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Examination Results and Scoring

How will I get my examination results?

After the administration of the examination, your examination will be scored by FSBPT. The results will then be transmitted to the licensing authority and a free score report will be made available to candidates.

Scores are reported to jurisdictions approximately 5 business days after the examination date. While every effort is made to report scores in 5 business days, circumstances beyond our control may require that this date shift.

Free score reports are provided to candidate 10 business days after the examination. Free score reports can be viewed and downloaded by going to “Status of My Request” on the website www.fsbpt.org. Free score reports will remain viewable for 30 days. After 30 days, reports may be purchased at the standard fee for an Individual Score Report.

What are scale scores and what is the passing score?

The NPTE uses sophisticated procedures to ensure test forms are equally difficult across administrations. Scale scores are an important part of making sure test scores are comparable.

As forms (versions) of the NPTE may vary slightly in their level of difficulty, raw scores (the number of questions a candidate answers correctly) are converted to scale scores. The scaled scores represent equivalent levels of achievement regardless of the examination form taken, ensuring that scores on all forms of the examination are comparable. The NPTE scale score is a mathematical conversion of raw scores to a scale that ranges from 200 to 800. Because of the conversion, a score of 800 does not equal a perfect score–it is only the highest score that FSBPT reports.

All jurisdiction licensing authorities have adopted the same criterion-referenced passing standard for the NPTE. Although FSBPT reports scores ranging from 200 to 800, the NPTE is a pass/fail examination. The examination is not designed to distinguish between many levels of competence, only to distinguish whether a candidate has at least the minimum level of competence required to practice as an entry-level PT or PTA. The passing standard is a scale score of 600; therefore, any score of 600 or higher is a passing score, and any score below 600 is a failing score. The number of questions that have to be answered correctly to achieve a score of 600 can change from form to form, but is generally within a 1-2 question range.

If a form of the examination is slightly easier than the form on which the passing score was set, an examinee would have to answer more questions correctly to obtain a scale score of 600. If the form of the examination is slightly harder, an examinee would have to answer fewer questions correctly to pass the examination. This process ensures that we apply the same standard of difficulty regardless of whether the items are a little easier or a little harder than those on another form.

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