Taking an Assessment in ASCEND
Passing Assessments and Modules
All assessments and modules have a passing grade of 65%. For further information regarding grading please see the assessment and grading policies.
Pre-Clinical Correlate Small Group (CCSG) Basics
CCSG Basics ensures that students are prepared with the requisite foundational knowledge to succeed and participate in their CCSG sessions. These multiple-choice questions are posted on BlackBoard. They will open 48 hours prior to the CCSG and are found under the Assessments section of BlackBoard. CCSG Basics are due 1 hour prior to the start of the CCSG. Should back-to-back CCSGs be scheduled, they will be due 1 hour prior to the start of the first CCSG. Due dates will be posted on the Phase 1 Google Calendar. Students must complete these individually in the time limit provided. They will contribute to your overall grade in the module, however they are low stakes. Answers to the questions will be provided after the Basics is completed. CCSG Basics are required even if you have a planned or unplanned absence. They cannot be postponed and students who do not complete the assignment in the designated window will receive a zero. Students should plan accordingly, and we encourage you to complete them by the night before the CCSG in case of an emergency.
Additional time for testing in standard coursework will be managed via Blackboard by the Preclerkship team. Please note you must initiate your exam/quiz during the scheduled test window set by the faculty. Your time will reflect any approved accommodations.
Quizzes
Weekly quizzes form an essential part of the ASCEND module, focusing on the material covered in the preceding week. During the Foundations Block in Semester 1, quizzes will be faculty written and taken through the BlackBoard platform. Starting in Semester 2, quizzes will come from the AMBOSS Question Bank and the link will be found on BlackBoard. While the quizzes contribute to the final grade, they mainly serve as formative assessment, encouraging consistent study habits and providing immediate feedback.
Amboss Account Activation and Setting Quiz Timing (Semesters 2 & 3)
To activate your Amboss account, go to this link and follow instructions. The default mode in Amboss is 90 seconds per question. Students with approved time accommodations can change their default setting. On your home page, go to "Accounts and Settings," located on the left-side menu. Click on "Accounts and Settings," and the tab will expand to include "Careers and Study Profile." Click on this, and a screen will open up. A section called, "Disability-Related Time Accommodations" will be at the bottom, and you will use the drop-down menu to select the appropriate extended time (e.g. 1.5x). This setting should only be used by students with approved accommodations. Students without approved accommodations should confirm their account is set to standard time. Selecting an extended time option that you were not approved for is a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy.
Quiz Administration
A link to the BlackBoard and/or Amboss quiz will be posted in the BlackBoard module. The quiz will be open for two days and close at 11:59 PM EST on the second day. Students can see when quizzes occur on the Google calendar.
Postponing Amboss/Blackboard Quizzes due to Emergency
In the preclerkship phase of the MD program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the ability to take an online quiz (Blackboard or AMBOSS) during a prescribed assessment window provides students with flexibility in when and where they take the assessment. Given this flexibility, there are only a few instances when permission to take a quiz outside the window will be granted by the Office for Curricular Affairs.
Students can request an alternate window (which will be granted for the following Thursday during Independent Learning Time) to complete their quiz in the following circumstances:
Unplanned Absences: Urgent reasons such as illness that physically prevents a student from completing the assessment or a personal emergency. Even if a student has submitted an absence form, students MUST request an alternate window by emailing preclerkships@mssm.edu prior to the conclusion of the assessment window.
Technical Issues: For any unresolvable technical issue that prevents a student from initiating or continuing with the online quiz. Students must email preclerkships@mssm.edu and the module director within 60 minutes of the reported failure. The Office of Curricular Affairs will respond the next business day to reschedule. Failure to report the technical issue within the timeframe outlined will result in a zero for the assessment.
Planned Absences: Because of the generous (>48 h) quiz window, students may only request a rescheduled quiz if they are celebrating a major religious holiday that spans the duration of the window. Students who anticipate needing an alternate window to accommodate a religious holiday must email preclerkships@mssm.edu 14 days prior to the start of the quiz window.
