The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Self-Assessment Examination (COMSAE) is a self-assessment exam intended as an education resource and preparation aid for the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States (COMLEX-USA) exam series. Osteopathic students and residents use the three-phase COMSAE to prepare to take a COMLEX-USA cognitive examination.

COMSAE Phases

COMSAE is not intended to predict performance on any of the COMLEX-USA examinations. However, candidates who have taken a timed COMSAE prior to taking their first COMLEX-USA cognitive examination at the corresponding level demonstrate greater performance, on average, relative to candidates who did not take a timed COMSAE prior to their first COMLEX-USA examination.

LUCOM student-doctors are required to take COMSAE exams twice: once in January and once in June of their OMS-II year. A third COMSAE may be required if the student is not able to be released to take the COMLEX Level 1 exam.

Exam Facts

Each COMSAE examination consists of 200 questions presented in a format and structure similar to COMLEX-USA cognitive examinations.

There are different forms, or versions, for COMSAE phase exams. For Phase 1, which corresponds to COMLEX Level 1, there are two forms (D and E) that must be administered by a COM. The other forms (A, B, and C) can be purchased and self-administered by individual students.

Medical students can take these self-administered COMSAE forms timed or untimed. LUCOM recommends that students take the COMSAE timed when testing their readiness to take a COMLEX-USA examination. When assessing how best to approach test items, it is recommended that students take the COMSAE untimed.