2006 Boards passing info

[yaah]

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Boards passings rates for 2006: http://www.abpath.org/200701newsltr.htm

Total candidates: AP 77% passed (of 775), CP 74% passed (of 724)
First time takers: AP 87% passed (of 605), CP 81% passed (of 556)
Repeaters: AP 42% passed (of 170), CP 49% passed (of 168)

Can see the subspecialty boards passing rates also
BB: 77%
Cyto: 80%
DP: 69%
FP: 68%
Heme: 73%

There were 488 new combined AP/CP boards passers this year.

 

[pathstudent]

An almost 90% pass rate for first time takes or AP, and an 80% pass rate for first time takers on CP?

The way people freak out about it, I thought it was like a 50% rate at most.

It is not that much different than the pass rate from USMLE exams (95%).

Regarding the low dermpath pass rate, it must be all those dermie trained people dragging the curve down.

 

[mlw03]

forgive my ignorance on this topic, but i figure this is a good place to get some clarity. in a lot of specialties you see advertisements for "BC/BE" physicians. in pathology is actually passing the boards more important than in many other specialties?

thanks yaah for posting those numbers.

 

[pathdawg]

Interesting. Those numbers are significantly higher than those of previous years.

To answer the above question, yes, it is supremely important in the job market to be board certified (not just board eligible).

 

[garfield]

Great. Since the numbers are significantly higher, they'll probably make the exam harder for those taking it this time.

 

[djmd]

Yeah super make it harder this year..

And BE is not officially recognized. However jobs do say they are looking for BC/BE. Officially BE does not exist.

 

[yaah]

Great. Since the numbers are significantly higher, they'll probably make the exam harder for those taking it this time.

I wouldn't necessarily assume that - pathology got a lot more competitive in the past few years, and some of the numbers may be related simply to the bigger number of better candidates simply finishing residency and applying to take the boards. I think the boards test a set of knowledge and if more people know it, then more people will pass it.

 

[LADoc00]

wow those numbers are way high. interesting.

 

[yaah]

In case anyone is curious and wonders why some are surprised at the passing rate, http://www.abpath.org/200601newsltr.htm has info on 2001-5, when all exam takers had a 65% pass rate (AP and CP were similar) and first time takers about 76% pass rate.

 

[PathOne]

Hmm. Wonder if:
A) Exams are getting easier.
B) Training has improved, or
C) New path crops are simply smarter.

Probably C). *LOL*. Noticing that pass rates seems to be rising across the board, also a pretty big jump for Dermpath'ies compared to years past.

 

[pathdawg]

Hmm. Wonder if:
A) Exams are getting easier.
B) Training has improved, or
C) New path crops are simply smarter.

Lets see:

A) Exams are getting easier. Possible or perhaps they have implimented a curve.
B) Training has improved. Doubtful.
C) New path crops are simply smarter. Extremely doubtful.

I am going for the curve hypothesis.

 

[yaah]

C) New path crops are simply smarter. Extremely doubtful.

I am going for the curve hypothesis.

It's not doubtful though. The caliber of path applicant shot up quite a bit in the past few years. I've talked to quite a few attendings who have said this.

 

[simonsays]

Hmm. Wonder if:
A) Exams are getting easier.
B) Training has improved, or
C) New path crops are simply smarter.

or

D) They changed the grading system this year.

Most likely D. Rather than being scored relative to everyone taking the test with you, there are now minimum passing criteria. So now you pass or fail on your own merits.

 

[PathOne]

Really? I actually always thought that it was based on minimum passing scores, as I have assumed that the central point in board examinations is to insure, that succesful test-takers have command of an adequate body of knowledge, and are capable of examining biopsies etc. with sufficient competency. It would make little sense for me, if they'd just automatically weed out the xx% at the bottom of a curve, regardless of their overall competency.

But then again, I've really never looked into the mechanics of board exam grading.

 

[djmd]

http://www.abpath.org/Questions.htm

How are the examinations graded?

The examinations this year will be graded using a criterion-based method. That means there will be a set passing score, which will be a 3-digit scale score, that must be met in order to pass the examination.

Of course ABP hasn't updated their page since last year... too busy counting money I think.

 

[PathOne]

So, either the questions are getting easier, or the applicants are smarter?! OR the final conspiratorial reason: ABP finances are now such, that there's no need to insure that xx% of test-takers would have to fail, in order to increase fee income from previously failed reapplicants... hehe

 

[djmd]

So, either the questions are getting easier, or the applicants are smarter?! OR the final conspiratorial reason: ABP finances are now such, that there's no need to insure that xx% of test-takers would have to fail, in order to increase fee income from previously applicants hehe...

The ABP realized with the re-certification they will make MORE money if they pass more people, then more people will have to retake it.

 

[dermpathlover]

I'm shocked at the DP pass rate considering we are composed of dermatologists (the best and brightest from med school) and the most competitive path residents. What's up with that?

