2012 Board Scores?

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pathgrrl

pathgrrl

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Waiting on the board exam results is killing me. I'm tired of checking abpath.org. Why does an electronic, multiple choice exam take so long? ARGGGH!
 
Relax. They'll be out soon enough. Agree though that it shouldn't take quite so long given the nature of the exam.
 
pathgrrl said:
Waiting on the board exam results is killing me. I'm tired of checking abpath.org. Why does an electronic, multiple choice exam take so long? ARGGGH!
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Yeah, the wait is killing me. And you know we aren't going to get them over the weekend, so hopefully they'll be posted some time next week.
 
I was very surprised last year when the scores came out around 6pm eastern time on a friday. And i don't recall getting an email from the ABP, rather one of my friends texted me to let me know.
 
LOL - Relaxation is a fantasy until this is behind me. It was just a crappy exam, IMO. I qualify for Mensa but I have no idea if I passed this. Blech.
If I accomplish anything in this field, it will include improving this exam to actually test relevant information instead of esoterica. Oh wait, I'm in the generation most motivated by work-life balance, so nevermind. I'll leave it up to a community-oriented GenY instead. Wink, wink.
 
pathgrrl said:
LOL - Relaxation is a fantasy until this is behind me. It was just a crappy exam, IMO. I qualify for Mensa but I have no idea if I passed this. Blech.
If I accomplish anything in this field, it will include improving this exam to actually test relevant information instead of esoterica. Oh wait, I'm in the generation most motivated by work-life balance, so nevermind. I'll leave it up to a community-oriented GenY instead. Wink, wink.
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wouldnt it suck to fail by one question
 
heard about that question.

as for the writers of the exam . . . i'll quote Tommy Lee Jones from No Country for Old Men, when he says "Who ARE...these people?"
 
Making us wait this long for results is truly cruel. Why can't the ABP at least announce a date when the results will be released? The only thing keeping me sane at the moment is the knowledge that the ABP must release results by 8/15/2012.
 
jp123ok said:
Making us wait this long for results is truly cruel. Why can't the ABP at least announce a date when the results will be released? The only thing keeping me sane at the moment is the knowledge that the ABP must release results by 8/15/2012.
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i concur. they need to come back from their summer vacations and get back to work.

btw...results must be released by 8/9 or 10. the last day of exams, i believe, was the last thursday/friday of june.
 
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Don't forget that there is a manual component to finalizing these scores. By report, they manually transcribe results from one computer system to a separate one. Why that is so, you'd have to ask someone else.
 
KCShaw said:
Don't forget that there is a manual component to finalizing these scores. By report, they manually transcribe results from one computer system to a separate one. Why that is so, you'd have to ask someone else.
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LOL, that explains everything. It's probably being done in pencil by the little old lady who asked me what my polarizer was.
 
my PD got an email from betsy bennet saying scores will be out next week.
They rescored the exams with and without the virtual slides for the first group and used the best score.
They rest they just scored without the virtual.
It actually says one person passed who would have failed.
 
bosco77 said:
my PD got an email from betsy bennet saying scores will be out next week.
They rescored the exams with and without the virtual slides for the first group and used the best score.
They rest they just scored without the virtual.
It actually says one person passed who would have failed.
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That's interesting.
Well I'm glad we could finally hear something.....3rd-hand on an anonymous forum...
 
schrute said:
That's interesting.
Well I'm glad we could finally hear something.....3rd-hand on an anonymous forum...
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This afternoon, one of the fellows at my program told me the more or less the same information that bosco77 posted, so I think it is legit. I still feel bad for the people who didn't get to take the virtual microscopy session at all, as the opinion seems to be that those questions were likely a little easier (or at least had better quality material) vs. the crappy old, faded slides that get passed around and are sometimes (deliberately) disorganized in the boxes. At least it sounds like they attempted to be as fair as possible given the circumstances.
 
Euchromatin said:
This afternoon, one of the fellows at my program told me the more or less the same information that bosco77 posted, so I think it is legit. I still feel bad for the people who didn't get to take the virtual microscopy session at all, as the opinion seems to be that those questions were likely a little easier (or at least had better quality material) vs. the crappy old, faded slides that get passed around and are sometimes (deliberately) disorganized in the boxes. At least it sounds like they attempted to be as fair as possible given the circumstances.
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My PD got the same email this morning and forwarded it to recent board-takers.
 
staph aureus said:
My PD got the same email this morning and forwarded it to recent board-takers.
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Well glad our PD felt it not important enough to bother notifying us. Wtf.

More importantly, what's so damn good of an excuse to not tell the actual board takers directly??? I mean if you're going to bother notifying the PDs why not just notify us directly?
 
Wow that is poor public relations by abp. They are treating you like children. Let's let only the parents know what is going on.

What the hell do the PDs care, they didn't take the test.
 
Once again the ABP demonstrates its ineptitude. Are other boards like this??
 
