How the INBDE Is Scored in 2026: The 75 Standard, Real Pass Rates and How to Read a Fail Report
The INBDE does not grade you against the people sitting next to you. You pass by reaching a fixed standard. Here is exactly how that standard works, what the latest official pass rates show, and how to turn a fail report into a plan for your next attempt.
A fixed standard, not a curve
A common belief is that the INBDE is percentile-based, so you need to beat a share of other candidates. It isn’t.
Who sets the standardA panel of subject-matter experts set the current passing standard using a recognised method called the Bookmark method. The standard took effect on 1 June 2024.2
Every version counts the sameDifferent test forms are statistically equated onto one scale, so a passing score means the same thing whichever version of the exam you sit.2
One number decidesPass or fail is based solely on your overall scale score, not on any single subject area.1
The scale on a fail report. Scores run from 49 to 99 in one-point steps, and 75 is the minimum passing score:1
A pass shows no numberResults are reported only as “Pass” for candidates who reach the standard. Nobody, including schools, sees a passing candidate’s score.
A fail shows your scoreFailing candidates see their overall scale score, so they know how far they are from 75.
74 is not one question awayThe JCNDE is clear that a 74 does NOT mean one more correct answer would have passed you. Scale scores are not raw scores.1
INBDE pass rates, 2023 to 2025
These come from the JCNDE’s own INBDE Technical Report. Many websites still quote pass rates from before the new 2024 standard; those figures are out of date.
2025 INBDE pass rates at a glance2
US and Canadian dental studentsfirst attempt
US and Canadian studentsretake
International dentistsfirst attempt
International dentistsretake
Pass rate = 100% minus the failure rate the JCNDE publishes for each group in 2025, rounded.2
The trend: three years of official results2
| Year | US/Canada, first attempt | US/Canada, retake | International, first attempt | International, retake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 99.6% | 86.0% | 84.1% | 66.2% |
| 2024 (new standard) | 95.2% | 67.9% | 74.7% | 47.2% |
| 2025 | 92.8% | 73.0% | 65.1% | 49.5% |
How to read an INBDE fail report
A fail report is the most useful study document you will ever get, if you read it the right way.
Example: turning a fail report into a plan
An illustration only, not a real candidate and not the JCNDE’s actual layout. Suppose the graph shows these relative strengths:
Rank your areasList all 13 areas from weakest to strongest using the graph.
Fix the bottom three firstSpend most of your first month on the three weakest areas, then retest yourself on them.
Keep the strong ones warmDo mixed timed tests every week so your strong areas do not slip while you repair the weak ones.
The 13 areas on the report1
Clinical content areas
- Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
- Oral Health Management
- Practice and Profession
Foundation knowledge areas
- Molecular, biochemical, cellular and systems-level development, structure and function
- Physics and chemistry to explain normal biology and pathobiology
- Physics and chemistry to explain the characteristics and use of technologies and materials
- Genetic, congenital and developmental diseases and conditions
- Immune and non-immune host defense mechanisms
- General and disease-specific pathology to assess patient risk
- Biology of microorganisms
- Pharmacology
- Behavioral sciences, ethics and jurisprudence
- Research methodology and analysis, and informatics tools
Retake rules in brief
Each new attempt needs a new application and fee. For the full rules, including the June 2025 change most guides have missed, read what happens if you fail the INBDE.
How to prepare: our full plans
Whether this is your first attempt or your next one, start with a plan that covers every area on the report.
INBDE Premium BoardsA complete course built by US-licensed dentists:
- 12 sequenced course sections
- Master Files, Master Test Series and Grand Tests
- Two full 2-day simulation exams, exclusive to The Study Boards
- Mentors who answer your questions in the Queries and Help Section
Pick a schedule that fits your lifePlans for full-time students and for working dentists, with every step mapped out.
Frequently asked questions
Is the INBDE graded on a curve or by percentile?
Will I see my score if I pass?
How long do results take?
I scored 74. Was I one question away?
Why do older websites say almost everyone passes?
INBDE Premium Boards by The Study Boards
12 course sections, Master Files, Grand Tests and two full 2-day simulation exams, with US-licensed dentists answering your questions. Trusted by 15,000+ dentists.
Got a fail report? Let’s read it together.
Message us on WhatsApp. Our Admin Team with Dr. T and Dr. Kaur will help you understand your report and build a plan for your next attempt.
References
- Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE). INBDE 2026 Candidate Guide (updated 08/04/2026): scoring, results, retest rules. jcnde.ada.org
- JCNDE. INBDE Technical Report, 2025 edition: criterion-referenced scoring, standard setting, score report contents, Table 16.1 failure rates by candidate group and year. jcnde.ada.org
- JCNDE. Unofficial Report of Major Actions, 25 June 2025: retest wait after five attempts or five years reduced to six months. jcnde.ada.org
- The Study Boards: first-attempt results of students who complete the INBDE Premium Boards course. Course blueprint
Current as of October 2026. The fail-report example above is an illustration only, not an official JCNDE layout. Confirm current rules with the JCNDE before you apply.