Scoring for AP/CP boards: recent change?

[Anna Plastic]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I heard a rumor that the scoring method on AP/CP boards has changed this year. Previously, I think it had been on some kind of curve, but this year I heard it will be based on getting a flat percentage of the questions correct. Has anyone else heard anything about this? I may be totally off on all this--I have to admit I didn't really consider previously how the boards were graded, just figured I had to go in and take the tests anyway.

 

[pathdoc68]

My understanding is that you have correctly stated to revised grading methodology which will be implemented with this administration of the exam.

 

[pathdawg]

As far as I know, the method of grading the AP/CP boards has been a closely guarded mystery on the order of how the pyramids were built. Nobody really knows for sure how the boards have been scored in the past. Judging from the failure rates, I can't imagine there was a huge curve. My impression (I passed the AP/CP a few years back) is that there was always some kind of threshold that must be met to pass the exam, but like I said, I really am not sure how they do it.

The bottom line is this: the AP/CP test (and the subspecialty exams for that matter) are exceedingly difficult and grueling. You have to put significant time into studying. There are no shortcuts. They are not testing for competence; they are testing for expertise.

 

[SLUsagar]

I heard a rumor that the scoring method on AP/CP boards has changed this year. Previously, I think it had been on some kind of curve, but this year I heard it will be based on getting a flat percentage of the questions correct. Has anyone else heard anything about this? I may be totally off on all this--I have to admit I didn't really consider previously how the boards were graded, just figured I had to go in and take the tests anyway.

yah, i've heard the same too. FLAT score req for passing, no curves where a set # of peepz fail.
Also, i heard that this past year was the last time AP boards was granting lifetime passing...(assuming you're a 4-5th year resident on the old system). Don't totally understand details, but basically, we had a current 4th year AP/CP resident take the AP part this past year b/c if passed, it was a lifetime thing...from now on, requires 10 yr renewal, similar to CP i believe.

 

[yaah]

That is true about requiring renewal. However, the rumor on THAT is that the test for recertification will be different (i.e. easier) than the test for original certification.

 

[djmd]

That is true about requiring renewal. However, the rumor on THAT is that the test for recertification will be different (i.e. easier) than the test for original certification.

You would think it has to be...
Imagine an academic Heme pathologist taking CP boards over again.. Micro? Blood banking?
Imagine an academic AP specialized path person, your GU pathologist answering bone questions? Gyn questions?

not to mention AP/CP....

I keep meaning to look into this, other fields have the recertification testing and I image they have the same issues...

 

[gungho]

You would think it has to be...
Imagine an academic Heme pathologist taking CP boards over again.. Micro? Blood banking?
Imagine an academic AP specialized path person, your GU pathologist answering bone questions? Gyn questions?

not to mention AP/CP....

I keep meaning to look into this, other fields have the recertification testing and I image they have the same issues...

yeah, i kind of wondered about this, too. hard to believe it would be the same test to all or that they wouldn't make it superficial enough for most to pass a recert.
in FP, everyone took the same test even though one's practice may have focused on particular areas to the exclusion of others, but that's a different animal from Path.

 

[Matte Kudesai]

I heard a rumor that the scoring method on AP/CP boards has changed this year. Previously, I think it had been on some kind of curve, but this year I heard it will be based on getting a flat percentage of the questions correct. Has anyone else heard anything about this? I may be totally off on all this--I have to admit I didn't really consider previously how the boards were graded, just figured I had to go in and take the tests anyway.

Does anyone know if this change is definite and where I can find it in writing?

 

[Doctor B.]

Here's what I heard from one of my buddies in the know:

The test used to be graded on a curve. Starting in 2006, it will be graded such that in order to pass, you have to achieve above a certain percentage. The ABP went through last year's exam and determined which questions from it they deemed essential for a new practitioner and which where non-essential. They then determined the pass rate to be essential questions/total questions and applied it retrospectively to last year's exam. They got a similar pass rate to that which was obtained by grading on a curve. So, that is the plan this year is to make the passing % equal to the number of essential questions/total questions (note: that doesn't mean you have to get all of the essential questions correct, though).

 

[deschutes]

That is true about requiring renewal. However, the rumor on THAT is that the test for recertification will be different (i.e. easier) than the test for original certification.

Jeff McCullough (current ABP president) confirmed both these points at our grand rounds a while back.

So. To indulge in a little retrospectoscopy: since I originally had every intention to do pure AP à la Canada, what then is the point of doing AP/CP if semi-academic centers and large private practice groups like Unipath or Allina will never require an AP person to cover bloodbank call?