NuckingFuts said:
Once again the ABP demonstrates its ineptitude. Are other boards like this??
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And to think that we have to go through this, again, every 10 years.

I think its time for the golden girls at the ABP to retire.
 
Oh yes there are other Boards like this...ABP is not alone in treating it's candidates like children or *****s.( although frankly the *****s are them)
 
Got the same forwarded message from my PD -
Tick, tick, tick...
The ABP website states "email is the primary method of correspondence". Phtt.
 
....and scores are now finally available.....!
 
friend texted me that results were in. never received an email. checked my junk mail and nothing was in there as well.

now onto the $1800 subspecialty board examination!
 
I'm AP/CP board certified!! Woohoo!
 
others may be too embarrassed to comment on their results.

also, sdn attracts a lot of overachievers so successful candidates are overrepresented.
 
It's not ideal, but it's kinda like the old saying of what they call the person who graduated at the bottom of your medical school class, failed every step the first time but eventually passed, etc. -- doctor. Same goes for board certification. Buckle down, get it done, and move on to the next stage in life.

That said, 2 points is probably worth the cost of a re-score given the fact there is a manual component to the scoring/resulting process, despite that being a bit of a farce in its own right. I wouldn't hold my breath, but you never know I suppose.
 
Pathresident2, I wouldn't bother with the rescore. I wouldn't trust the ABP to admit it if they had made a mistake in the first place. That might call into question many of their practices that it seems they would like to keep under wraps. Just study hard for the next exam and you will be fine. It's such a stupid hoop to jump through in the first place, says nothing about whether or not you can be a good pathologist. Good luck.
 
A re-score is what, $50? Also werent there major technical issues with the test? If you re-score and win, you will end up saving yourself some money in the long run.
 
Pathologee said:
A re-score is what, $50? Also werent there major technical issues with the test? If you re-score and win, you will end up saving yourself some money in the long run.
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So my friend passed the CP written, but failed the CP practical by 7 points = 493. I advised him against a rescore since I've never heard of anyone doing it... furthermore, the test is electronic and multiple choice. The only thing they could really do is say: "Thanks for the 50 dollars. We looked at the paper we originally sent you, and see that the score is below the passing value. We did however get icecream with the money you sent, and Mary especially enjoyed the chocolate. Thank you again, and please send another 1,800 dollars before 8/15 so you can come back and endure this enigmatic beast again, or we'll have to charge you a 900 dollar late fee."
 
pathtoblood said:
So my friend passed the CP written, but failed the CP practical by 7 points = 493. I advised him against a rescore since I've never heard of anyone doing it... furthermore, the test is electronic and multiple choice. The only thing they could really do is say: "Thanks for the 50 dollars. We looked at the paper we originally sent you, and see that the score is below the passing value. We did however get icecream with the money you sent, and Mary especially enjoyed the chocolate. Thank you again, and please send another 1,800 dollars before 8/15 so you can come back and endure this enigmatic beast again, or we'll have to charge you a 900 dollar late fee."
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Anyone feel there's any validity to the "multiple right answers" theory? or that some questions are weighted differently?
That would be giving them too much credit; I'm sure it's not that complicated, but a comforting thought given how ridiculous the questions are, and that someone can fail by "2 points", whatever the hell that means. What is that, one question? Two?
 
pathresident2 - I'll see you in October -- I passed the CP portion but failed the AP portion by a higher margin (488/500).
I took this pretty hard initially. The cost really sucks. I'm pretty angry at myself. And also a little angry at pathology in general -- why was this exam so confusing and anxiety producing? Sigh.
You can bet if it was 498/500 I would be asking for a rescore -- what if those virtual questions would have helped? They did seem "easier" to me during the exam. But the grass is always greener...
 
schrute said:
Anyone feel there's any validity to the "multiple right answers" theory? or that some questions are weighted differently?
That would be giving them too much credit; I'm sure it's not that complicated, but a comforting thought given how ridiculous the questions are, and that someone can fail by "2 points", whatever the hell that means. What is that, one question? Two?
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it probably is only a couple questions. the curve must look like an absolute "witches hat" considering that nobody ever seems to fail by more than just a few points. the lack of transparency in the scoring system pours extra salt in the wound.

does anyone know if program directors are notified of the scores/results? How much privacy does one have with such things? It should be a private matter... but somehow, it never is. I feel bad for him, we sat for the exam together, he knew his stuff better than me (or so I thought).... I was sure I failed the CP practical and yet here he does and somehow I pass. Of course they don't tell you how much you pass by, they just say "pass". so who knows by how much. Anyway, now he has to face the humiliation of all the inquiries = "hey man, did you pass your boards yet?" uuhhg (in the back of his head thinking, which one or two of the questions with multiple correct answers did I get unlucky on?"

it would be nice if he could just nod and say, "yes, thanks for asking", then change the subject, and pursue passing the thing on his own terms, rather than forever impressioning colleagues with the notion that somehow he struggled with his boards, etc. etc. etc.
 
