What is a really good PANCE score?

A good PANCE score is anything above the 350 passing threshold, but aiming for 400+ is considered excellent, with the average first-time score typically around the mid-400s (e.g., 455 in 2024) on the 200-800 scale, showing that while passing is the goal, a strong score reflects true competence.

What percentage is a 350 on the PANCE?

PANCE scores are not given as raw percentages. Instead, they're scaled on a 200 to 800 range, with 350 being the minimum passing score. This means: A score below 350 is considered a fail.

How many people pass PANCE on First Try?

Most people pass the PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination) on their first try, with national first-time pass rates typically hovering around 92-93%, though it can fluctuate slightly year to year, with figures around 89-95% reported in recent years (2020-2024). While overall pass rates (including retakes) are higher (95-97%), the first attempt is generally very successful for most graduates. 

What is the national average PANCE pass rate?

In April 2019, the NCCPA announced that PANCE pass rate had dropped from 98% to 93% after the release of the newest PANCE blueprint. After trending upward to 95% in 2020, the PANCE pass rate has been declining, with PANCE pass rates down to 92% for the past three years.

What percentile is my PANCE score?

PANCE scores range from a minimum of 200 to a maximum of 800. Unlike the MCAT, they don't use percentiles for your score. The PANCE is a pass or fail test with a set passing score: 350. Fortunately, the exam is simply based on the items you answered correctly.

Checking my PANCE Results…😮‍💨

What is a perfect PANCE score?

The PANCE scale has a minimum score of 200, a maximum score of 800, and the passing score is 350.

Which CPA exam has the lowest pass rate?

Statistically, BAR has the lowest pass rate at 40%, followed closely by FAR at 41%, making them the hardest to pass, while TCP has the highest pass rate at 76%. However, when CPA candidates were surveyed, FAR was overwhelmingly chosen as the most difficult by 63% of respondents, with AUD in second place at 24%.

Is 600 a good PANCE score?

Though passing scores are no longer published, a PANCE score of 350+ is generally accepted as "passing," however, passing scores can and do range from 350-392. The highest score attainable on your PANCE is 800.

Is PA school harder than med school?

Neither PA school nor medical school is definitively "harder"; they are intensely rigorous but differ in focus, duration, and admission hurdles, with PA school often requiring more diverse patient care hours upfront but medical school demanding deeper foundational science and the challenging MCAT, culminating in longer, specialized residency for MDs versus direct PA practice. PA school condenses core medical knowledge into a fast-paced 2-3 years, while medical school (4 years + residency) offers broader, deeper, and longer specialization, making both demanding in different ways. 

Is CPA harder than bar?

There's no definitive answer, as it's subjective, but many who've taken both find the CPA Exam harder due to its four distinct sections, breadth of technical accounting knowledge, and the need to pass all within 18 months (a marathon), while the Bar Exam is often seen as a more intense, physically demanding sprint over two days testing broad legal concepts. The CPA's difficulty often comes from its multifaceted nature and the challenge of mastering different accounting/tax areas, whereas the Bar's challenge lies in the sheer volume of legal information and mental stamina required over consecutive days. 

Is PANCE harder than UWorld?

📚Uworld - level of difficulty was about the same or harder than questions on the PANCE so I definitely think it prepares you well. Reading explanations for things you get wrong & understanding it is key. The PANCE also looks EXACTLY like uworld so that helped me feel more familiar on test day!

What is the hardest PA school to get into?

The hardest PA (Physician Assistant) schools to get into are generally those with extremely low acceptance rates, like Duke University (around 2.3%), Emory University (around 2.7%), and Baylor College of Medicine (around 3.7%), often requiring substantial patient care experience (PCE) and high GPAs. Other highly competitive programs include George Washington University, where top applicants have thousands of hours of PCE. Admission difficulty hinges on high metrics like GPA, science scores, extensive PCE, and strong GREs, with national averages around a 3.6 GPA, notes Stepful. 

Why are CPA pass rates so low?

A common complaint from CPA candidates concerns the enormity of the exam material. Since accounting concerns itself with frequently changing statutes and laws, there are many details one has to commit to memory. Another way to put it is that there are more than 600 key points packaged into representative tasks.

