Scoring Method

Parts I, and II are administered in conventional multiple-choice format. For these examinations, scores are determined by summing the number of correct responses. Each item receives one point if correct, zero if incorrect. Therefore, candidates should answer each test item, marking on the answer sheet the letter for what they regard as the correct response. Only one response should be marked for each item. Items that contain two or more marked responses or all blank responses (i.e., an omitted item) are scored as incorrect responses. The Part II PAM Examination is a multiple choice exam but has a different scoring methodology. Click here for a description of this exam and its scoring methodology.

The Part III Clinical Skills Examination is a performance test. Therefore, candidates do not answer any questions. Instead, the examiners evaluate each candidate on more than 300 performance items. Each evaluation item is worth 1-10 points based on the item criticality scale shown below. However, regardless of the number of points, all items are graded on an absolute basis. Therefore, candidates either receive full credit or no credit. Thus, if a performance item is worth five points, candidates receive five points if it is performed correctly, or zero points if performed incorrectly or not at all.

Rating Scale for Item Criticality - Clinical Skills Examination

Scoring Weight and Significance	Explanation
10 Essential	essential for satisfactory care; poor performance would result in deficient patient care
9
8
7 Very Important	very likely to affect the quality of patient care; only extraordinary measures could compensate for poor performance
6
5
4 Important	likely to, but would not necessarily affect, the quality of patient care
3
2
1 Desirable	desirable activity, but would not necessarily affect the quality of patient care if done incorrectly, or not at all

For detailed information determining the Part III pass-fail cutoff score, click here.

Test items that are found upon post-exam review to be ambiguous or to have more than one correct response or no correct response are deleted from scoring by consensus of the corresponding examination council. Thus, the number of items scored in an examination may be fewer than the number of items administered.