Q: How is PTCE graded?
A: The Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) is graded using a scaled scoring system, not a simple percentage. Your score is reported on a scale from 1000 to 1600, with 1400 set as the passing score. This scaled score is derived from a statistical process that adjusts for slight variations in difficulty across different versions of the exam.
Q: What is the process from taking the test to getting a score?
A:
- Raw Score: First, the computer counts the number of questions you answered correctly. The PTCE has 90 scored multiple-choice questions.
- Scaled Score: Your raw score is then converted to the official scaled score (1000-1600) through a process called equating. This ensures that a 1400 represents the same level of competency regardless of which specific test form you received, making the score fair and consistent for all candidates.
- Pass/Fail Decision: If your final scaled score is 1400 or higher, you pass. If it is below 1400, you do not pass.
Q: Why doesn't PTCB tell me how many questions I got right or wrong?
A: Because the scaling process varies per exam form, there is no fixed number of correct answers that equals a 1400. Telling you a raw score could be misleading, as a certain raw score might convert to a pass on one form but a fail on a slightly harder form. The scaled score is the only fair and comparable measure.
Q: What information do I get on my score report?
A: All candidates receive a detailed score report.
- If You Pass: You will see your scaled score (1400-1600) and confirmation of your certification.
- If You Do Not Pass: You will see your scaled score and, most importantly, a performance breakdown. This breakdown shows your result in each of the four exam content areas, helping you identify specific topics to study before a retake.
Q: Are all 90 questions weighted the same?
A: For scoring purposes, yes. Each correctly answered scored question contributes equally to your raw score. The exam also includes 10 unscored pretest questions that are mixed in and indistinguishable from the scored ones; these are used to evaluate questions for future exams and do not affect your score.
Q: What is the best way to gauge if I'm ready to score 1400+?
A: Since you cannot know the exact raw-to-scale conversion, focus on consistent performance on full-length practice exams. Use high-quality practice tests that mimic the PTCE. If you are consistently scoring well above the typical reported passing threshold on those practice tests (often cited as answering 70-75%+ correctly), you are likely in a good position to achieve a scaled score of 1400 or higher on the actual exam.
For resources that can help you prepare effectively and understand standardized exam scoring, you can explore certilyst.com.