I also have to
recommend the workbook from the Michigan Society of Histology. It was a
tremendous study aid. One of the
suggestions I got from a "histonetter" (sorry I cannot remember your name) was
to take a week off to organize your notes and then the week off before your
exam to focus entirely on studying. I cannot emphasis the importance of
studying that Peggy advises, carry your study aids with you everywhere. Also
find other HT/HTL's in your area...alot of them have material that might be
helpful and are usually more than willing to help, at least this was the case
in my situation. A lot of these people are "histonetters" and I would like to
thank them all. Good luck.
Betsy Molinari
HT(ASCP)
Texas Heart
Institute
Houston,
Texas
77373
-----Original
Message-----
From: Lee &
Peggy Wenk [mailto:lpwenk@mail.netquest.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2002 7:07
PM
To: Banjo Adesuyi;
histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: Re: Info on HT
Exam
On the ASCP HT written exam, there
are 100 questions, all multiple choice.
You will find out your score 5-10
days after the exam.
(By comparison, previous to the
use of the computer - it used to be 200 questions, and took 2 months to get
your scores.)
The pass mark is 400. However,
this is a scaled score, which is probably different than any type of exam you
have ever taken. It is NOT a percentage score. And you don't need a certain
number of questions (out of the 100) correct.
Each question is rated as to
its "degree of difficulty". The harder the question, the higher the degree of
difficulty. The easier the question, the lower the degree of
difficulty.
Theoretically, the questions could
range from infinitely easy to infinitely difficult. However, asking an
infinitely easy question does not help separate those people who know their
histology material from those who do not, because EVERYONE would get this type
of question CORRECT. Conversely, asking an infinitely hard question does not
help to separate those who know their histology from those who do not, because
EVERYONE would get this type of question
WRONG.
So ASCP asks questions in the
medium range - medium easy to medium to medium
hard.
ASCP uses numbers to state how
hard or easy the questions are. The range they use is 100-999. A question that
has a 100 mark is a very easy question. A question with a 900 mark is a very
hard question. A question with 352 is easier than a 469 which is easier than a
537, etc.
To pass, you must be able to
answer questions in the 400 range or
higher.
I think of it in a vertical
chart.
So, ASCP will ask you some
starting questions in various degree of difficulty ranges, to find out which
ones you get right and which ones you get wrong. That will set up your
approximate level of ability (300 range, 500 range, whatever). Let's say you
come in at the 250 range. The computer will then ask you a slightly harder
question (let's say 256). If you get that correct, it will ask you a slightly
harder question (let's say 261). If you get that correct, it will ask you a
harder question (say, 264). If you get it wrong, the computer will ask you an
easier question (say, drop you from 261 to 258).
So, every time you get a question
right, you get a harder question. Every time you get one wrong, the computer
asks you an easier question. But to pass, your LAST answer/question has to be
ABOVE the 400 degree of difficulty mark. If the last
question/answer is below 400, you did not pass. Even if some of your
questions/answers were above the 400. It comes down to the last question - but
you arrived at the last question via how you answered the previous
99.
The problem is - anyone taking the
exam does not know if they are answering a 200 question, or a 600
question.
The computer is designed to find
out each person's level of knowledge. So by about 1/2 way through the exam,
you are probably getting 1/2 of the questions right, and 1/2 wrong. Because it
is right at your level of ability.
If someone didn't study hard, or
didn't study the right material, and is in the 200 degree of difficulty range,
they will be thinking the questions are HARD - and they ARE hard for this
person, because the questions are at THIS PERSON's level of ability. If
someone studied alot, or studied the right material, they may be in the 600
range, thinking the questions are hard - and they ARE hard for them, because
these questions are at THEIR level of ability.
So everyone walks out of there,
thinking they failed, no matter what their score is. Because the computer is
testing each person at their level of
ability.
In fact, the couple of people who
told me that this was the easiest test they have ever taken - all failed. Of
course, I know other people who said it was hard and also failed. And people
who said it was hard, and did pass. But I've never heard anyone say it was
easy and passed. Nearly everyone says it is hard. And nearly everyone comes
out convinced they have failed.
And remember - approximately 50%
of the people DO fail. And about 50% pass. This has been consistent for at
least 15 years, that I've been paying attention to the
scores.
So study alot. And I mean A
LOT!!!! Use the Carson book, and the Sheehan. (For HTL, I would also recommend
the Bancroft/Gamble book.) Learn all the reagents in each fixative and stain,
and what each does. Get an atlas of histology and know what different tissues
look like, what the different cells are called, what they do, and what special
stains are needed to demonstrate them. Get the self-assessment exam booklets
from NSH, and practice taking multiple choice question exams. Study, STUDY,
STUDY!
Good luck, and hope this
helps.
Peggy A. Wenk,
HTL(ASCP)SLS
Schools of
Histotechnology
William Beaumont
Hospital
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday,
July 15, 2002 7:31 PM
Please I want some informations
on the HT- Multiple Choice Exams. I want to know how many questions
altogether in the theory paper( i.e Multiple choice)? And also what is the
pass mark? And Is it possible for somebody to know the marks/scores
immediately after taking the test?
I will be very
happy, If you can provide me with all these
informations.
Thanking you
all for your usual co-operation.
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