MCE – Mid-Curriculum Exam

Prior to beginning their level II clinical internship, students are required to pass a mid-curriculum exam / MCE (both written and practical) in order to evaluate their progress, skills, preparedness and competencies. The passing score for the mid-curriculum exam / MCE (both written and practical) is 70%.

Please refer to the exam registration form and consult first with the OMC manager for the exam requirement list. An exam registration form can also be obtained at DULA front desk 2nd floor.

MCE Fee (Initial / Retake): $50 

For more information, please refer to MSOM Catalog and OMC Handbook.

MCE Written Part

The MCE (written) will be held in the lotus room of 4 th floor on the Sunday of the 7 th week of the quarter: part 1 from 10AM – 12PM and part 2 from 2PM – 4PM.

Effective from Summer 2019, DULA will implement mock questions system to the Institutional Exam (MCE and CGE). Mock questions are defined as but not limited to the new questions that have yet to be determined for their difficulty and appropriateness to the students’ capability in either MCE or CGE.

From 200 questions that will be tested in MCE and CGE, 20 questions will be considered as mock questions. These 20 questions will not be counted for credit to the final result of the exam. Therefore, only 180 questions in total that will be counted for credit and students have to score at minimum of 70% to pass the exam (Passing score is 126 for written exam). 

In efforts to standardize the difficulty level of the MCE practical acupuncture point location exam, 2 mock points are also being added to the 10 points. The mock points will not be counted for credit.

Test materials will be provided by academic staff, including pencils and scantrons. Scratch paper will also be provided upon request. Please refer to the academic calendar for the exam date and registration period of each quarter. After the exam registration has ended, students are not allowed to register for the exam anymore and they have to re-register again following the same exam registration requirement as in other quarters.

The total question numbers of the MCE that will be delivered for the written portion is 200 multiple choice.

To also help the student in preparing CGE and MCE, students may practice the questions from these following books. These practice books are all available in DULA library to be borrowed. Please be noticed, these books only serve as self-study, therefore real question in CGE, MCE, CALE and/or NCCAOM may be different, however as for the MCE and CGE, at least 30% of the questions will be created in each quarter from these practice questions’ books:

  1. Review and Pretest for NCCAOM and California Licensing Exams in TCM foundation, 2018, Dong Cheng Li
  2. Review and Pretest for NCCAOM and California Licensing Exams in Chinese Herbology, 2018, Dong Cheng Li
  3. Review and Pretest for NCCAOM and California Licensing Exams in Biomedicine, 2018, Dong Cheng Li
  4. Review and Pretest for NCCAOM and California Licensing Exams in Acupuncture with Point Location, 2018, Dong Cheng Li

The remaining percentage of the questions will be taken from the DULA Exam Question Bank and from Didactic Faculty Final Exam questions. DULA updates its question bank in every quarter to maintain the current, new and updated questions to reflect what have been covered comprehensively from the classes, curriculum, and also to meet the MSOM program education objectives and the standard competency similar to the state board and national exam acupuncture and oriental medicine competency.

Please be noticed, the exam (MCE, CGE) will not provide the English definition of the points, the points will only cover with the abbreviation code that are mentioned in this page and as well as the chinese pinyin. The point in Chinese and Korean, will be provided in their own name in Chinese and/or Korean words.

For DULA CGE and MCE written exam, these are the abbreviation that will be used in the exam:

  • Lung: L
  • Large Intestine: LI
  • Stomach: S
  • Spleen: Sp
  • Heart: H
  • Small Intestine: SI
  • Urinary Bladder: B
  • Kidney: K
  • Pericardium: P
  • San Jiao: SJ
  • Gall Bladder: G
  • Liver: Liv
  • DU Channel: Du
  • REN Channel: Ren
  • Extra Points will use their actual name, not the code

Note: For Student who took CGE in Chinese or Korean program, the acupuncture points will be using in their names in Chinese or Korean words, respectfully.

During exam, if students have any questions regarding acupuncture point abbreviation or others, they are always welcome to raise their hands and ask to one of the exam’s proctors.

