Scoring
How are scores calculated for the multiple choice-question component?
How are scores calculated for the clinical decision-making component?
How are overall scores calculated for the MCCQE Part I?
How do I interpret my MCCQE Part I total score?
How is a pass/fail decision made?
What will appear on the Statement of Results?
What will appear in candidates’ MCC-Online accounts?
What is the Family Medicine sub-score?
The Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part I (MCCQE Part I) is scored independently of the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part II (MCCQE Part II); the scores are not combined for the purpose of awarding the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC). The candidate must pass both the MCCQE Part I and Part II.
MCC examination scores are reported in a standard score format, which are distributions typically scaled to have a predetermined mean and/or standard deviation. A candidate's pass/fail standing is based on where his or her standard score falls in relation to the pass/fail mark established for the examination. A candidate's performance is judged in relation to the pass score for the examination and not judged on how well other individuals have performed on the examination. Candidates can, however, compare their performance to other candidates' because standard scores also provide information on where a candidate stands in relation to other candidates.
The MCCQE Part I results are reported on a standard score scale that ranges from 50 to 950. The pass mark is set at 390. The mean score may vary from one administration to another and is reported in the candidates' Statement of Results. The standard deviation is set at 100 for all administrations.
How are scores calculated for the multiple-choice question component?
Scores are calculated using a weighting system. More difficult questions contribute slightly more in the calculation of scores and easier questions contribute slightly less.
How are scores calculated for the clinical decision-making component?
There is a maximum of one point per question. Some questions, such as a question whose answer includes four correct elements, allow you to receive partial marks, in this case 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 or 1.
After scoring each question, the MCC scores each case, which may have between one and five questions. A case score is calculated using the average of all questions included in the case. Scores are also calculated for groups of cases covering the different disciplines (Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Psychiatry as well as Population Health, Ethical, Legal and Organizational Aspects of Medicine).
How are overall scores calculated for the MCCQE Part I?
The total score is calculated by combining the multiple-choice question and clinical decision-making component scores. However, the multiple-choice question component counts for 75 per cent of the score, while clinical decision making counts for 25 per cent of the score.
How do I interpret my MCCQE Part I total score?
To compare your score to other candidates’ scores, please refer to the graphical representation of scores below. This figure also shows the relationship between MCCQE Part I standard scores and other commonly used scores such as percentiles and Z scores.
(Adapted from F.G. Brown. Principles of Educational and Psychological Testing. Hinsdale, Illinois: The Dryden Press Inc., 1970)
A score of 500 on the MCCQE Part I is close to the 50th percentile meaning that half of the people who attempted the MCCQE Part I scored higher and half scored lower. A score of 400, which is one standard deviation below the mean, falls at the 15.9th percentile; meaning that 15.9 per cent of the candidates who took the MCCQE Part I scored below that mark and 84.1 per cent of candidates scored above it. Similarly, a score of 600, which is one standard deviation above the mean, falls at the 84.1th percentile; meaning that 84.1 per cent of candidates who took the MCCQE Part I scored below that mark and 15.9 per cent of candidates scored above it.
How is a pass/fail decision made?
A candidate’s standing (i.e. whether someone passes or fails the examination) is decided using the total examination score. Therefore, strong performances in some disciplines may compensate for weaknesses in others.
What will appear on the Statement of Results?
The Statement of Results includes the candidate’s examination standing and total score as well as the score that was required to pass the examination. Prior to 2010, additional information/feedback may have appeared on the Statement of Results. Starting in 2010, this additional information has been included in the supplemental feedback report that is made available through candidates’ online accounts.
What will appear in candidates’ MCC-Online accounts?
Starting with the 2010 examinations, the MCC is providing a copy of the Statement of Results as well as a supplemental feedback report through candidates’ MCC-Online accounts. The MCC has prepared a help file to assist candidates in interpreting their MCCQE Part I online supplemental feedback report.
What is the Family Medicine sub-score?
Candidates now receive Family Medicine sub-score graphs in their supplemental feedback report. These graphs are created from the responses to questions identified as assessing core family medicine knowledge and skills. This means that some questions used to generate a sub-score in Psychiatry, for example, could also contribute in the generation of a sub-score in Family Medicine. The MCCQE Part I has not incorporated new content in order to generate the Family Medicine sub-score; rather, existing questions from the current question bank were identified as being relevant to the Family Medicine discipline.
