Interpreting ABD scores

[oreo2004]

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Ok so the residents in my program have been debating the meaning of abd percent/percentile scores, here are the scenarios:

One year: a PGY-2 scores 70% and that correlates with a percentile score of 39th percentile
Another year: a PGY-2 scores 70% and that correlates with a percentile score of 60th percentile.

Does this mean that:
A. the test was easier the first year so more people got a higher percent putting you at a lower percentile
B. the test was easier in the second year so you get put in a higher percentile for a similar percent right
C. the people taking the test the first year were smarter so the percentiles were lower
D. the people taking the test the second year were dumber so it was easier to get a higher percentile.

What do you think?

 

[Dral]

When comparing two different PGY-2's, you can't really say much about what is going on.

I'd say you can say the second PGY-2 was more prepared for the exam in your scenario.\

IMO, you could MAYBE apply it to your scenario and say that the year the second PGY-2 took the exam, other examinees may have not been as prepared or 'dumber'.

Now if the SAME PGY-2 could take both exams and got 39th the first time and 60th the second time, you could probably conclude C and D on your list.

A and B are not relevant. If the test is truly easier or harder, it should also be easier or harder for the person taking it.

 

[asmallchild]

Ok so the residents in my program have been debating the meaning of abd percent/percentile scores, here are the scenarios:

One year: a PGY-2 scores 70% and that correlates with a percentile score of 39th percentile
Another year: a PGY-2 scores 70% and that correlates with a percentile score of 60th percentile.

Does this mean that:
A. the test was easier the first year so more people got a higher percent putting you at a lower percentile
B. the test was easier in the second year so you get put in a higher percentile for a similar percent right
C. the people taking the test the first year were smarter so the percentiles were lower
D. the people taking the test the second year were dumber so it was easier to get a higher percentile.

What do you think?

Could be a combination of your answers. In the 1st year, the exam could have been easier or the PGY2 class in general was smarter/more prepared

In essence, >60% of the country was scoring >70% (raw score)