All About the INBDE Scoring System
Understanding the INBDE scoring system is key to maximizing your score. This guide will review what you need to know about INBDE scoring. We’ll cover crucial information about INBDE pass rates, score reports, and how to achieve success on your first exam attempt. Get one step closer to passing the INBDE by learning how the INBDE is scored.
[ READ NEXT: INBDE Question Types & Strategies ]
How is the INBDE scored?
The INBDE is a pass/fail exam. Initially, your exam performance will be converted to a scaled score ranging from 49 to 99. A minimum scaled score of 75 is required to pass the INBDE. However, the INBDE scaled score does not equate to the number of questions answered correctly. Therefore, if you were to only earn a scaled score of 74, that does not mean that you would have passed the INBDE if you had just answered one more question correctly.
To ensure test security, the exam is administered in multiple versions, with each candidate receiving a different set of questions.. The difficulty of the specific questions you received on your exam is taken into account when the score is calculated. This allows the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE) to accurately compare the performance of all candidates, regardless of which INBDE exam version they had. Because each exam version has slightly different questions with varying difficulty levels, the total number of correct answers needed to achieve a passing scaled score of 75 can vary.
Are all INBDE questions scored?
No, not all INBDE questions are scored. Some questions you encounter will be unscored, experimental questions. However, these unscored questions will look just like the scored questions, so it’s important to answer each question on the INBDE to the best of your ability.
Should you guess on the INBDE?
You are not penalized for guessing on the INBDE, so don’t leave any answers blank. By answering all questions on the exam, you can increase your chances of earning points, even if you have to take an educated guess.
INBDE Pass Rates
The INBDE launched in 2020 to replace the two-part National Board Dental Examination (NBDE). Since then, the number of candidates taking the INBDE has significantly increased, but failure rates have remained low for first-time candidates educated by accredited programs. The table below showcases INBDE failure rates as reported by the JCNDE from 2020-2023, the most recent period for which the data is available.
INBDE Failure Rates for First-Time Candidates Educated by Accredited (CODA) Programs
The table below shows the INBDE failure rates for first-time candidates educated by CODA-accredited programs.
| INBDE Testing Year | Number | Failure Rate % |
| 2020 | 204 | 1% |
| 2021 | 2,018 | 1.3% |
| 2022 | 5,837 | 0.8% |
| 2023 | 6,648 | 0.4% |
INBDE Failure Rates for Repeating Candidates Educated by Accredited (CODA) Programs
The table below shows the INBDE failure rates for repeating candidates educated by CODA-accredited programs.
| INBDE Testing Year | Number | Failure Rate % |
| 2020 | 69 | 7.3% |
| 2021 | 245 | 16% |
| 2022 | 234 | 13.2% |
| 2023 | 136 | 14% |
Source: JCNDE
INBDE Score Report
You will receive an INBDE score report only if you fail the exam. If you pass the INBDE, your results will be reported as “pass,” and you will not receive a numerical score. For remediation purposes, those who fail the INBDE will receive a score report, which will include their scaled score. The score report will also include performance details at three levels: overall, across the three clinical content areas, and within the ten foundational knowledge topics. This breakdown will help you identify specific areas for improvement.
How long does it take to get INBDE results?
INBDE results are typically available within three to four weeks of your exam date. Some candidates will receive an email notifying them when their results are ready, but some do not. We recommend regularly checking your DENTPIN® account to see if your INBDE results are ready in the weeks following your exam.
What happens if you fail the INBDE?
If you fail the INBDE, you have the opportunity to retake it. However, there are a few restrictions and requirements to be aware of for INBDE retests.
- Wait Time. Candidates must wait at least 60 days between each unsuccessful INBDE attempt.
- Eligibility Rule. Candidates must pass the examination within either five years of their first attempt or five examination attempts, whichever comes first.
- INBDE vs. NBDE Attempts. INBDE attempts are independent of any prior NBDE attempts. Previous failures on the NBDE do not count toward INBDE retest limits.
- Results Reporting. INBDE results reports will include all attempts on the National Board Dental Examinations (NBDE Part I, NBDE Part II, and the INBDE).
How to Pass the INBDE
Want to pass the INBDE on your first attempt? Set yourself up for test day success by following these INBDE study strategies.
Written by Kaplan experts, reviewed by Dr. Swati Ahuja BDS, MDS, a project leader on Kaplan’s content team and a prosthodontist with over 15 years of diverse experience in dental education, scientific writing, and clinical practice.
