ABSITE Query

[Amy]

So, I received my ABSITE score the other day (from the residency coordinator). I'm not really sure what it means. Anyone know what's considered a GREAT score, a good score, a terrible score? How much does this exam really matter anyway? Also, with the new format this year (3 different exams), are we still scored just against people at the same level, or scored against everyone who took your same test (i.e. all 1st and 2nd years scored together)? I don't think they asked us our year on the exam...

Discuss. 😉

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[Blade28]

I thought there were only two exams? One for the junior residents (PGY 1/2), one for everyone else?

 

[Amy]

I thought there were only two exams? One for the junior residents (PGY 1/2), one for everyone else?

There were 2 different senior exams.

 

[CellSaver99]

I took the upper level test and I did OK but not as well as I did my first few years.

If there are any PGY 3's or higher out there that rocked the test (90% or higher) what did you use to study? I am disappointed because though I was busy the month of the test I thought I studied more than I did last year yet my score went down 🙁

 

[tripod]

Hey
Well I thought the senior test was a lot harder this year than before. Fortunately, I got a 94 so seems like everyone else in the country thought it was harder too. This was especially evident since i got a 73% on the test adn that translates to 94th percentile.

I used the same things to study as i did last year. I used "The Absite Review" and some old test questions that i had from previous years.

 

[njbmd]

I thought there were only two exams? One for the junior residents (PGY 1/2), one for everyone else?

Hi there,
There were only two exams at my program. There was one for the PGY 1/2s and one for everyone else.
njbmd 🙂

 

[Blade28]

And how are you guys finding out your scores, anyway? Directly from your PD? Or can you look it up online?

 

[tripod]

PD has them

 

[Blade28]

OK, never mind, got my score today from my Residency Coordinator. Have no idea what it means. From a quick scan online, I've seen programs "require" anything from a 20-50th percentile for a resident to continue at said program.

 

[Celiac Plexus]

So, I received my ABSITE score the other day (from the residency coordinator). I'm not really sure what it means. Anyone know what's considered a GREAT score, a good score, a terrible score? How much does this exam really matter anyway? Also, with the new format this year (3 different exams), are we still scored just against people at the same level, or scored against everyone who took your same test (i.e. all 1st and 2nd years scored together)? I don't think they asked us our year on the exam...

Discuss. 😉

The absite score has 2 important values imho. The first is that most programs require some percentile level as a criteria to advance to the next pgy level. So exceeding that requirement (say a 20th - 50th percentile depending on the program) is key. Additionally, greatly exceeding the minimum requirement may make up for some other areas of weakness when a program is leaning toward not advancing a resident.

The 2nd value of the absite comes into play when trying to obtain a fellowship. As a rule, the higher the better. Imho, a "good" score is between 0 and 1 std. deviations above the mean. That simply shows that you have performed better than a majority of your peers on the test. A "great" score is anything higher than 1 std. deviation. Even better is consistently making good/great scores on the test year in and year out.

And since no one ever lists actual numbers to questions like this, I will... (the follwing is not a scientific rating system!)

50-60 good (those extra nights of call don't faze you)
61-70 very good (you're reading more than the average bear)
71-80 niiiiiiice (you're radio's latest wonder boy)
81-90 damn! (you have a knack for remembering arcane details)
91-95 outstanding (future adminstrative chief)
96-99 freak (you don't carry a pda in your white coat... you carry your light saber)

 

[Blade28]

Great breakdown!

 

[Amy]

The absite score has 2 important values imho. The first is that most programs require some percentile level as a criteria to advance to the next pgy level. So exceeding that requirement (say a 20th - 50th percentile depending on the program) is key. Additionally, greatly exceeding the minimum requirement may make up for some other areas of weakness when a program is leaning toward not advancing a resident.

If this is true, then 20 - 50% of residents won't advance... that doesn't seem right... 😕

 

[tripod]

well if you believe the attrition rate of gen surg, 20% of the residents don't advance (ie being held back a year or being fired)

 

[DrDawg]

well if you believe the attrition rate of gen surg, 20% of the residents don't advance (ie being held back a year or being fired)

Two things:
1. I believe included in that attrition rate are people who discontinue their surgical residency (ie quit). Its likely that that is more of the "20%" then people who are canned. I think most PDs will sit you down after a less than dazzling score, and if your performance doesn't improve you are let go.

2. Also consider that in you pgy1 year you are scored against prelims designated and nondesignated who may have a varing veiw of how important the absite is to them. So now matter how bright your lightsaber is study harder next year. Going form JEDI to WOOKIE would suck!

 

[KimR]

I was told by my program that an ABSITE score of 25 roughly predicts ability to pass the boards later.

 

[Blade28]

That seems very low to me (though I've also heard that same number thrown around).

 

[njbmd]

That seems very low to me (though I've also heard that same number thrown around).

Hi there,
Actually, that score is about right. The interesting thing is that many folks drop down as they go up in years. The ABSITE is more to direct your teaching and keep you reading. I did worse this year than last year but still OK.

If you are a first year and things did not work well for you, it just means that you need to ramp it up a bit. The folks ahead of me in my program were great about helping me rock second year and third year after not doing great first year. I still think that third year is going to be my best year after looking at this year's score.

njbmd 🙂

 

[supercut]

Any more thoughts on the old one test for all system vs the lower/upper level tests?

I did significantly better this year than last. Since I'm in the lab after PGY 2, I took the exam for junior residents. Reviewing my performance from previous years, I always did a lot worse on endocrine and cardiovascular management, which I felt decreased my score (I have a hard time keeping all those endocrine diseases named after people straight in my brain)

This year, I believe the junior level exam eliminated much of the content that tripped me up before, and my total score was closer the percentile I had scored on my best areas before (this year they didn't report percentile by section, just overall). It seemed a lot easier to me than years before when I was taking it.

Which makes me think I'll tank the senior exam next year without some serious effort in those areas I've always been weak in.

My research is NOT a basic science project...it's a very non traditional and non clincial area. So that's not why. I don't think I studied a lot more, I've been moonlighting and having fun.

 

[exlap]

There were 2 levels of exams, a junior (PGY 1,2) and senior (PGY 3,4,5).

This is from the ABS website.
http://home.absurgery.org/default.jsp?newsitechanges&ref=index_pd
Prior to 2006 50%/50% (Basic Science/Clinical Management)
New Junior Level 60%/40%
New Senior Level 20%/80%

As far as I can recall, the *raw score* means were approximately
PGY-1 70
PGY-2 65
PGY-3 60
PGY-4,5 around 60
(don't quote me on these numbers, your PD should have them)

The standard deviations were small, <10. That means there was a huge fluctuation in scaled scores, despite small differences in raw scores between examinees.