# Any clue what a passing score is on the ASCP Phlebotomy Test?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-clue-what-a-passing-score-is-on-the-ascp-phlebotomy-test/537065
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 23, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-clue-what-a-passing-score-is-on-the-ascp-phlebotomy-test/537065 "2010-04-23T01:59:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-clue-what-a-passing-score-is-on-the-ascp-phlebotomy-test/537065/1 "2010-04-23T01:59:52Z")
My wife has taken the pre-test for this:
[http://www.ascp.org/pdf/ExaminationContentGuidelinesPBT.aspx](http://www.ascp.org/pdf/ExaminationContentGuidelinesPBT.aspx)
She got 76% of the questions right.
Her instructors in phlebotomy never told her what the passing % is.
It’s nowhere on the website or in any of her paper course materials.
She has an exam scheduled, but is concerned that she might be unready for the test.
Anyone been through this?
Is there perhaps a cite somewhere for the passing grade?
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### Author:  [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2010, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-clue-what-a-passing-score-is-on-the-ascp-phlebotomy-test/537065/2 "2010-04-23T07:32:19Z")
I don’t know anything personally about this, but I googled and found [this document](http://www.ascp.org/pdf/ExaminationContentGuidelinesPBT.aspx) (hopefully this is the one you’re looking for) that says the passing score is 400. It doesn’t say what the maximum score is, so I don’t know what percentage 400 is equivalent to.
> [@](#):
>
> After the examination has been administered and scored, a report is sent to the examinee. The Examinee Performance Report provides the scaled score on the total examination and pass/fail status for all candidates.
>
> In addition, failing candidates receive scaled scores for each subtest (see content outline for subtests). This information may help the examinee identify areas of strengths and weaknesses in order to develop a study plan for future examinations. A total score of 400 is required to pass the examination.
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### Author:  [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-clue-what-a-passing-score-is-on-the-ascp-phlebotomy-test/537065/3 "2010-04-23T15:46:05Z")
I’m just stunned that there’s a test–phlebotomy was always one of those OJT things.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-clue-what-a-passing-score-is-on-the-ascp-phlebotomy-test/537065/4 "2010-04-23T18:55:09Z")
For the record, the document Waenara links to is the same one I used a source document for my post.
I’m still open to factual answers if anyone has one.
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### Author:  [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2010, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-clue-what-a-passing-score-is-on-the-ascp-phlebotomy-test/537065/5 "2010-04-23T20:56:40Z")
> [@Mr.Slant](#):
>
> For the record, the document Waenara links to is the same one I used a source document for my post.
> I’m still open to factual answers if anyone has one.
Sorry about that - I didn’t realize it was the same document.
I just went to the ASCP website, and it says that they use Computer Adaptive Testing ([description here](http://www.ascp.org/FunctionalNavigation/certification/GetCertified/ComputerAdaptiveTestingCAT.aspx)). Basically, it’s administered on a computer and if you answer a question correctly the next one is slightly harder, and if you’re incorrect the next question is slightly easier. Each question is assigned a point value based on difficulty, and you need at least 400 points to pass. So I don’t know if it’s possible to relate this to a percentage - you just need to answer enough difficult questions to get 400 points, within the time limit. It says the highest attainable score is 999.
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### Author:  [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-clue-what-a-passing-score-is-on-the-ascp-phlebotomy-test/537065/6 "2010-04-23T21:12:24Z")
When I read the thread title, my brain mistakenly confused phlebotomy with phrenology. Bad brain!
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### Author:  [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2010, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-clue-what-a-passing-score-is-on-the-ascp-phlebotomy-test/537065/7 "2010-04-24T03:16:27Z")
Okay, thanks for the answer.
It’s computer adaptive testing, which means that knowing you got 76% of answers right on a pre-test means NOTHING.
Thanks!
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### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2010, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-clue-what-a-passing-score-is-on-the-ascp-phlebotomy-test/537065/8 "2010-04-24T12:40:11Z")
> [@Skammer](#):
>
> When I read the thread title, my brain mistakenly confused phlebotomy with phrenology. Bad brain!
Me too! I had to look it up when I found out people weren’t bashing it.
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### Author:  [@Fgoings](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fgoings)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2025, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-clue-what-a-passing-score-is-on-the-ascp-phlebotomy-test/537065/9 "2025-09-06T19:45:08Z")
I also received a 76% from acsp, and encourage to say to retest. I wonder if I can use my test for another company.
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2025, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-clue-what-a-passing-score-is-on-the-ascp-phlebotomy-test/537065/10 "2025-09-06T19:47:39Z")
@Fgoings : welcome to the SDMB!
Just to note, this is a thread, and a question, which the original poster, Mr.Slant, asked in 2010. He hasn’t been present on the board in five years, and it’s likely that his wife has long ago passed (or not passed) that exam. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2025, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-clue-what-a-passing-score-is-on-the-ascp-phlebotomy-test/537065/11 "2025-09-06T19:49:52Z")
I know plenty of people have the passion and skill to become phlebotomists, but not me. I don’t understand the draw.
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### Author:  [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2025, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-clue-what-a-passing-score-is-on-the-ascp-phlebotomy-test/537065/12 "2025-09-06T19:53:36Z")
Some people don’t get the point.
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### Author:  [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2025, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-clue-what-a-passing-score-is-on-the-ascp-phlebotomy-test/537065/13 "2025-09-06T19:54:03Z")
Bunch a pricks, all of you. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Plutonium\_Chef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plutonium_Chef)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2025, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-clue-what-a-passing-score-is-on-the-ascp-phlebotomy-test/537065/14 "2025-09-06T19:55:22Z")
> I know plenty of people have the passion and skill to become phlebotomists, but not me. I don’t understand the draw.
1. ISWYDT (draw)
2. It’s not for me either – phlebotomists labor in vein. 😉
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### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2025, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-clue-what-a-passing-score-is-on-the-ascp-phlebotomy-test/537065/15 "2025-09-06T19:57:58Z")
Can one draw blood from a stone zombie?
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### Author:  [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)
#### Post date: [September 6, 2025, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-clue-what-a-passing-score-is-on-the-ascp-phlebotomy-test/537065/16 "2025-09-06T20:20:59Z")
Yes, but you have to use a voodoo needle.
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2025, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-clue-what-a-passing-score-is-on-the-ascp-phlebotomy-test/537065/17 "2025-09-08T15:54:37Z")
They should use computer adaptive testing for everything from written drivers’ tests to medical board exams.
Keep giving wrong answers and eventually the questions get so ridiculously easy that everyone passes with 100%.
“Did you wake up today?” Um…yes!
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### Author:  [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2025, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-clue-what-a-passing-score-is-on-the-ascp-phlebotomy-test/537065/18 "2025-09-08T16:19:27Z")
We have similar issues with content tests for teachers. It will scale differently depending on how easy or difficult it is based on everyone’s score so there is no consistent raw score that is passing.