In May 2021, ARRT began offering a new student pathway for certification and registration in Vascular Sonography (VS). As part of that change, we added a section covering patient care. As a result, the exam now has 175 items.

In conjunction with the above changes ARRT also instituted a new cut score for the VS examination. Although we’ll continue to report the exam’s cut score as a scaled score of 75, candidates must now answer approximately eight more items correctly to meet the cut score.  

What’s a Cut Score?

A cut score is the number of correct answers needed to pass an exam. A passing score differentiates minimally qualified and unqualified candidates for certification and registration.

Why the Change?

Increasing the exam’s length by adding a patient care section factored into the updated cut score. Additionally, because we adopted the previous standard in 2000, the types of VS procedures for patients—and, correspondingly, the skills and knowledge needed to perform them safely and effectively—have changed.

ARRT’s psychometricians conduct a standard-setting study periodically to better address changes in training and practice. Such studies give us confidence that cut scores are valid measurements of who should and shouldn’t earn ARRT credentials.

How Did ARRT Determine the New Cut Score?

ARRT standard setting begins when advisory committee members review the questions from a representative version of an exam. They rate the likelihood that candidates will answer each question correctly and discuss their opinions in depth with other committee members. We then submit the committee recommendations to ARRT’s Board of Trustees. The Board reviews the results and recommendations before adopting a cut score.