Interesting that each section is out of an undescribed number of points, and you need 500 to pass. How can the 158 questions or so on the AP practical give you 500 points to pass? The ABP states somewhere in their website that you need to get a minimum of 60% of the questions correct to pass. They also state the test is NOT graded on a curve. If you follow that logic then the total number of points is like 800, and each question is worth like 5 points on the practical, meaning if you miss one question below a passing grade you get a 495, etc.
 
gbwillner said:
Interesting that each section is out of an undescribed number of points, and you need 500 to pass. How can the 158 questions or so on the AP practical give you 500 points to pass? The ABP states somewhere in their website that you need to get a minimum of 60% of the questions correct to pass. They also state the test is NOT graded on a curve. If you follow that logic then the total number of points is like 800, and each question is worth like 5 points on the practical, meaning if you miss one question below a passing grade you get a 495, etc.
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good points you make. based on that logic, I suppose a 493/500 on the CP practical is literally 1 or 2 questions. expensive questions
 
Not only that, but the weird numbering system makes the results you get (if you don't pass) meaningless.

What does a 477/500 mean? Is that close? Is that in the bottom 10%? A 498 SOUNDS close... unless the maximum score is 501. Who knows?
 
I understand that there is no curve - just a flat "cut-off" - which makes the lack of the 18 virtual microscopy questions even more painful.
Also, I understand that you must "pass" each section (Written, Practical, Practical with Images) individually in order to pass the entire exam.
For any who is curious - the "performance report" promised for those who fail is really just not very helpful at all. For the AP portion, I have a list of the organ systems and "Lower" "Upper" or "Middle".
 
I just went back and read my "performance report" again. It turns out I passed the written part and failed the practical part. Just salt in my wound.
 
So if you don't pass they tell you a score but don't explain how it is derived or what it means? Has anyone ever tried asking them to explain it?

I'm so envious of those with lifetime certificates. It would be so nice to put the abp in the rear view mirror.
 
pathtoblood said:
it probably is only a couple questions. the curve must look like an absolute "witches hat" considering that nobody ever seems to fail by more than just a few points. the lack of transparency in the scoring system pours extra salt in the wound.

does anyone know if program directors are notified of the scores/results? How much privacy does one have with such things? It should be a private matter... but somehow, it never is. I feel bad for him, we sat for the exam together, he knew his stuff better than me (or so I thought).... I was sure I failed the CP practical and yet here he does and somehow I pass. Of course they don't tell you how much you pass by, they just say "pass". so who knows by how much. Anyway, now he has to face the humiliation of all the inquiries = "hey man, did you pass your boards yet?" uuhhg (in the back of his head thinking, which one or two of the questions with multiple correct answers did I get unlucky on?"

it would be nice if he could just nod and say, "yes, thanks for asking", then change the subject, and pursue passing the thing on his own terms, rather than forever impressioning colleagues with the notion that somehow he struggled with his boards, etc. etc. etc.
Click to expand...

Oh, I passed...I was just asking rhetorically. Sorry, confused about who you were referencing. nevermind.
 
pathstudent said:
So if you don't pass they tell you a score but don't explain how it is derived or what it means? Has anyone ever tried asking them to explain it?

I'm so envious of those with lifetime certificates. It would be so nice to put the abp in the rear view mirror.
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all you folks sincerely have my heart-felt sympathy; I cannot believe how badly these bastards jerk people around. and now you have to put up with it for the rest of your carreers. i wonder how this recert crap is going to affect pathology manpower when the 1st recert year comes up. if it is a repeat of the same meat grinder, you can be sure there will be a signifcant number of folks who lose their board cert which in most cases means they lose hospital staff or, perhaps, employment.
 
mikesheree said:
all you folks sincerely have my heart-felt sympathy; I cannot believe how badly these bastards jerk people around. and now you have to put up with it for the rest of your carreers. i wonder how this recert crap is going to affect pathology manpower when the 1st recert year comes up. if it is a repeat of the same meat grinder, you can be sure there will be a signifcant number of folks who lose their board cert which in most cases means they lose hospital staff or, perhaps, employment.
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So you are not signing up for the "voluntary recertification" option?
 
mikesheree said:
all you folks sincerely have my heart-felt sympathy; I cannot believe how badly these bastards jerk people around. and now you have to put up with it for the rest of your carreers. i wonder how this recert crap is going to affect pathology manpower when the 1st recert year comes up. if it is a repeat of the same meat grinder, you can be sure there will be a signifcant number of folks who lose their board cert which in most cases means they lose hospital staff or, perhaps, employment.
Click to expand...

I'm in forensic, and we too worry what the heck is going to happen. After 10 years of FP, you think most of us will will be able to pass a general AP exam?
 
pathstudent said:
So you are not signing up for the "voluntary recertification" option?
Click to expand...
I did, in 2007. i wanted to get ahead of the curve. i will not be at all surprised if the carriers really force it on people without time-limited certificates. But it can be done without the exam. it is just a pain in the ass with a really long application, a ton of documentation and a big check.
 
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