Thirty-five second-year medical students from the University of Alabama (Birmingham) used the services of a commercial test tutoring company to help them prepare for the National Board of Medical Examiners Part I examination. These students scored significantly higher than students who were considered to have comparable ability, based upon basic science grade point average. (A number of issues are discussed which relate to the impact of tutoring programs on the licensure process, test security, and foreign medical school graduates who enter the medical profession in the United States). (Author/GDC)