June PCAT

[+Pharm]

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It was my first time taking PCAT, and it seemed like the questions were harder and longer than those in kaplan and harcourt practice tests.
Also I assume that June PCAT was harder than previous PCATs in some sections. Then, isn't it unfair for us to be compared with previous PCAT takers when scoring system comes?

 

[Knickerbocker]

Do they really score us against other testing groups? From what I read, it sounds like we will just be scaled against each other.

 

[omnione]

Do they really score us against other testing groups? From what I read, it sounds like we will just be scaled against each other.

In the past...which isn't too distant🙂 your scores are based the scales used for the percentiles derived from the group of PCAT testers between 1998 and 2003.

 

[rx27563]

well i think its very unfair to compare us to a group who's testing situation was completely different...30 min sections and a HORRIBLE math section. i expected lots of decimals, fractions, proportions and rates but nothing like what they asked... not a freakin thing to do with pharmacy - typical standardized test.

 

[Knickerbocker]

In the past...which isn't too distant🙂 your scores are based the scales used for the percentiles derived from the group of PCAT testers between 1998 and 2003.

After rereading the handbook, I don't think we are literally being scored against them. We're being ranked based on the scale they established, but our direct scoring should be from a comparison of everyone that took this test.

 

[omnione]

well i think its very unfair to compare us to a group who's testing situation was completely different...30 min sections and a HORRIBLE math section. i expected lots of decimals, fractions, proportions and rates but nothing like what they asked... not a freakin thing to do with pharmacy - typical standardized test.

You do have to remember that the objective of standardized exams is mainly to measure one's raw ability as opposed to vocational-specific ability. The exam isn't perfect but there's more ability that needs to be measured than just testing how well one works in a hypothetical pharm tech-like environment.

From reading everybody's responses to the June PCAT threads, it seems to me that the PCAT isn't that much different from the past ones aside from the extra writing section and shortened exam. The sections may have been shorter, but you have to remember that I had more questions to deal with the longer amount of time I had last October. The increased difficulty of the math section seems to be the main constant in most posts.

Seriously though, any adjustments of any scale is best done by Harcourt reps who will have all the data available to them.

 

[omnione]

After rereading the handbook, I don't think we are literally being scored against them. We're being ranked based on the scale they established, but our direct scoring should be from a comparison of everyone that took this test.

Here are the pertinent passages you probably red that led me to believe what I said:

Different forms of any test may vary somewhat in difficulty. Because of the differences in difficulty between different forms of the PCAT, the same raw scores (number of test items answered correctly) obtained for the five multiple-choice subtests on different test forms are not necessarily equivalent. Using the statistical process of equating, it is possible to express scores in comparable terms across different forms of the test. Scaled scores are used for this purpose. The scaled scores reported for the five PCAT multiple choice subtests range from 200 to 600, with a median of 400 (i.e., a scaled score of 400 corresponds to the 50th percentile).

In addition to the multiple-choice subtest scaled scores, your personal Score Report will list five subtest percentiles and a Composite percentile. The percentile score shown on your personal Score Report indicates the percentage of PCAT examinees that made up the norm group—all first-time examinees that took the test between October 1998 and March 2003—with scaled scores lower than yours. No percentile is reported for the Writing subtest.

This is slightly different from the passage I read a while ago in an older CIB:

Different forms of any test may vary somewhat in difficulty. Because of the differences in difficulty between different forms of the PCAT, the same raw scores on different forms are not necessarily equivalent. Using the statistical process of equating, it is possible to express scores in comparable terms across different forms of the test. Scaled scores are used for this purpose. The scale used for the PCAT ranges from 200 to 600, with a median of 400 (i.e., a scaled score of 400 corresponds to the 50th percentile).

In addition to scaled scores, your Score Report will list five subtest percentile scores and a Composite percentile score. The percentile score shown on your Score Report indicates the percentage of PCAT examinees that made up the norm group--all first-time examinees who took the test between October 1998 and March 2003--with scaled scores equal to or lower than yours. For example, an examinee who earns a Composite percentile score of 70 scored equal to or higher than 70% of the examinees from the norm group on the test as a whole."

More or less, we are both right in our own ways. If the extra difficulty of your exam group happens to be true after all the data is in, then the values you get for your scaled scores will be more generous (i.e. you can miss more to get a 430 scaled score than I could have on October 2006). However, your percentile score is still relative to the group between 1998 and 2003.

To clarify, if you get an 80th percentile composite when you get your scores back, it means that you did better than around 80% of the test takers between 1998 and 2003, not necessarily 80% of the people who took the June 2007 exam alone. However, a more difficult exam means a different scale for scaled scores to compensate. So, your scale score isn't based on the number of questions that the 1998 takes missed to get their score but between you June 2007 takers only. But your percentile score is still relative to the test takers between 1998 and 2003. That's my interpretation of it....

 

[CaliCPhT]

To clarify, if you get an 80th percentile composite when you get your scores back, it means that you did better than around 80% of the test takers between 1998 and 2003, not necessarily 80% of the people who took the June 2007 exam alone. However, a more difficult exam means a different scale for scaled scores to compensate. So, your scale score isn't based on the number of questions that the 1998 takes missed to get their score but between you June 2007 takers only. But your percentile score is still relative to the test takers between 1998 and 2003. That's my interpretation of it....

Excellent explanation Omni! This is the way i understand it too!

 

[rx27563]

well it does make more sense now...so basically the SCALE is determined from us Juners, but the %age comes from the 98-03... seems more fair now. i thought everything was easy until i got to math - i hope one section doesnt kill me too bad...maybe everyone else will bomb it too! haha

 

[+Pharm]

You are awsome Omnione! 👍