All About the Angoff Score

Here at Relias, we receive countless inquiries about the Angoff (pass/fail) score displayed on our Relias clinical assessment results pages. Relias follows a rigorous process for the creation of our comprehensive assessment library that involves in-depth panels of subject matter experts who follow the recommendations set forth by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures. Significant amounts of data are collected and analyzed throughout this process to verify that each assessment item and answer is relevant, accurate, transportable, and non-biased. If you have wondered about the Angoff score, then wonder no more. We wanted to focus a little time on the Angoff score, and why it is so important to us.

What is an Angoff score?

The Angoff score is the lowest pass/fail cutoff score that a minimally qualified candidate is likely to achieve on a test.  The score is calculated by using a panel of experts to determine the difficulty of each test question included in an assessment.

The Angoff method is used by many well-known entities in order to establish the minimal pass/fail cutoff for job knowledge assessments, including the NCSBN for the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-LPN examinations, the AACN for the CCRN examination, the FSBPT for the NPTE examination, and many others.

Is there a difference between an unmodified Angoff and a modified Angoff?

Yes. Once the Angoff score (or pass/fail cutoff) is established by a panel of experts, the score is called the “unmodified Angoff.” The exam is then published for use by healthcare organizations across the country.

Once a sufficient sample size has completed an assessment, review and necessary adjustments to the test plan are then made, and the unmodified score becomes a “modified Angoff.”

Do A and B versions of clinical assessments have the same Angoff score?

No. The two versions measure the same knowledge domains with different assessment items.

Relias always recommends that the “A” version of an assessment be given to the candidates first. If a candidate does not meet the Angoff score, we recommend that the “B” version of the same assessment be administered.  As such, the “A” version quickly reaches the required sample size long before the “B” version reaches the same size.  Therefore, especially for newly released assessments, you may see a modified Angoff on the “A” version of the assessment long before you see a modified Angoff for the “B” version.

Relias’ goal is to assist healthcare organizations in determining which candidates are a best match for their organization. Our assessments help determine which candidates possess the clinical job knowledge, behavioral attributes and interpersonal communication skills, that work together in order to provide high quality care and customer service to your patients. The assessments also meet all requirements set forth in the Federal Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures, for pre-employment selection devices.