What is the average GPA for Marquette PA program?

Average GPA (if reported) is more than 3.50, which is about average for all the programs. This is a public school. This school is on your list of programs.

Is Penn State a good PA program?

The Physician Assistant (PA) Program at Penn State College of Medicine is celebrating the class of 2024 for an impressive accomplishment: Achieving a 100% pass rate for first-time test takers on the national board certification exam.

How many questions can I get wrong on the PANCE to pass?

The exam uses a scaled scoring system ranging from 200 to 800, with 350 being the minimum passing score. Candidates should note that each question on the PANCE carries equal weight. There is no penalty for incorrect answers, so it's advisable to attempt every question.

What can a PA do that a MD cannot?

A Physician Assistant (PA) does many things doctors do (exams, diagnose, prescribe, treat), but the key difference is that PAs work as part of a team, requiring collaboration or supervision by a physician, whereas doctors (MDs/DOs) are independent practitioners who lead teams and perform complex surgeries, a role PAs generally cannot do independently, though they can assist in surgery and perform minor procedures. PAs offer similar care quality but often have more predictable schedules, while doctors lead healthcare teams and specialize more broadly.
 

What is the 32 hour rule in medical school?

The "32-hour rule" in medical school admissions refers to a policy where some medical schools focus on an applicant's GPA from their most recent 32 credit hours, often in science courses, instead of their entire undergraduate GPA, benefiting students with a strong upward trend or a solid post-baccalaureate performance. Schools like Wayne State University and LSU Health New Orleans use variations of this to give more weight to recent academic efforts, allowing strong performance in later coursework or post-bacc programs to shine. 

Is being a PA harder than RN?

While both models have merit, the medical model demands a high intensity of didactic learning and clinical rotations, making PA education more rigorous in terms of sheer volume of medical content.

What is an average PANCE score?

The average PANCE score for first-time test takers in 2024 was 455. Remember, the score needed to pass is 350, so if the average is 455, this should be encouraging to you! This means that many PANCE test-takers do well on the exam, regardless of where they did their schooling.

Is the PANCE changing in 2025?

Yes, the PANCE blueprint changed in 2025, with updates taking effect January 2025, reflecting the evolving medical field through percentage adjustments in content areas (like increased emphasis on Psychiatry and Infectious Disease, decreased Cardiology), new and moved topics (e.g., new musculoskeletal topics, revised neurology sections), and slight renamings to align with current medical terminology. These changes, determined by the NCCPA, ensure the exam remains relevant for new Physician Assistants.
 

Is 3 weeks enough to study for PANCE?

Yes, 3 weeks can be enough for PANCE prep, especially if you're a strong student with recent clinical knowledge, but it requires intense, focused study (9-5 days, high volume practice questions, active recall) using the NCCPA blueprint as your guide, focusing on weak areas; for those who need more time, 2-3 months or more is often recommended for a less overwhelming experience. 

Is a CPA harder than a bar?

There's no definitive answer, as it's subjective, but many who've taken both find the CPA Exam harder due to its four distinct sections, breadth of technical accounting knowledge, and the need to pass all within 18 months (a marathon), while the Bar Exam is often seen as a more intense, physically demanding sprint over two days testing broad legal concepts. The CPA's difficulty often comes from its multifaceted nature and the challenge of mastering different accounting/tax areas, whereas the Bar's challenge lies in the sheer volume of legal information and mental stamina required over consecutive days. 

How many people pass all 4 CPA exams on first try?

Only a small percentage of candidates pass all four CPA exam sections on their first try, with estimates generally falling between 13.9% and 20%, though some older data suggests around 13.6%. While individual section pass rates vary (often 40-70% depending on the section and quarter), successfully completing all four parts on the first attempt is a challenging feat, with many candidates taking longer or needing multiple attempts to pass all sections within the 18-month window, say sources like Accounting Today and UWorld. 

Are CPA exams curved?

Calculating your CPA Exam score

Scores are reported on a scale that ranges from 0 to 99. It's important to know that your total reported score does not represent a percentage correct, nor can you interpret it as such. Scores are not curved.