 

[PathOne]

I'm shocked at the DP pass rate considering we are composed of dermatologists (the best and brightest from med school) and the most competitive path residents. What's up with that?

Ehh, have you ever seen a DP board examination test? It's designed by a select group of certifiable masochists, who take the outmost pleasure in not only asking questions on the most arcane diseases in the spectrum of skin diseases, but also even more so in setting up the most subtle of traps, which frequently work as desired. Regardless of your training, intensive board work-up seminars are HIGHLY encouraged. Trust me, I don't think pass rates have ever been as high as is apparently the case in the most recent examination.

As is well-known, there's some 1,800 different dx'es in Dermpath. And apparently several on the examination board will insist, that you HAVE to know all of them!

Interesting question, btw, is which of the two groups has the highest pass rates. My guess would be the Derms, due to their better knowledge of the clinical side -- there's only so much you can learn in the time alotted for clinical derm in a fellowship.

 

[djmd]

Good job PathOne now DPL is going to have go study for derm boards now...





ok he is gone.
so, Seriously PathOne good job.

 

[yaah]

I'm shocked at the DP pass rate considering we are composed of dermatologists (the best and brightest from med school) and the most competitive path residents. What's up with that?

The most competitive applicants are not always the best and the brightest. I would think you would know this by now.

 

[dermpathlover]

The most competitive applicants are not always the best and the brightest. I would think you would know this by now.

yeah the best and the brightest don't pass USMLE with high marks, don't get honors and don't rock the vote like dermatology residents

 

[djmd]

yeah the best and the brightest don't pass USMLE with high marks, don't get honors and don't rock the vote like dermatology residents

Is that why you had to settle for Dermpath rather than Derm? You are neither the best or the brightest?

 

[Circumflex]

Is that why you had to settle for Dermpath rather than Derm? You are neither the best or the brightest?

LOL!!!

 

[yaah]

yeah the best and the brightest don't pass USMLE with high marks, don't get honors and don't rock the vote like dermatology residents

Again, you're assuming that people who get good scores and are highly intelligent are the ones getting all the fellowships. There are also quite a few *******es out there who manage to do well on standardized tests. I've met a few, haven't you? Board exams are a little bit of a different animal than the USMLEs and the MCATs.

A lot of fellowships are given out because of timing, luck, publication record, and who you know. Test taking ability has very little to do with any of these.

 

[PathOne]

Again, you're assuming that people who get good scores and are highly intelligent are the ones getting all the fellowships. There are also quite a few *******es out there who manage to do well on standardized tests. I've met a few, haven't you? Board exams are a little bit of a different animal than the USMLEs and the MCATs.

A lot of fellowships are given out because of timing, luck, publication record, and who you know. Test taking ability has very little to do with any of these.

You are absolutely and utterly wrong, Dear Sir. But since you haven't yet completed your three required Fellowships, you could be forgiven.

Absolutely everybody knows, that selection of Fellows is a highly rigorous and scientific process, where everything from your shoesize to your maternal grandmother's preference for small dog breeds are taken into account.

Just as the poor premeds believes, that the whole ADCOM system is actually a front, and everything is decided by GPA's, BCPM's, BPM's and MCAT scores, so it is when selecting Fellows. It's a numbers game, baby, with due consideration of co-variable parameters such as hair color and eating preferences.

Personally, I have moved from victory to victory in the bloody Fellowship fight with my outstandingly average record from Wallaballoo Outback Medical College, and received everything I wanted solely on the basis of my shockingly good looks and flirtatious nature!

 

[djmd]

Absolutely everybody knows, that selection of Fellows is a highly rigorous and scientific process, where everything from your shoesize to your maternal grandmother's preference for small dog breeds are taken into account.

I told Grandma to get a small dog, but NO, SHE insisted on the Bernese Mountain Dog, thank god she didn't get an English Mastiff, I would had to drop out of residency.

 

[mcfaddens]

yeah the best and the brightest don't pass USMLE with high marks, don't get honors and don't rock the vote like dermatology residents

"Rock the vote"?!? Thats the gayest thing ive heard so far this year! But I am so very happy that DPL is back.

 

[PathOne]

WHAT? You haven't heard about Rock The Vote - DP Style?
Then, obviously, you probably haven't even seen the classic:

Austin Powers IV - Under Your Skin

Featuring:
Bernie Ackerman as Austin Powers,
Hideko Kamino as Foxxy Felicity Cleopatra Shagwell,
Philip LeBoit as Scott Evil,
and Martin Mihm as Basil Exposito...

Trust me, NOBODY will be ANYBODY in Dermpath, if they haven't seen the movie and Rocked the Vote, Skinny style...

 

[Adrian Cocot]

http://www.abpath.org/Questions.htm


Of course ABP hasn't updated their page since last year... too busy counting money I think.

Ding ding ding.

The criterion based method of grading is a big reason for the increasing pass rates. That, and all the fourth year residents studying their asses off because of the two graduating classes probably had something to do with it.

And praying. That seems to help the CP portion.