Course Pass Rates - Caveat Emptorum

Course Director Dr. Krishna Das has tracked candidates' self-reported results since the 1990s. Self-reporting lends a reporting bias and the results are statistically flawed. There is a tendency for those who have failed not to report their results. On the contrary and not surprisingly, those who pass freely share their results.

However the pass/fail rates published by ABOG & AOBOG are 100% accurate. Please refer to their websites, www.abog.org* and www.aobog.org. ABOG began publishing the names of candidates who passed their oral exams in the green journal in 2007. We can now cross reference these results with our course attendees. Though our pass rate is higher than the ABOG reported rate, there is much limitation in extrapolating further statistics. For example, we cannot report the breakdown of US, international graduates, first time takers or repeaters, as many do not complete this on our questionnaires. Furthermore, the absence of a name on the ABOG pass list may not necessarily be a failure, as one can take the course, but not take their exam that same year. Though we can now get at least some idea of pass rates, there is still much statistical limitation.

In spite of verbal pleas at the course and an average of six e-mail reminders, only 75% of attendees contacted us with their oral exam results. However, of those who did contact us, 90% passed their exam. Of those attendees who participated in two services, 93% passed. Most reassuringly, 98% of the candidates who prepared optimally by attending the course, workshop, and mock orals passed their exam. Overall, for those who were repeating their exam, 73% passed, but 98% passed if they took advantage of all of the ABC services.

These statistics apply only to the ABOG oral exam. ABOG does not publish the names of those passing/failing their written exams. AOBOG does not publish the names for either one of their written or clinical exams. Common sense will suggest those that attend a review course will probably have a pass rate higher than those who do not. Again selection bias precludes sound statistical evaluation as probably those who attend review courses are more motivated and better prepared.

So caveat emptorum. If a course posts their pass rates, make sure you ask HOW this was calculated. Understand how this appeals to your vulnerable emotions. Your only frame of reference is you...and you are desperately hoping this pass rate applies to you. It might, but it may not at all.

Wouldn't it be great if ABOG and AOBOG could give us these stats? Even better, they could tell us WHICH review course has the highest pass rate.

ABC does guarantee you 100% that we will provide the best review; We refuse to make claims that may not be statistically sound. ABC...you can do it; we can help.

* To review their exam statistics: 2005 ABOG Pass rates  |  2006 ABOG pass rates (then scroll to p.19)  |  2007 ABOG pass rates (then scroll to p.3)  |  2008 ABOG pass rates are no longer posted online, but are available in the ABOG Diplomate.

"I took the written exam (ABOG) for the second time and passed! I think your course made all the difference. I scored a 150 (out of 200 = 75%), which was an enormous improvement from my first test score of 104 (out of 180 = 58%). Thank you for an excellent course. I'll be back for my orals." -- N.T., 2007

"I just received my AOBOG written board exam results -- Not only did I pass this time, but I scored 47 points higher!" -- NA 6/09