Comsae Form 108

COMSAE Form 108 is not your enemy; it is your roadmap. It is the single best indicator available to an OMS-II student of whether their study plan is working.

To succeed on Form 108, you must respect the exam. Respect the length, respect the vagueness, and respect the osteopathic principles. Cram the viscerosomatic reflexes the day before. Learn to read those grainy X-rays. And most importantly, do not let a low score destroy your confidence—let it fuel your focus.

Whether you are taking Form 107, 108, or 110, the mechanics remain the same: Drill your weaknesses, simulate exam conditions, and trust the process.

Good luck. You are going to be a fantastic DO.


COMSAE Form 108 is a standardized self-assessment exam designed for osteopathic medical students to gauge their readiness for the COMLEX-USA Level 1 or Level 2-CE. Developed by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME), this form mimics the structure and content distribution of the actual licensure exams. Exam Structure & Format

Question Volume: Standard COMSAE forms typically contain 176 items.

Question Style: Single-best-answer multiple-choice questions.

Time Management: Form 108 often features shorter question stems than the actual COMLEX, which can lead to timing discrepancies during the real exam if students don't practice with a manual timer.

Scoring: Students receive a standard score and a performance profile across different competency domains. Content Domains

The exam is organized around two primary dimensions defined by the NBOME:

Dimension 1 (Competency Domains): Covers clinical skills, patient safety, and osteopathic principles. comsae form 108

Dimension 2 (Clinical Presentations): Focuses on organ systems (e.g., musculoskeletal, cardiovascular) and specific patient demographics. Student Feedback & Preparation

Based on community consensus from platforms like Reddit's r/comlex, Form 108 is frequently cited as:

"Vague" and "First-Order": Many users find the questions simpler or more direct than the actual COMLEX but criticize the lack of detail in question stems.

Predictive Value: Students report mixed results regarding its score accuracy; some find it underpredictive, while others note it may not fully capture the complexity of the actual Level 2 exam.

High-Yield Subjects: Focus heavily on Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), clinical ethics, and foundational medical sciences. Top Study Resources

Question Banks: TrueLearn and Comquest are the most common tools used alongside COMSAE forms.

OMM Review: "Dirty Medicine" YouTube playlists and the Savarese "Green Book" are highly recommended for the osteopathic sections.

Self-Assessment: Reviewing the score report bar distribution to identify weak organ systems rather than focusing solely on the numerical score. COMSAE Phase 2 - NBOME

COMSAE Phase 1 Form 108 is a 176-question, four-section self-assessment designed by the NBOME to evaluate readiness for the COMLEX-USA Level 1 exam. It frequently features content on OMM/OPP and neuroanatomy, with a 400–450 score range often used by schools to determine eligibility for the actual exam. For more details, visit NBOME. COMSAE Examination Format - NBOME

The COMSAE Form 108 is a practice examination developed by the NBOME to help osteopathic medical students prepare for the COMLEX-USA licensure exams. Form 108 exists for both Phase 1 (Level 1) and Phase 2 (Level 2 CE), and it is frequently utilized by schools to gauge a student's readiness to sit for the official boards. Examination Structure COMSAE Form 108 is not your enemy; it is your roadmap

The format differs based on whether you are taking the Phase 1 or Phase 2 version:

Phase 1 (Level 1 Prep): Consists of 176 items divided into four sections of 44 questions each.

Phase 2 (Level 2 CE Prep): Consists of 160 items divided into four sections of 40 questions each.

Question Type: All questions are single-best-answer multiple-choice and may include images, visual exhibits, or videos. Scoring & Performance Levels

The NBOME uses a standard score ranging up to 800 to categorize performance: Higher ( >649): Indicates high performance and readiness.

Average (400–649): Scoring above 400 is generally considered a signal of a high likelihood of passing the COMLEX.

Lower ( <400): Indicates a need for further remediation and continued study. High-Yield Content & Student Insights

Community feedback from forums like r/comlex suggests several recurring high-yield topics specific to Form 108:

Osteopathic Principles: Focus heavily on Viscerosomatics, Chapman points, and Needle Decompression (reportedly appeared in multiple questions).

Clinical Specialties: Significant emphasis on OB/GYN, Ethics/Legal issues, and Endocrinology (specifically thyroid panels). COMSAE Form 108 is a standardized self-assessment exam

Diagnostic Tools: Be prepared for questions on PFTs (Pulmonary Function Tests) and interpreting screening guidelines based on patient demographics.

Difficulty Note: Many students report that Form 108 can feel "vague" compared to common Q-banks like TrueLearn. Some users noted a stricter grading scale where a single wrong answer may result in a significant point drop (up to 15 points). Correlation to COMLEX


Because Form 108 is best taken 1-2 weeks before your real COMLEX, your prep should be aggressive.

1. Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) – ~20-25%

2. Microbiology & Immunology – ~15%

3. Biostatistics & Epidemiology – ~8-10%

4. Ethics & Law – ~5%

5. Pathology & Systems – ~40%

6. OMM/Pathology Integration (The "COMLEX Twist") Example: A 45-year-old with chronic GERD presents with T6-8 tenderness. What is the most likely Chapman's point finding? (Answer: Anterior midline between xiphoid and umbilicus).


First, do not panic. Schools use COMSAE as a gatekeeper—if you score below 400, your school may force you to delay COMLEX. This is frustrating, but it may save your career.

Immediate Steps After a Failed COMSAE 108:

Do not sit for COMLEX if: You fail two consecutive COMSAEs (e.g., 108 and then 109). The NBOME data shows a >70% failure rate on real COMLEX for students who fail COMSAE 108 by >50 points.