Bcps

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
N

ngmc11

Full Member
10+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2006
Messages
116
Reaction score
2
How long did it take you to study for BCPS? How did you approach it? Any advice?
Thanks!
Members don't see this ad.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
Protongenic said:
This happened to me no less than 8-9 times during BCOP. The person next to me disconnected about 2 times.

Throughout the exam, I kept wondering whether or not I would be able to submit the entire exam at all; a colleague of mine who took the BCPS in the SF Bay Area said that her part 2 completely crashed and had to reschedule for a later week.

Of course these interruptions added unnecessary anxiety and frustration throughout the exam. I felt that these issues also challenged the integrity of the exams; imagine having answered 30-40 questions before you're asked to reschedule the exam for a later date. What's to stop individuals from looking up answers to questions that they had seen?

I won't be calling BPS anytime soon, but I made sure to leave them a 3000-word novel for feedback in the end :rolleyes:
I emphasized the need to iron out these technical issues, or to go back to the old paper/scantron model...

Thanksgiving can't come soon enough. So where do I sign up for next year's exam?
Click to expand...

I agree that it made the exam much more complicated than it needed to be. Mine also kept on some technical issue with compatibility or something and it wanted me reload the exam in the middle and so on and so on. My proctor simply said, " well click on that button and re-load it". That was sad.

Did you get to finish the exam ? if you did, you still may have passed
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Members don't see this ad :)
rxjunkie said:
Does anybody know how we are supposed to get our results???
Click to expand...



If you read the bps website, it says you get an email with a link to access your results. Last year it was a letter addresed to you BCPS if you passed, no suspense. Watch them just address the email that way too this year.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Janiceps said:
Did you get to finish the exam ? if you did, you still may have passed
Click to expand...

I did finish, but couldn't focus on reviewing the questions I had flagged; and I had flagged what seemed like >60% of the exam hahaha. After the 9th disconnect, I just wanted to get to the end to submit it and not have to reschedule for the next week in case the exam completely crashed. Not a terribly clever move on my part now looking in retrospect. Bah. I guess there's only one way to find out :whistle:


rxjunkie said:
Does anybody know how we are supposed to get our results???
Click to expand...

I received my BCPS results (scantron exam) via snail mail during Thanksgiving. Even if the exam is now electronic, I think BPS historically holds on to them for +/- 60 days to conduct audits and determine the curve. I wouldn't expect anything differently this year.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
moolman said:
If you read the bps website, it says you get an email with a link to access your results.
Click to expand...

Oh! Great point. Confirmed from BPS:

"Confidential score reports will be available to candidates online approximately 60 days after the date the test administration window closes. Candidates will receive a score report email approximately 60 days after the date the test administration window closes that will provide instructions for downloading their score report. Candidate score reports will be available online for 30 days following the release of scores."
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Protongenic said:
I did finish, but couldn't focus on reviewing the questions I had flagged; and I had flagged what seemed like >60% of the exam hahaha. After the 9th disconnect, I just wanted to get to the end to submit it and not have to reschedule for the next week in case the exam completely crashed. Not a terribly clever move on my part now looking in retrospect. Bah. I guess there's only one way to find out :whistle:




I received my BCPS results (scantron exam) via snail mail during Thanksgiving. Even if the exam is now electronic, I think BPS historically holds on to them for +/- 60 days to conduct audits and determine the curve. I wouldn't expect anything differently this year.
Click to expand...

This is 2nd time you are taking the test and you still had to guess on >60 % of the exam ? That computer crashing must have really affected you a lot. you probably should have rescheduled it for next week.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Upvote 0 Downvote
moolman said:
Don't get upset, nobody thinks you're dumb on this anonymous forum if you had taken the same test twice. ..:p
Click to expand...

Oh, upset I'm not :D

Maybe a tad annoyed, but I was merely pointing out my observations...
Being the Type A that I am, I just felt compelled to highlight the fallacious reasoning. That is all.

