Truelearn Logo
  • Products
    • Medical Licensure Exams

      • COMLEX-USA
        • COMLEX Level 1
        • COMLEX Level 2 CE
        • COMLEX Level 2 PE
        • COMAT Shelf Exams
        • COMLEX Level 3
      • USMLE
        • USMLE Step 1
        • USMLE Step 2 CK/Shelf
      • Physician Assistant
        • PANCE
        • PANRE
    • Specialty Licensure Exams

      • Anesthesiology
        • ABA In-Training Exam
        • ABA BASIC Exam
        • ABA Advanced Exam
        • Anesthesiologist Assistant
      • Emergency Medicine
        • ABEM In-Training Exam
        • ABEM Qualifying Exam
      • Family Medicine
        • FM Prep
      • General Surgery
        • ABSITE
        • ABS Qualifying Exam
      • Internal Medicine
        • IM Prep
      • Neurology
        • Neurology RITE
        • ABPN Neurology Certification
      • OBGYN
        • CREOG
        • ABOG
      • Pediatrics
        • Pediatrics ABP In-Training Exam
        • Pediatrics Certifying Exam
      • Psychiatry
        • PRITE
        • ABPN Certification Exam
    • Additional Specialty Exams

      • Dental Hygiene
        • Dental Hygiene NBDHE
      • Medical Assisting
        • CMA, RMA, NCMA, & CCMA Exam
      • Nursing
        • NCLEX-RN®
      • Nurse Practitioner
        • FNP Exam
      • Occupational Therapy
        • OT Board Exam
      • Pharmacy
        • NAPLEX Exam
      • Pharmacy Technician
        • PTCE®* And ExCPT®* Exam
      • Physical Therapy
        • NPTE
      • Speech-Language Pathology
        • Praxis®
  • SmartBanks
  • Institutions
  • Resources
    • Resource Library
    • TrueLearn Reviews
    • Promo Codes
    • Prepathons
    • Become An Ambassador
  • Login
    • Learner Login
    • Educator Login
  • See Pricing
  • See Pricing
  • Login
    • Learner Login
    • Educator Login
  • shopping cart icon
Skip to main content
April 13, 2022

Free COMLEX Level 1 Sample Questions

Written By: The TrueLearn Team | Share:

We understand that it’s all about the content. That’s why we have high-yield COMLEX Level 1 practice questions written and screened by physician authors that are updated on a regular basis to ensure our SmartBanks stay up-to-date with exam blueprint changes.

These questions are designed to help you improve your comprehension of the material. Not your typical qbank, SmartBank also contains detailed answers and explanations. Take a look at the below free sample question to see why TrueLearn is a trusted resource for thousands of medical students and residents.

Your First Free COMLEX Level 1 Practice Question

A 56-year-old female librarian with a medical history of hypertension and a transient ischemic attack comes in complaining of soreness of her left buttock and a shooting pain down the back of her left leg of 2 weeks’ duration. Examination reveals full strength, sensation, and intact reflexes. The FAIR test is positive on the left. An osteopathic structural exam reveals a positive seated flexion test on the left. The left sacral base is posterior, and the left inferior lateral angle is posterior and inferior. Palpation reveals a tender point in the likely muscle involved. To treat the most likely diagnosis with strain/counterstrain, a tender point would most likely be found in which location?

  • A) between inferior lateral angle of the sacrum and greater trochanter
  • B) on the ilium inferior to the posterior superior iliac spine
  • C) 1 cm lateral to the pubic symphysis
  • D) superior medial surface of the posterior superior iliac spine
  • E) 2 to 3 cm lateral to the posterior superior iliac spine

The Answer and Explanation

Did you get it right? The correct answer is ‘A’.

diagram of the piriformis syndrome from a COMLEX Level 1 sample question

The patient is experiencing piriformis syndrome as a result of piercing of the sciatic nerve by the piriformis muscle, which, when in spasm, causes irritation to the nerve and pain down the posterior thigh. Pain typically occurs with prolonged sitting or direct pressure to the muscle. A common palpatory finding with piriformis syndrome is a sausagelike mass lateral to the sacrum, which is the result of a muscle spasm. The FAIR test (hip flexion, adduction, internal rotation) puts tension on the piriformis and is positive in piriformis syndrome.

The piriformis muscle tender point is located at the midpoint between the inferior lateral angle (ILA) of the sacrum and the greater trochanter.

Treatment of a piriformis tender point involves the patient in the prone position with the hip and knee flexed. The thigh is then abducted and externally rotated.

Answer B: On the ilium inferior to the posterior superior iliac spine is the tender point for the lower pole of L5.

Answer C: 1 cm lateral to the pubic symphysis is the anterior tender point for L5.

Answer D: Superior medial surface of the posterior superior iliac spine is the tender point site for upper pole of L5.

Answer E: 2 to 3 cm lateral to the posterior superior iliac spine is the location of the high ilium sacroiliac tender point.

Bottom Line: A piriformis muscle spasm can cause a sacral torsion and irritation of the sciatic nerve, a condition called piriformis syndrome. The piriformis muscle tender point is located at the midpoint between the inferior lateral angle of the sacrum and the greater trochanter.

Get More Free Sample Questions

Fill out this quick form to get more free COMLEX Level 1 practice questions. And whenever you’re ready, come back to sign up for a SmartBank subscription.

Related Content

USMLE Step 1 vs. COMLEX Level 1: Differences in Format and Categories
pencil and paper iconBlog

USMLE Step 1 vs. COMLEX Level 1: Differences in Format and C...

COMLEX

[On-Demand Webinar] COMLEX Level 2 PE Overview
computer monitor iconWebinar

[On-Demand Webinar] COMLEX Level 2 PE Overview

COMLEX

2019 COMLEX + COMBANK Updates [On-Demand Webinar]
computer monitor iconWebinar

2019 COMLEX + COMBANK Updates [On-Demand Webinar]

COMLEX

Subscribe to TrueLearn's Newsletter

Truelearn White Logo
Products SmartBanks Institutions Company Become a TrueLearn
Ambassador
Resource Library
Help
Contact Support Learner Support FAQ Careers
Legal
Terms of Use Privacy Policy Platform Status
Sign up for TrueLearn's Newsletter

Be the first to know about promotions, events, and more.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • https://www.facebook.com/truelearn/
  • https://www.instagram.com/truelearn/
  • https://linkedin.com/company/truelearn/
  • https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP58YiGA4gHG-jFd2MCff5g
  • https://twitter.com/TrueLearnLLC
  • https://www.pinterest.com/truelearn/
  • https://www.tiktok.com/@true.learn

Copyright © 2023 TrueLearn, LLC.