INBDE Results and Scores: What You Actually Get Back

The INBDE is scored on a scale of 49 to 99, with 75 as the minimum passing score. If you pass, you never see a number. You just get the word "pass" and that's it.

When I was preparing for the INBDE, I spent way too much time Googling how the scoring worked and what I'd actually see when my results came in. Most of what I found was outdated (written for the old NBDE) or weirdly vague. So I'm writing the post I couldn't find back then.

How is the INBDE scored?

The INBDE uses a scaled scoring system ranging from 49 to 99, with 75 as the passing threshold.

This is a criterion-referenced exam, which means the 75 isn't a curve. It represents a fixed competency standard set by dental experts. Whether ten percent of test-takers fail or two percent fail, the bar always stays in the same place.

Your raw score (how many you got right) gets converted to the scaled score using psychometric methods. JCNDE considers three factors for each question: difficulty, how well it distinguishes between strong and weak candidates, and susceptibility to guessing. There's no published formula and no penalty for guessing, so never leave a question blank!

Also worth noting that a 75 does not mean 75% correct. The number of correct answers needed to hit a 75 varies from one exam form to another.

What do you actually get if you pass?

If you pass, your score report says "pass." That's literally all you get!

You study for months, sit through two days of testing, and your result is a single word. You won't know if you barely cleared 75 or if you were well above it. JCNDE designed it this way on purpose because the INBDE is only meant to confirm you've crossed a competency threshold.

It can be a little anticlimactic but hey, you passed. That’s all that really matters I guess!

So if you're wondering how residency programs or advanced standing programs compare INBDE candidates: they can't, at least not by score. They rely on class rank, clinical evaluations, ADAT scores, and interviews.

What does the score report show if you fail?

Ironically, you get way more detail on your score report if you fail than if you pass.

If you don't pass, your report includes your overall scaled score, performance across the three Clinical Content areas (Diagnosis and Treatment Planning, Oral Health Management, and Practice and Profession), and performance across ten Foundation Knowledge areas covering subjects like pharmacology, pathology, microbiology, and behavioral sciences.

You won't see exactly which questions you missed, but you'll see which areas pulled your score down. That's genuinely useful if you need to build a study plan for a retake.

When do INBDE results come out?

JCNDE says results are typically available within three to four weeks after your exam date.

Most candidates I've talked to got theirs around the three-week mark, but it's not guaranteed. And if you're an international dental graduate, your results don't take any longer. The delays IDGs deal with happen during eligibility verification before the exam.

You check your results by logging in with your DENTPIN at ADA.org/DENTPIN. Nobody sends you an email with your score. You just log in and look. If you don't see anything yet, they're still processing.

Do you need to pass both Day 1 and Day 2 separately?

No. The INBDE produces a single overall score across both days.

Day 1 has 360 questions and Day 2 has 140, but they're scored together. There's no separate pass/fail for each day and no minimum score required per day. Your result is based entirely on combined performance.

What changed with INBDE scoring in 2024?

In June 2024, JCNDE raised the performance standard. The numbers tell the story pretty clearly.

First-time failure rates for students at CODA-accredited programs jumped from 0.4% in 2023 to 4.8% in 2024. For retakers from accredited programs, the failure rate more than doubled from 14.0% to 32.1%. International graduates saw similarly steep increases. If you've seen people online saying the INBDE is nearly impossible to fail, that advice is based on pre-2024 data and no longer accurate.

What if you fail?

You'll need to wait at least 60 days before retaking the exam. Not 90, as many older sources claim.

Beyond the waiting period, there are two other limits. You can take the INBDE a maximum of four times in any 12-month period. And there's a lifetime cap: you must pass within five years of your first attempt or within five total attempts, whichever comes first. After that, you can test once every six months.

You retake the entire exam. There's no score banking or partial credit from previous attempts, and you can't retake just one day.

Your entire attempt history is also visible on your score report going forward. That includes every INBDE attempt and any old NBDE Part I or Part II attempts. Programs can see all of it.

How long is a passing INBDE score valid?

JCNDE keeps exam results indefinitely. There's no official expiration on a passing score.

That said, individual state licensing boards and some advanced standing programs set their own recency requirements. Certain IDP programs want the INBDE passed within the last three to five years. If you're planning to use your score years after passing, check with your target state or school first.

Can you send your scores to licensing boards?

Your results are automatically sent to up to three licensing jurisdictions that you designate when you apply for the exam. If you need to send scores to additional boards later, you can request extra score reports through your DENTPIN account for $55 each.

For CODA students and recent graduates (within five years), results are also automatically shared with your program's dean. International graduates need to designate recipients explicitly.

FAQ

What is the INBDE passing score?

The minimum passing score is 75 on a scaled range of 49 to 99. This is not a percentage. The number of correct answers needed to score a 75 varies by exam form.

Do you get a numeric INBDE score?

Only if you fail. Passing candidates receive "pass" with no number. Failing candidates receive their scaled score plus diagnostic performance breakdowns.

How long does it take to get INBDE results?

Typically three to four weeks after your exam. Results are available through your DENTPIN account at ADA.org/DENTPIN.

How many times can you retake the INBDE?

You must pass within five years or five attempts. There's a 60-day minimum wait between attempts and a cap of four attempts in any 12-month period.

Is the INBDE scored on a curve?

No. The INBDE is criterion-referenced, meaning the passing standard is a fixed competency threshold. It doesn't shift based on how other candidates perform.

If you're gearing up for the INBDE, Blip has free practice questions with full explanations. blip.dental