Good luck to all :luck:
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Protongenic said:
Oh, upset I'm not :D

Maybe a tad annoyed, but I was merely pointing out my observations...
Being the Type A that I am, I just felt compelled to highlight the fallacious reasoning. That is all.

Good luck to all :luck:
Click to expand...

Not sure what is wrong at BCPS. but I have been trying to reach them for 2 days now and nobody is picking up the phone. I have to call them back for name correction because they misspelled a letter in my name. and I can't reach them. and now I left a message 2 times and I have not got a call back.
Are they getting beat up with all the phone calls with complaints with computer problems at the testing sites ?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Classy12345 said:
$125 includes:
-- 2013 lectures on audio (can be played on any android, windows based, or just load into iTunes on iPhone...great to listen to in the car on the way to work or at the gym)
-- Complete chapters of both 2013 books
-- PowerPoint slides
**2013 version includes lots of updates to guidelines

$45 includes:
--2013 mock exam questions and answers (200 questions)
--2011 mock exam questions and answers (98 questions)

If interested, send me a private message. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Did you actually do the entire mock exam ? Did you think it was worth while doing ? It took me a long time to finish that mock exam. and I thought it was actually harder than the real test. Not sure it was worth the time
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Members don't see this ad :)
Hello,

Here is my take on the exam, I hope it helps anyone who has taken or is planning to take it.

I took the exam for the first time on September 19. I have been a practicing hospital pharmacist (staff) for over 13 years. I spent over 600 hours preparing for the exam. I used the ACCP materials and statistics book to prepare.

I thought the exam was tough. I spent a lot of time studying statistics, so I think I did pretty well on that part. I think I did OK on the regulatory stuff. These topics are mundane, but they do account for a big part of the test.

I honestly have no clue how I did on the clinical part of the exam. I know there were 5-10 obvious questions that I missed, but on the positive side I think I got a some really tough questions correct. Probably my weakest part grade-wise. This was the hardest part to prepare for, because the topics covered were so broad.

Does anyone know how this electronic grading system works? I have heard rumors that certain questions get thrown out, is this true? Does anyone know the passing scores from previous years?

In the first half of the exam, I had barely enough time to finish and did not get to go back to my flagged questions. In the second half, I worked faster, flagged less questions, and was able to review those I had flagged.

My computer locked-up twice during the exam. I did not lose any testing time, but it was highly distracting. I really hope they give this some consideration when they determine the passing point.

Hope this helps.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I'm not sure why there isn't much more talk this year. There seems to have been much more discussion and support the past few years. I do believe some questions get thrown out and the passing scores have varied from low to high. It really varies each year. I posted my thoughts previously, but I thought the test was better than I expected. I guess I based this on the mock exam, which I thought was difficult. So, I went into it thinking the test was going to be much the same. I don't know if I passed, but I did the best I could with the time I had available. I did study the stats/reg. stuff, but I just don't feel comfortable with it...IDK. I thought it was a bit more involved than the mock exam. I am opposite you on the clinical stuff. I think I did better on that. Anyway, GL to all.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
VCU07 said:
I'm not sure why there isn't much more talk this year. There seems to have been much more discussion and support the past few years. I do believe some questions get thrown out and the passing scores have varied from low to high. It really varies each year. I posted my thoughts previously, but I thought the test was better than I expected. I guess I based this on the mock exam, which I thought was difficult. So, I went into it thinking the test was going to be much the same. I don't know if I passed, but I did the best I could with the time I had available. I did study the stats/reg. stuff, but I just don't feel comfortable with it...IDK. I thought it was a bit more involved than the mock exam. I am opposite you on the clinical stuff. I think I did better on that. Anyway, GL to all.
Click to expand...
I dont know why theres not much support this yr. I joined just for the fact that i saw sooo much support last year and i thought would be a good thing to join. From what I saw i thought the test is a passable test. I prayed hard and studied hard. Will see I just nervous and just want to know the results so I can get on with other things. I think BPS need to work on the wait. In my opinion i think 30 days max. I did not do the mock test but used the high yield med reviews . Did the biostats part abt 4 times each and did all the biostats questions in the high yield review
I work in an enviroment of abt 40 pharmacist and only 1 has it. most of them are old timers who hate on the young pple so discouraging.
I really hope I pass coz I have to deal with these haters. God help me
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
When I need support, I like to organize and analyze data. :laugh:

