• General Information
• Dates & Venue
• Eligibility & Fee
• EBO Diploma ad eundem
• Structure of Examination
• Score Calculation of EBOD
• Statistical Monitoring & Validation of EBOD
• Syllabus/Recommended Reading
• Awarding of Diplomas
• Appeals
• List of Examiners
• Criteria to be an Examiner
• Guidelines for Examiners

SCORE CALCULATION FOR EBOD

The European Board of Ophthalmology Diploma (EBOD) examination consists of a written part (MCQ-paper), representing 40 percent of the total candidate score, and an oral part (Viva Voces), representing the remaining 60 percent of the total candidate score.

The MCQ-paper contains 52 questions (number from 1 until 52), each with 5
true-false items (A – B – C – D – E). 
For each individual item, candidates
have three possible choices:

• T (True)

• F (False)

• D (Don’t know)

A score of +1 can be earned in case (only) the right answer (true or false) is marked.  A score of 0 will be given in case the candidate actively marks (only) option D (don’t know).  In all other cases (i.e. marking of the incorrect answer or marking of multiple options), a score of –0.5 will be given.  Or, in summary:

• +1 (only) the correct answer is marked

• 0   (only) the option D (Don’t know) is marked

• –0,5 (only) the incorrect answer is marked
multiple options have been marked (T and F) (T and D) (F and D) (T, F and D)

All individual item scores are added up to a total MCQ score.  The average total MCQ scores of all candidates and the according standard deviation are calculated.

Despite all efforts of the EBOD Examination Committee to maintain the level of difficulty at the same level over the years, it is not possible to have exactly the same level of difficulty for each EBOD.

Therefore, in order to maintain the pass rate of EBOD over the years, a conversion of total MCQ scores is made.  The pass mark (i.e. 6 out of 10) is set to be equal to the average total MCQ score (for all candidates) minus one standard deviation.  This converted score is further-on called MCQi.  It is important to understand that the MCQi score will determine pass/fail status (and not the percentage of items answered correctly).

This conversion system also assures that application of negative marking DOES NOT decrease the chance of a candidate to pass EBOD.  However, application of negative marking will allow bright candidates to distinguish themselves better from borderline candidates.

The total candidate score (i.e. MCQi score and Viva Voce scores) can be calculated using the formula above.  In order to pass EBOD an average total EBOD score (MCQ and Viva Voce) of 6 is needed.