National Board Scores Plummet
As National Boards are quickly sneaking up on us, it only takes one look to realize that scores have plummeted over the past year. According to LIFE’s website, the most recent National Board scores for Part One were a mere 57.4% compared to the national average of 74.8%. This number has decreased from 63.2% just six months earlier and from 82.1% just in September of 2009. These numbers are concerning to not only the students facing boards in a few weeks, but to the faculty and administration as well. Many students have felt we are ‘reliving the past’ and that we are on the fast track to another collision with the CCE.
According to Dr. McAulay, Executive Vice President, over the past two years, our first time test takers pass rates have put us in a tie for fifth place among the other chiropractic schools. He states that in the past 18 months we have been as high as third, but the ultimate goal is to be first. So what do these numbers mean? When you look at the 57.4% passing rate we currently have, it means that of the 136 students who took the test, 57.4% passed all six sections and don’t have to retake any of them. While we, as students, feel relieved to see we only have to retake one or two sections, we are hurting the overall pass rate of the school as a whole. When it comes to Parts two, three and four LIFE is sitting in a good position, surpassing the averages in both Part two and Part four. We are not out of the woods and a lot of
Dr. Numeroff and Dr. King both stated that after the initial downfall 18 months ago the school began to look at what was causing the changes and what needed to be done to correct it. A group of professors began assessing the patterns and the process of our education. They began reviewing syllabi from the professors and seeing how they lined up with the NBCE tests. Dr. Amos, has been gathering questions from professors to update and expand the National Boards Prep section of the schools website. (Didn’t know we had that? If you are registered for the National Boards Prep Assembly, go to Blackboard and to the Board Assembly section. Under Documents you will find practice tests that target some of the most difficult board questions, memory joggers, review information and items contributed from each of the professors. There is also a link to Study Stack, an online flash card program that has a chiropractic section already created.)
Dr. Numeroff also stated that one of the big things the faculty is looking at is what a Part One successful student looks like. By doing this, they are hoping to be able to create a standard to strive for and to strengthen any weaknesses in the curriculum. New teachers have been hired in the Basic Sciences Department, but it will take time for them to perfect their curriculum and to see those changes in the board scores.
While the school is working to revamp the curriculum and fight back against the dropping scores, Dr. King and Dr. Numeroff both gave several tips to help students do the best they can to pass boards. They said studying needs to start in first quarter. Dr. King stated that students need to begin putting together a binder and organizing their class notes. She states that she often tells students to keep their notes at the end of the quarter. If you’ve already thrown them away, go back to the professors and get their notes and put them in your binder for boards. Dr. Numeroff added that when you take a test, even if you get a 98%, go and look at the test. See what you missed and have the professor explain the concept to you if you don’t understand it. That topic could end up being heavily tested on boards and you will not want to miss those questions. Some of the biggest tips they gave included:
- Look at the National Boards Breakdown both on Blackboard and on NBCE.org. Find your strengths and weaknesses and how they will weigh on the test. Study accordingly.
- Time management is crucial. It’s difficult to study for boards at the same time you are taking classes. Don’t wait until the last minute. Just because Microbiology may be mostly memorization, don’t put it off until the very end thinking you’ll remember it all. It’s one of the highest failed sections of our scores at the moment and it’s mostly because students push it off to the end.
- Rotate your study time. Don’t spend hours on one subject, but instead spend 20-30 minutes on it, then move on. Once you have a subject learned, move on and don’t come back to it.
- Know your study style and use it! If you are a group studier, plan your group early. If you are visual, use one of the online flashcard sites.
- Keep a positive attitude! When taking the test and you come to a question you don’t know, acknowledge it, remember that you are smart and have made it this far, and move on.
- Take boards as soon as you are eligible. The longer you wait, the more you will have to relearn.
Some other tips include that you don’t need to spend $500 on board review. Our professors have given us the information we need. They are the ones who write for National Boards and they are the ones who know what is on the exam. Use the tools they give you and study hard! If you do go to a review, remember it is a REVIEW! You will still need to put in outside study time.
Don’t try to give up caffeine if you are addicted to it. Don’t start or stop any habits or make major changes while preparing for boards. LIFE is responsible for making sure that students are prepared and pass boards, but only can assure your success! Be prepared and ROCK BOARDS this quarter!!! You are ready!
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