The Exam (MCE, CGE) will provide the name of the herbs / formula both in chinese pinyin and the definition in English. The Korean and Chinese exam will use the name of the herbs / formula in Chinese and/or Korean own words respectively. The single herbs that are covered in MCE is not only from the CALE list but also from NCCAOM list. The same with CGE, the exam will cover single herbs and formula not only in CALE list but also in NCCAOM.

The content of the MCE (written) is consisted of following:

1.     OM (17%) – (developing a diagnosis impression):

·     OM diagnosis 1 – 3 (11 questions)

·     OM theory 1 – 2 (11 questions)

·     Treatment Principle (12 Questions)

2.     Acupuncture (32%):

·     Acupuncture anatomy 1 – 2 (21 questions)

·     Acupuncture physiology 1 – 2 (22 questions)

·     Meridian (21 questions)

3.     Herbs (11%):

·     Intro herbs (10 questions)

·     Herbs 1 – 4 (12 questions)

4.     Biomedicine (33%) – Patient assessment:

·     Anatomy and physiology 1 – 4 (46 questions)

·     CPR (10 questions)

·     WM terminology (10 questions)

5.     Regulations for public health and safety (7%):

·     CNT (14 questions)

MID-CURRICULUM (MCE) REQUIREMENTS
❏     Completed units (class): over 100

HB110

Intro to Botany and Herbs
❏     Completed level I observation hours: 200

HB211, 212, 213, 214)

Herbs: Category 1, 2, 3, 4

❏     OM121, 211

Basic Theory of OM 1, 2

AC111,112

Acupuncture Anatomy 1, 2

❏     OM221, 311, 312

OM Diagnosis 1, 2, 3

❏     AC211

Meridian Theory

❏     WM110

WM Terminology

❏     AC311, 312

Acupuncture Physiology 1, 2

❏     BS211, 212, 213, 214

Anatomy and Physiology 1, 2, 3, 4

❏     AC321 or AC322

At least one of Acupuncture Techniques 1 or 2

❏     BS311 / 312 / 313

At least one of WM Pathology 1, 2, or 3

❏     TB211

Tui-Na

Here is the list of instructions for the written portion of the MCE:

1.     Test instructions will begin 5 minutes after the start time, and doors will be closed 10 minutes after start time.

2.     All belongings, including cell phones, must be placed in the back of the room. Turn off cell phones. Students will be permitted to bring an unmarked bottle of water/beverage to the desk with them.

3.     Take your assigned seat at the desks, which will be marked with your student ID number. A seating chart will also be posted on the testing door prior to entrance.

4.     Once seated, all students must sign the examination agreement form before taking the exam. No talking is permitted at all time during the test.

5.     Sign the front page of the exam question paper. Students may use the back as scratch paper, but it must be turned in when students turn in their exam. If students require extra scratch paper, academic staff will provide it, but it must be collected when students turn in their exam.

6.     Students will then be instructed to begin the exam. Students will have 2 hourstotal to finish the test.

7.     Upon completing the exam, students need to raise their hand for one of the test proctors to pick it up from them. Pick up your belongings from the back of the room and quietlyexit the testing room.

8.     Students are only permitted to go to the outside of the lotus room in the event of an emergency, accompanied by one of the proctors the whole time until they are back inside the lotus room. While students are leaving, the test and clock will still be counted, and students are not to be given any extra time. Students need to raise their hand during the test and they may leave the testing room with their proctor quietly.

9.     Students are permitted to go to the restroom, accompanied by one of the proctors the whole time, until they are back to the inside the lotus room. While students are leaving, the test and clock will still be counted, and students are not to be given any extra time. Students need to raise their hand during the test and they may leave the testing room with their proctor quietly.

10.  Students may leave upon completing the exam before 4PM.

11.  Students will be emailed their test results from the associate dean.

MCE Practical Point Location Exam

Please see below for the guidelines of the practical portion of the MCE:

1.   The MCE Practical Acupuncture Point Location Exam will be held in the lotus room of the 4thfloor on the Thursday of the 7thweek of the quarter (12PM -2PM).