For whatever reason, this graph has a calming effect on me; I especially love it when these lines trend upward :rolleyes:

By sharing this, I hope it also brings you a peace of mind... until scores are released, that is :eek:

Hmm image link doesn't seem to want to work.... I'll have to embed it into my post when I get out of work; our hospital firewall is wicked

plzt.png
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0 Downvote
VCU07 said:
This chart tells me it varies considerably year to year lol. Are we in a good year?
Click to expand...

Haha, this is true. From what I observe though, if you isolate each test and look closely at the trend, other than perhaps one outlier over the past 6 years, they all provide a relatively stable trend (+/- 10%).

Here's what the trend appears like to me:
Nuclear pass rate: ~70-80% (2011 outlier 50%)
Nutrition pass rate: ~60-70%
Oncology pass rate: ~45-55%
Pharmacotherapy pass rate: ~70% (2010 outlier 55%)
Psychiatric pass rate: ~70-80%

So if history was to repeat itself (unless it's a repeat of 2010), I would think that ~65-70% of those who took BCPS this year will pass :thumbup:
And ~45-55% of those who took BCOP will fail :thumbdown:

Obviously there are so many factors involved and this way over-simplifies things (I'm sure you can run statistics and box-and-whisker-plots on these stats and whatnot if you really want to); but I think it's fun to think about.

Plus, we're falling behind on our BPS exams discussion this year! We've gotta catch up :laugh:
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0 Downvote
thought the stats was tricky. The clinical stuff was straight forward.
Hopefully we are in a good year.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I have no inside information. This is just a hunch, but I think I may have figured out the sort of scoring method they used this year. It's called the modified Angoff method.

Here are a couple links to how it works.

http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/2008/10/06/what-is-the-angoff-method/

http://www.imca.org/sites/default/files/file_1862.pdf

It sounds a lot like the grading description on the BCPS site. It would seem you get more credit for getting difficult questions correct, but I may have that backwards lol.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
grump99 said:
I have no inside information. This is just a hunch, but I think I may have figured out the sort of scoring method they used this year. It's called the modified Angoff method.

It sounds a lot like the grading description on the BCPS site. It would seem you get more credit for getting difficult questions correct, but I may have that backwards lol.
Click to expand...

I always suspected that BPS exams were scored with some curving component; okay, maybe not a true bell-shaped curve, but a curve nonetheless. For one thing, the pass rate patterns for some tests are obviously too consistent to support pure raw-scoring.

After reading about the modified Angoff method, it sounds like a possibility; especially since some form of curving is already built-into the method. And while many explanations can be used for the "outlier" scores like the 55% passing-rate on the 2010 BCPS, it would seem so can the modified Angoff method (the passing-score for that year was 133--the score was the highest needed for the last 3 years, but the pass-rate was the lowest over the last 6 years).

Interesting discussion.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Protongenic said:
I always suspected that BPS exams were scored with some curving component; okay, maybe not a true bell-shaped curve, but a curve nonetheless. For one thing, the pass rate patterns for some tests are obviously too consistent to support pure raw-scoring.

After reading about the modified Angoff method, it sounds like a possibility; especially since some form of curving is already built-into the method. And while many explanations can be used for the "outlier" scores like the 55% passing-rate on the 2010 BCPS, it would seem so can the modified Angoff method (the passing-score for that year was 133--the score was the highest needed for the last 3 years, but the pass-rate was the lowest over the last 6 years).

Interesting discussion.
Click to expand...

