To successfully clear the NBDE (now replaced by the INBDE), candidates must achieve a minimum passing score of 75. The exam is scored on a scale of 1 to 99, rather than using a traditional percentage system. The scoring system evaluates both the number of correct answers and the difficulty level of the questions, with adaptive weighting applied to ensure fairness across different exam forms. A candidate’s final result is reported as Pass or Fail, based on whether they meet or exceed the passing threshold, rather than giving an exact numeric score. This approach emphasizes competency and readiness for dental practice over simple raw scores.