COMLEX Level 2-CE: format, scores, fees and timing
Last checked October 21, 2026 · Sources: NBOME examination format, FAQ, percentile and score release pages; first-time pass rate as published by colleges of osteopathic medicine from NBOME figures.
COMLEX Level 2-CE (Cognitive Evaluation) tests clinical knowledge, usually in the third or fourth year of osteopathic medical school after core rotations. Since June 2026 it has 320 questions over one eight-hour day. Unlike Level 1, it gives a three-digit score with a passing standard of 400, and it costs $745. In the 2025-26 cycle, 92.5% of first-time candidates passed.
Level 2-CE format and scoring
| COMLEX Level 2-CE | |
|---|---|
| Questions | 320, with revised breaks, since June 2026 |
| Time | One computer-based day, eight hours; about 1.5 minutes per question |
| Content | Clinical and foundational sciences applied to patient care in supervised settings, with osteopathic principles |
| Scoring | Three-digit score plus pass or fail; 400 to pass |
| Percentiles | Interim during the cycle; final after it ends, usually July or August |
| Fee and attempts | $745; four scored attempts |
From the NBOME’s pages, checked October 21, 2026. Per-question time is our arithmetic.
Why your Level 2-CE score matters
With Level 1 now pass or fail, Level 2-CE is the main numeric COMLEX score residency programs see. Use the NBOME’s Percentile Score Converter to see where a score sits, and remember percentiles are interim until the cycle closes. Scores release on set dates for each testing window, so check our score release dates when planning around application deadlines.
How to prepare for Level 2-CE
- Build on your clinical rotations and COMAT shelf exams; TrueLearn’s COMLEX Mastery Bundle ($1,239) covers Level 2-CE plus all eight COMATs.
- Use a COMLEX-style bank for the NBOME’s question style and osteopathic content.
- Take a timed COMSAE for Level 2-CE before test day; the NBOME cautions it isn’t a score prediction.
- Book early: the NBOME advises at least 120 days ahead.
Common questions about COMLEX Level 2-CE
What is a passing score on Level 2-CE?
400 on a three-digit scale. Unlike Level 1, Level 2-CE reports a numeric score.
How many questions are on Level 2-CE?
320 since June 2026, down from 352, over eight hours.
What is the Level 2-CE pass rate?
92.5% of first-time candidates in the 2025-26 cycle, per NBOME figures published by colleges.
Is there still a Level 2-PE?
No. It ended in 2022; Level 3 eligibility now uses a clinical skills verification instead.
See also COMLEX Level 1, COMLEX Level 3 and best COMLEX prep. MockTestPrep is independent and is not affiliated with the NBOME.