How do you know the passing score this year won't be 148 ?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Janiceps said:
How do you know the passing score this year won't be 148 ?
Click to expand...
Frankly, I don't know that. And perhaps this year's score will be 148, or even 168. Personally, passing score does not interest me as much as percentile and/or passing rate. The passing score could hypothetically be 100 for an 'incredibly difficult' exam, but still have a passing rate of 70%. From a passing-perspective to me, that's really no different than a passing score of 180 on an 'easy exam', with a passing rate of 70%.... because in both scenarios, out of 10 people that take the exam, 3 will not be invited to pay dues.

So regardless of what the passing score will be, given BCPS historical data for the past 6 years (except 2010), I have reasonable doubt that the passing rate will be much different from 70%. So again, out of 10 people that take the exam, 3 will fail.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Protongenic said:
Frankly, I don't know that. And perhaps this year's score will be 148, or even 168. Personally, passing score does not interest me as much as percentile and/or passing rate. The passing score could hypothetically be 100 for an 'incredibly difficult' exam, but still have a passing rate of 70%. From a passing-perspective to me, that's really no different than a passing score of 180 on an 'easy exam', with a passing rate of 70%.... because in both scenarios, out of 10 people that take the exam, 3 will not be invited to pay dues.

So regardless of what the passing score will be, given BCPS historical data for the past 6 years (except 2010), I have reasonable doubt that the passing rate will be much different from 70%. So again, out of 10 people that take the exam, 3 will fail.
Click to expand...

If I pass this test in December, I plan on taking the ICU specialty boards next year. Next year will be the very first year they will be offering this exam. Is it true that first year they offer these type of board exam is the easiest ? somebody told me this once.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Janiceps said:
If I pass this test in December, I plan on taking the ICU specialty boards next year. Next year will be the very first year they will be offering this exam. Is it true that first year they offer these type of board exam is the easiest ? somebody told me this once.
Click to expand...
I thought the first exam wasn't till 2015?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Nkemjika said:
I thought the first exam wasn't till 2015?
Click to expand...
Not offerred until 2015. and I'm sure there is going to be the requirement that you have to have completed a critical care residency or worked in ICUs for x number of years prior to taking the ICU board.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
MackandBlues said:
Not offerred until 2015. and I'm sure there is going to be the requirement that you have to have completed a critical care residency or worked in ICUs for x number of years prior to taking the ICU board.
Click to expand...
I was told it was going to be offered in 2014 ? I do qualify, I worked in ICU for good 6-7 years now. and I have general residency done.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Janiceps said:
I was told it was going to be offered in 2014 ?
Click to expand...

From BPS:
"We hope to administer the first examination in each new specialty in 2015"
http://bpsweb.org/news/pr_041513.cfm

Looks like you've got extra time to study.

Janiceps said:
Is it true that first year they offer these type of board exam is the easiest ? somebody told me this once.
Click to expand...
I've heard both sides of the argument. Some think that it'll be easier the first year, because... it's the first year. Others think that it'll be harder because you have all these ICU specialists who have been publishing papers on this topic for the last several decades taking the same exam. So it would come down to how you believe the test is graded; for example, if you don't believe it's 'curved' in any sense, then the previous sentence really wouldn't impact you.

On the other hand for BCACP, the pass-rate dropped 3.4% from the first year to the second year. Then again, could be a flux. Who knows o_O

Okay, enough of devil's advocacy for today...
Does anyone have any data on the first few years for psychiatry and oncology?
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0 Downvote
Protongenic said:
From BPS:
"We hope to administer the first examination in each new specialty in 2015"
http://bpsweb.org/news/pr_041513.cfm

Looks like you've got extra time to study.


I've heard both sides of the argument. Some think that it'll be easier the first year, because... it's the first year. Others think that it'll be harder because you have all these ICU specialists who have been publishing papers on this topic for the last several decades taking the same exam. So it would come down to how you believe the test is graded; for example, if you don't believe it's 'curved' in any sense, then the previous sentence really wouldn't impact you.