2.   Please refer to the academic calendar for the exam date and registration period of each quarter.

3.   Point locations

a.i.     Point locations are based on Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion(CAM 3rdEdition 2010: Cheng, Xinnong).

a.ii.    Points on the exam have been chosen by a randomized selection.

a.iii.    Point markers on the trunk will be equal to the size of a quarter.

a.iv.    Point markers on extremities and face will be about a penny in size.

a.v.     Acupuncture points will consist of all regular channel points and extra points. Off-limits points: no scalp, ear, or within the hairline. No groin or breast/nipple area.

a.vi.    No points list will be provided.

4.    Grading

a.i.     More than two clinic supervisors will grade the students’ answers.

a.ii.    Students will receive credit as long as their sticker touches any part of the marker.

a.iii.    Students will receive credit if any one of the grading clinic supervisors passes a specific point.

a.iv.     If most exam takers fail a point within a reasonable range, the academic committee may review the grades based on the input of the grading clinic supervisors.

a.v.     Model positions.

a.vi.    One model for one level exam.

a.vi.1.            Points on all models will be marked by one clinic supervisor based on the CAM textbook.

a.vi.2.            Marking, locating, and grading position of models are as follows:

a.vi.2.a.        For points on trunk (front), extremities, and face – lying down on the back (face up).

a.vi.2.b.       For points on trunk (back) – lying prone (face down).

MCE practical portion procedure:

1.    Test materials will be provided (0.25” round colored stickers, list of 12 exam points) and students have the option to bring their own cun measurer. In efforts to standardize the difficulty level of the practical exam, 2 mock points are being added to the 10 points. The mock points will not count for credit, but rather will help evaluators determine those points which may be at a higher difficulty level for students.

2.    Doors will be closed and test instructions will begin at 5 minutes after the start time.

3.    All belongings, including cell phones, must be placed on the indicated tables alongside of the room. Cell phones must be turned off. Students may take an unmarked bottle of water/beverage with them to their seat.

4.    Students will take a seat in the area to the right side of the room, behind the dividers. No talking is permitted.

5.    3 students will be called at a time. When a student’s name is called, they will proceed to the testing area where 3 treatment tables are set up, with 1 model on each table.

6.    Students will be given their list of points at that time. Begin placing points on the indicated side of your model when the start time begins. Students will have 15 minutestotal time to place all points.

7.    Students may ask their model to move a body part, such as bend their arms or legs, turn over to face down, or turn or tilt their head. Other than these requests, all other communications with the model are not allowed.

8.    When finished placing all 12 points, students need to raise their hand. They must then turn in the list of points to the proctor. Students will then pick up their belongings from the table and exit the lotus room and the 4th floor. No talking is permitted. Students do not stay for the checking of the points.

9.    Students are only permitted to go to the outside of the lotus room in the event of emergency, accompanied by one of the proctors the whole time until they are back to the seating area inside the lotus room. This permission is only given while students are still waiting for their turn at the seating area and not during the 15 minutes of the practical test with the model. Students need to raise their hand during the test and they may leave the testing room with their proctor quietly.

10. Students are only permitted to go to the restroom, accompanied by one of the proctors the whole time until they are back to the seating area inside the lotus room. This permission is only given while students are still in waiting for their turn at the seating area and not during the 15 minutes of practical test with the model. Students need to raise their hand during the test and they may leave the testing room with their proctor quietly.

DULA institutional exam review

After the DULA institutional exams, DULA will provide scores for each subject area for all test takers, so each student can assess their weak subject areas. If a student has concerns about the examination results, they can make an appointment with the associate dean and/or dean of academic affairs for further discussion.

When a student has any concern about the institutional examination’s questions, DULA also provides a comment sheet on which the student may write any comments during the examination. If a student needs further time for the comments on the question, DULA will provide 5 minutes extra time for writing the comments. The student’s comments will then be discussed and investigated internally with the program director, OMC director, and/or dean, as well as, (if needed) the academic committee meeting. The students will then be notified of the result of the discussion.

Students who have failed on their CGE will be asked to meet with the dean, program director or associate dean, to discuss about their recent exam and to help preparing them for their next CGE.