exam as outlined above, optional modules in Musculoskeletal/Sports-related injury and Chronic Care are available as a supplement.

How long is the Family Medicine Shelf Exam?

The Family Medicine Shelf exam is made up of 80 items. Each optional module consists of 10 items.

What question formats are on the Family Medicine Shelf Exam?

As outlined in the NBME Guide to the Subject Examination Program, the following question formats will be on the exam:

Application of Knowledge

This exam will have an increased emphasis on the application of knowledge instead of the recall of isolated facts.

Vignettes

Questions are framed in the context of clinical vignettes.

Single-best-answer (A-type)

This is the most widely used MCQ format. Each question is comprised of a focused item stem (e.g., a clinical vignette) and a lead-in question, followed by a series of options with one correct answer for each item.

Extended Matching (R-type)

These questions are organized into sets that use one list of options for all items in the set. Examinees must select one best answer.

NBME Family Medicine Shelf Exam Prep and Readiness

During the later years of Medical School, clinical clerkship exams (or shelf exams) are given by the NBME to ascertain readiness. Family Medicine is a module that is required by nearly every program that participates in NBME testing.

Family Medicine is infamous for being really difficult. It’s also well known for the being the ‘what next’ exam. It really helps to lay out processes in advance of studying, and our questions try to help you with the process type questions. We also offer timed exams, so you can get a feel for pacing, and we also include a percentage correct score for EVERY question. Students rely heavily on our personalized recommendations.

NBME Family Medicine Percentile Requirements

Family Medicine requires a score at the 4th percentile to pass.

View all of our NBME Shelf Exam Prep Offerings.