Exam Scoring and Statistics

How are exams scored?

NCC examinations are criterion referenced. This means the passing score is based on predetermined criteria. The passing score is established by the NCC Board of Directors.NCC utilizes the item response theory of psychometrics for the analysis of its examinations. Item Response Theory (Rasch analysis) is the study of tests and item scores based on assumptions concerning the mathematical relationship between abilities and item responses.

Each test item has a difficulty and ability level. The higher the difficulty of an item, the greater the ability score one achieves. Pass/fail is determined based on the number of questions answered correctly. As a question is answered correctly, the ability score is increased and decreased when a question is answered incorrectly.

The difficulty of the examination determines the actual number of questions that must be answered correctly in order to achieve the passing ability level. Because more than one form of the examination is given, a process called equating is used. This procedure converts all results to a common scale. Someone who takes a slightly more difficult form of the examination will need to answer fewer questions correctly than someone who takes a slightly easier form of the examination.

Test result reports will identify pass/fail status and give feedback on the various content areas of the exam in the form of word descriptors: very weak, weak, average, strong, very strong.

Core examinations have 160 questions and subspecialty exam 110 questions.  In the spring of  2009, the number of questions will be increased to 175 and 125 respectively.

 

View the last 3 years of exam statistics