On the other hand for BCACP, the pass-rate dropped 3.4% from the first year to the second year. Then again, could be a flux. Who knows o_O

Okay, enough of devil's advocacy for today...
Does anyone have any data on the first few years for psychiatry and oncology?
Click to expand...

Somebody told me that in the 1st year, board is encouraged to pass more people because they want more people to take it in coming years and not get discouraged.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I took the exam this year. When it comes to grading, what I am concerned about more than anything, is the fact that, from what I can tell, everyone took the same test with the same exact questions.

I would expect that BPS would have used a test bank this year since they administered the exam over a couple weeks. After talking to colleagues who took the exam after me, it appears that they had the same questions.

For a apparently scaled/curved exam, it seems like this would give an advantage to people who took the exam during the later dates.

Any thoughts?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DrWrong said:
I took the exam this year. When it comes to grading, what I am concerned about more than anything, is the fact that, from what I can tell, everyone took the same test with the same exact questions.

For a apparently scaled/curved exam, it seems like this would give an advantage to people who took the exam during the later dates.

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

I was also surprised that they offered a range of dates this year. Up until now, the exams were administered on paper on the same date across the country; with exceptions made on an individual basis. With the exams being electronic now, I, too, was expecting a test bank, but couldn't verify that since I didn't know anyone who took the same test this year.

In the past, when test banks were brought up during discussions with law-school friends, the issue of discrimination claims always came up. Perhaps test banking was not adopted by BPS to prevent potential disputes of discrimination or testing unfairness; where tests are not administered to each individual the same as other individuals for that year.

But that's not to say the tests are flawless and perfectly fair; of course since it's illegal to share actual test questions on these exams with other individuals, no one will publicly admit to have received answers/advantage from individuals who took the exams earlier.

Even if no help was received from others, what's to prevent individuals from looking up answers to questions they had already seen before they were asked to reschedule the exam due to technical difficulties, which many people seemed to have experienced this year?

Protongenic said:
A colleague of mine who took the BCPS in the SF Bay Area said that her part 2 completely crashed and had to reschedule for a later week.

Of course these interruptions added unnecessary anxiety and frustration throughout the exam. I felt that these issues also challenged the integrity of the exams; imagine having answered 30-40 questions before you're asked to reschedule the exam for a later date. What's to stop individuals from looking up answers to questions that they had seen?
Click to expand...


This year was full of tricky. I wonder how/if this will affect the passing score and/or passing rate.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0 Downvote
Protongenic said:
I was also surprised that they offered a range of dates this year. Up until now, the exams were administered on paper on the same date across the country; with exceptions made on an individual basis. With the exams being electronic now, I, too, was expecting a test bank, but couldn't verify that since I didn't know anyone who took the same test this year.

In the past, when test banks were brought up during discussions with law-school friends, the issue of discrimination claims always came up. Perhaps test banking was not adopted by BPS to prevent potential disputes of discrimination or testing unfairness; where tests are not administered to each individual the same as other individuals for that year.

But that's not to say the tests are flawless and perfectly fair; of course since it's illegal to share actual test questions on these exams with other individuals, no one will publicly admit to have received answers/advantage from individuals who took the exams earlier.

Even if no help was received from others, what's to prevent individuals from looking up answers to questions they had already seen before they were asked to reschedule the exam due to technical difficulties, which many people seemed to have experienced this year?




This year was full of tricky. I wonder how/if this will affect the passing score and/or passing rate.
Click to expand...
I think you are right. they just may increase the rate and pass 90 % of the people this year. Otherwise there maybe too many lawsuits.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Janiceps said:
I think you are right. they just may increase the rate and pass 90 % of the people this year. Otherwise there maybe too many lawsuits.
Click to expand...

As someone who took it on the first day it was offered, I would be upset if I didn't pass. Of course no one knows how they grade the exam, but If I get what seems to have been a passing score the past couple years and don't pass I would begin to question it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DrWrong said:
As someone who took it on the first day it was offered, I would be upset if I didn't pass. Of course no one knows how they grade the exam, but If I get what seems to have been a passing score the past couple years and don't pass I would begin to question it.
Click to expand...

