Minimum Scores for Boards

[stickit34]

Hello,

I was speaking with family members the other day about my board certification exam. I plan to take the ANCC for FNP and have been studying diligently for it. A family member asked what the minimum score for passing was, and I said I was not sure, but I was pretty sure it was either 65% or 75%. This baffled them, and they stated that they sure hope that it's 75%, because it would be scary to have a practitioner that "barely" passed at 65%. This intrigued me, and I have be searching to see what the minimum scores are for other professions. For physicians, USMLE Step 1 minimum is roughly 55-60%, but then Step 2 and Step 3 increases vaguely in terms of the minimum score to pass. PANCE also comes out to be approximately 65% minimum score, but each question is weighed differently.

What do you think? Do you think it is too low of a minimum score for the profession, or that it is appropriately scored and weighed?

[WVFNP, MSN, APRN]

Lol :) appreciate the confidence. I like your counter arguement that it depends on the questions. Aren't all question on a compentency test considered valid and within an NP's scope. I guess not all of us need to worry about only getting questions on the subjects they prefer. Like I've said in the past, good luck to you.

I never said I or anyone else would be looking for questions on subjects they prefer. I simply stated that it is common knowledge that if you're tested in areas that you're more familiar with you will do better, and therefore would be more likely to pass boards. That would not make you a better prepared NP just because you lucked into some questions that suited subjects you were more comfortable with. As you previously said, I'm not gonna let you put words in my mouth, and twist what I said. Secondly, as I previously said, we'll be here for guidance when you need it...

[claptrap]

I am surprised no one has taken into account difficulty of exams. If an exam is exceedingly difficult 65% might be a great number.