1.1 EBDVD Exam Format, Session Timing & Scoring Rules
Key Takeaways
- The EBDVD is a single-day, computer-based examination of 200 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions, including a clinical slide collection, delivered in English (UEMS-EBDV).
- The 2026 examination took place on 25 September 2026 as a hybrid online examination, taken on site in Frankfurt or remotely under approved invigilation (UEMS-EBDV).
- The exam is divided into five sessions of 40 questions, each lasting 60 minutes, from 09:00 to 15:45 Central European Summer Time (UEMS-EBDV).
- Each question scores 1 point, there is no negative marking, and candidates must reach at least 55% (22 of 40) in every one of the five sessions (UEMS-EBDV).
- Results are announced within 3 weeks, and the computer-based examination is operated and scored by Orzone AB, Gothenburg, Sweden (UEMS-EBDV).
1.1 EBDVD Exam Format, Session Timing & Scoring Rules
About this guide: This study guide is written and published independently by OpenExamPrep to help candidates study for the EBDVD examination. It is not produced, reviewed, or endorsed by the UEMS or the UEMS European Board of Dermatovenereology (UEMS-EBDV). Exam facts in this chapter come from the official UEMS-EBDV examination page (last updated 3 April 2026), checked on 26 September 2026.
The UEMS European Board of Dermatovenereology Diploma (EBDVD) examination is described by the Board as "a test of excellence in Dermatology and Venereology". It assesses the knowledge and clinical skills needed to deliver a high standard of dermato-venereological care in hospitals and in independent practice. The UEMS-EBDV is responsible for the examination. Its Sub-commission for European Board Examination organises and delivers it.
Knowing the format matters because the pass rule is unusual. You must pass every session, so a weak area can fail you even if your overall score is high.
The Examination at a Glance
| Feature | Official Rule (2026 examination) |
|---|---|
| Date | 25 September 2026 (one day) |
| Format | Hybrid online examination: on site in Frankfurt am Main or remote from an approved, invigilated room |
| Questions | 200 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), including a clinical slide collection |
| Answer format | Each question has one correct answer |
| Structure | Five sessions of 40 questions, all on the same day |
| Session length | 60 minutes per session |
| Language | English only |
| Scoring | 1 point per correct answer; no negative marking |
| Pass rule | At least 55% in each of the five sessions |
| Delivery and scoring | Computer-based online examination operated and scored by Orzone AB, Gothenburg, Sweden |
| Results | Announced within 3 weeks |
Questions may cover "any basic science, medical or surgical topic relevant to the practice of dermatovenereology". They sample the European curriculum published in the UEMS Training Requirements (see Section 1.3).
Official Session Timetable (CEST)
| Time (CEST) | Block | Official Topics |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00–08:50 | Registration | Online registration and identity checks |
| 08:50–09:00 | Introduction | Instructions |
| 09:00–10:00 | Session 1 (40 MCQs) | General Terminology, Dermatopathology, Epidemiology, Prevention, General Dermatology |
| 10:15–11:15 | Session 2 (40 MCQs) | General Dermatology, Bullous and Autoimmune Dermatoses, Eczema, Allergology |
| 11:30–12:30 | Session 3 (40 MCQs) | Infectious Diseases, STD/STI, Ano-genital Diseases |
| 13:30–14:30 | Session 4 (40 MCQs) | Dermato-Oncology, Dermoscopy |
| 14:45–15:45 | Session 5 (40 MCQs) | Dermatopharmacology, Therapy, Dermato-Surgery, Phlebology, Angiology, Psychosomatics |
The timetable leaves a 15-minute gap between most sessions and a one-hour break between Sessions 3 and 4. The Board states that the number of questions and topics per session can be changed, but not later than 1 month before the examination. Check the official page for the current year.
General Dermatology appears in both Session 1 and Session 2. Inflammatory skin disease is therefore tested in two separate pass/fail blocks.
Scoring: 55% in Every Session
Each correct answer earns 1 point. A wrong or blank answer earns nothing and does not cost a point. The pass mark is 55% in each session. With 40 questions per session:
- 55% × 40 = 22 correct answers needed in each session.
- 21 correct (52.5%) fails that session, however strong the other sessions are.
- The total of 200 is not used to offset a failed session. There is no compensation between sessions.
Worked Example
| Candidate | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 | Total | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 22 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 113/200 (56.5%) | Pass: 55% reached in all five sessions |
| B | 38 | 36 | 39 | 37 | 21 | 171/200 (85.5%) | Fail: Session 5 is below 22/40 |
Candidate B has a much higher total but fails. Under the retake rules (Section 1.2), a failed candidate retakes only the sessions not passed.
Practical Timing
With 60 minutes for 40 questions, the average is 90 seconds per question. That figure is simple arithmetic, not an official recommendation. Because there is no negative marking, never leave a question unanswered: a considered guess can only help.
Exam-Day Conduct Rules
The official instructions apply to on-site and remote candidates:
- No mobile phones, wallets, notes, papers, textbooks, calculators, or other electronic devices at the desk.
- Do not start until the invigilator gives the instructions, and do not copy, photograph, record, or note down any examination material.
- No communication with other candidates until you leave the room. Questions cannot be discussed with invigilators; raise your hand to attract attention.
- If you leave the room temporarily, an invigilator accompanies you.
- Keystrokes are monitored by invigilators and by the examination software. A candidate suspected of cheating is disqualified immediately and the fee is forfeited.
- At the end, stop working and submit the paper online. Leave only when the invigilator allows it.
- Non-compliance with the rules leads to exclusion, and the fee is not returned.
On-Site versus Remote
| Aspect | On Site (Frankfurt) | Remote |
|---|---|---|
| Venue | University Hospital Frankfurt campus, Building 10A, basement, computer examination room P10-1, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7 | A secure room (classroom, meeting or training room) in the candidate's hospital, a university, or a national professional association's headquarters |
| Invigilator | Provided by UEMS-EBDV | Designated by the head of the institution; one invigilator may supervise up to 10 candidates |
| Computer | Candidates bring their own computer that meets the requirements | Computer and phone with audio and video for remote monitoring; iPad-type devices are not allowed for online invigilation |
| Extra documents | None | Photo of the room and a signed Consent to Invigilate |
| Accommodation | Arranged by the candidate | Not applicable |
Remote candidates may share a room, but they must not sit directly beside each other. They must be well separated or sit back to back. All candidates must attend a test meeting 1–2 weeks before the examination. At registration and at the test meeting, candidates show a passport or ID card to confirm identity and citizenship.
A candidate scores 34/40, 31/40, 21/40, 30/40, and 29/40 in Sessions 1 to 5. What is the outcome under the official UEMS-EBDV scoring rules?
How many correct answers are needed to pass a single EBDVD session?
Which session of the 2026 EBDVD timetable covers dermoscopy?
A candidate is unsure about a question with two plausible answers left. What does the EBDVD scoring rule imply?