I can empathize with this sentiment. But seeing as the passing score for BCPS within the last 4 years varied by as much as 22 points, out of curiosity, when would you begin to question it? I don't have data for any other exams.

Year = Passing score = Passing rate
2009 = 124 = 70%
2010 = 133 = 55%
2011 = 111 = 71%
2012 = 122 = 68%
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Protongenic said:
I can empathize with this sentiment. But seeing as the passing score for BCPS within the last 4 years varied by as much as 22 points, out of curiosity, when would you begin to question it? I don't have data for any other exams.

Year = Passing score = Passing rate
2009 = 124 = 70%
2010 = 133 = 55%
2011 = 111 = 71%
2012 = 122 = 68%
Click to expand...

does he mean by begin to question it, meaning begin to want to sue the BCPS ?
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0 Downvote
Janiceps said:
does he mean by begin to question it, meaning begin to want to sue the BCPS ?
Click to expand...


Not necessarily. It would probably be impossible to win the lawsuit unless I was able to discuss the people that had technical difficulties and how they were able to go and look up answers. They technically made us click a box saying we swore not to tell other people what was on the exam.

Plus, I'm sure their grading technique is top secret.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Keep your fingers cross guys !
This is the result week, check your emails everyday
I will be on vacation this week but I have work email setup on my phone so that I know what is the outcome as far pass/fail
Good to see u Janiceps, keep in touch

I m very excited

And yea
PM me for 2013 material and mock exam
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
RoadwayzDi Lari said:
Keep your fingers cross guys !
This is the result week, check your emails everyday
I will be on vacation this week but I have work email setup on my phone so that I know what is the outcome as far pass/fail
Good to see u Janiceps, keep in touch

I m very excited

And yea
PM me for 2013 material and mock exam
Click to expand...

I was told that results wouldn't be out til first week of December. so what do you mean about the results this week ?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Normally, the results are released the first week of December. Maybe with the new computer testing it's faster. I wouldn't be surprised if castle is releasing the scores to bps this week, then we know in December.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
moolman said:
Normally, the results are released the first week of December. Maybe with the new computer testing it's faster. I wouldn't be surprised if castle is releasing the scores to bps this week, then we know in December.
Click to expand...
I'm assuming BPS still had to evaluate this data and make necessary adjustments. I'd be surprised if we got our scores any earlier than December
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
RoadwayzDi Lari said:
Castle told me this coming week
I called them
Click to expand...

did castle tell you that they are sure BPS will release the scores to the candidates ? Unless, castle told you that they know for sure BPS will send the scores to candidates to this week, it doesn't mean anything. cause castle doesn't send scores to candidates. bps does.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I saw an email floating around about a month ago from one of the BPS staff saying they hoped to have results out the second week of November, and if delayed the third week of November. They stated it would be earlier since it is via electronic distribution instead of snail mail.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Janiceps said:
did castle tell you that they are sure BPS will release the scores to the candidates ? Unless, castle told you that they know for sure BPS will send the scores to candidates to this week, it doesn't mean anything. cause castle doesn't send scores to candidates. bps does.
Click to expand...

Ofcourse Bps released the score in the past but not anymore as castle has exclusive rights now as they have the access to the students data and also scores, you can read in the disclaimer it mentioned
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.
Next unread thread

Similar threads

S
BCPS Fall 2024
Replies
1
Views
438
jujubesss
J
P
BCPs 2024 Spring
Replies
5
Views
2K
lara0926
L
F
PassNAPLEXnow for BCPS?
Replies
0
Views
632
Filipino95
F
A
BCPS September, 2023
2
Replies
62
Views
7K
Vijitha Rajendran
V
F
BCPS Spring 2023
Replies
19
Views
6K
3cloudsongs3
3
Top