General Information

The MedOnc ITE is a 6-hour, 200-question exam. It is a case-based, multiple-choice, one correct answer examination. The exam is Internet-based and fellows/trainees take it at their home institutions in a formal, proctored environment. The exam is administered over two days so that fellows in the same program can alternate days, ensuring continuous coverage of clinical responsibilities. The exam begins at 9:00 AM at the site's local time each day. It is not pass/fail in nature, but a low-stakes exam intended for self-evaluation and program improvement. It is a teaching tool and testers should approach it as such without studying. The goal is to get a snapshot of the training program, as well as trainee knowledge. Programs have the option to proctor examinees either in-person or virtually via WebEx, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams.

To gain a better understanding of the MedOnc ITE, please view this practice exam available for your convenience.

The 2025 ITE will occur on February 25-26, 2025. Registration is currently closed.

Questions or need assistance? Email ASCO Professional Development Staff. 

Key Dates

Exam Benefits

For program directors, the benefits of the MedOnc ITE include:

• Objective measurement of knowledge among current trainees in a manner compliant with Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requirements
• Support to establish consistency in educational standards across training programs
• Provision of a benchmark and a tool to improve training
• Identification of areas of strength and areas for improvement in individual training programs

For trainees, the MedOnc ITE allows program directors to evaluate individual progress within the training program. It also allows comparison of results against other trainees, as reported in the score reports.

Exam Development Process

ASCO worked with the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) (e.g., United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), other ITEs) to originally develop the exam. Initially, over 50 subject matter experts attended a training workshop on writing test items. After the training, over 30 physicians submitted items for consideration. From the initial group of experts, ASCO formed a 10-member ITE Task Force (formerly the Test Materials Development Committee (TMDC)). This group reviewed all questions and personally wrote the test items. Experts were invited to the ITE Task Force based on disease site expertise, practice setting, and ability to commit to the item writing schedule. All test items undergo a rigorous peer review. The ITE Task Force develops new examinations annually.

Identification of Exam Content

The MedOnc ITE blueprint was created by the ITE Steering Committee, which used the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM's) Oncology Board Examination as a starting point. The current blueprint's domain areas and multiple sub-domains are combined with physician task areas. This ensures a comprehensive review of medical oncology knowledge. Domains include evaluation, diagnosis, management, and prognosis.

What About Hematology?

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) has developed a hematology examination. Please check the ASH website for the exam details and dates.

Exam Administration

Trainees take the Internet-based exam at their home institutions while in a formal, proctored environment. Programs have the option to proctor examinees either in-person or virtually via WebEx, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams. Each program identifies its own proctor (typically the program coordinator). The proctor receives training through online instruction, with email and phone assistance provided by ASCO and NBME's technical support staff. Dedicated technical support staff must be present for assistance on test day(s).

Exam Length

Based on test administration guidelines, six hours are allotted for a 200-question test; this includes breaks and orientation/tutorial.

Exam Cost

The cost of the MedOnc ITE is as follows:

• $280 per trainee for members
• $400 per trainee for non-members
• $50 for Program Directors or faculty members

Discounted pricing is available for programs in low, lower-middle, and upper-middle-income countries, as designated by the World Bank. Rates are between $25 and $75 per fellow. Please contact Member Services for full details.

Exam Scoring and Reporting

The Score Reports do not provide actual answers to questions but do provide teaching points for questions missed. Percentages of questions answered correctly will be given for domain areas. In addition, an overall standardized mean and standard deviation is provided, allowing for comparison of trainees. ASCO distributes score reports to training program directors who then discuss and distribute the scores to trainees individually.