Students who do not adhere to the policies above will receive a zero on their quiz and will not be allowed to take at a later date.
Rescheduling Amboss/Blackboard Quizzes
Rescheduling an assessment is not an extension to the testing window. Instead, students who meet the above criteria for an alternate test window will take the quiz on Thursday immediately following assessment close during the Independent Learning time (from 8:00 AM - 11:59 PM EST ). Instructions with details about the rescheduled assessment will be emailed to you.
Students with Accommodations and Amboss/BlackBoard Quizzes
Additional time for testing in standard coursework will be managed via Blackboard by the Preclerkship team. Please note you must initiate your exam/quiz during the scheduled test window set by the faculty. Your time will reflect any approved accommodations.
Anatomy Practical Exams
The anatomy practical exam will consist of groups of students rotating through stations (such as cadaveric, prosection, or images) with labeled items, and answering questions with paper and pen. After a specified amount of time, students will rotate to the next station. This is a restricted absence day, and absences will only be granted due to emergencies (unplanned) or observance of a major religious holiday (planned). Students will be assigned a makeup day to make up the practical.
Pathology Practical Quiz
Pathology Practical Quiz is an in-class, team-based exercise where students are asked to function as pathologists and diagnose unknown cases (autopsies and surgical resections). The assessment is open book. Every member of the team gets the same practical quiz grade.
Team-Based Learning Assessments
Team-Based Learning (TBL): A structured group learning strategy that incorporates individual study, team collaboration, and immediate feedback in a high learner-to-faculty ratio environment. Assessments are taken in class.
Proctored CAS Exams
All ASCEND modules have an end-of-module summative exam. Summative exams are created by module faculty using the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Customized Assessment Services (CAS). Three out of the 14 modules will have mid-module exams.
In modules with only 1 exam, the exam will cover the full content of the module. In the 3 modules with mid-module exams, the end-of-module exam will only cover the material from the second half of the module. All NBME CAS exams are proctored in-person. Mid-module exams are held on a Friday midway through the module, and end-of-module exams on the last Friday of the module at 9 AM
Exam Administration
Scheduled Exam Times
Students are expected to report for their proctored exams by 9 AM on the exam dates which can be found on the Google calendar and academic calendar. The end times provided are approximate, based on starting the exam on time without any complications for students using standard timing. NBME technical difficulties, WiFi connectivity issues, personal laptop issues, and/or weather issues have the potential to substantially delay examination end times; students should take this into account when scheduling travel (flights or any other travel arrangements) after examinations. The school does not guarantee end times and will not reimburse or reschedule a student who misses any travel arrangements due to an extended NBME end time.
Preparation for Exam
Pre-certification is an important step in preparing for the NBME exams as it helps identify potential software conflicts and issues prior to an exam. All students were required to perform pre-certification of their laptops during Basecamp. As there can be periodic updates to laptop operating systems, or you may purchase a new laptop, we recommend that you go through the certification process prior to every exam. The directions can be found here: https://wbt.nbme.org/wbtexam/home.
One week Prior to Exam
Students with approved accommodations for the use of adaptive software including screen readers are strongly encouraged to test this software as well ahead of an exam.
Exam Day
Exams are held in Annenberg on the 12th and 13th Floors classrooms. All in-person proctored exam days are considered restricted days, and planned absences will not be granted unless they are major religious holidays. Unplanned absences are allowed. Make-up days are designated on the Academic Calendar.
Students must arrive at their assigned testing room by 9:00 AM to check in, get seat assignments, and set up laptop. Exams start at 9:30 AM sharp. Students who arrive after 9:30 AM will not be allowed to sit for the exam. This rule will be strictly enforced.
Students should bring the following items with them:
Student ID Badge for identification purposes
Fully charged personal laptop
Laptop charger
Foam earplugs (optional preference)
Students will be provided a board and dry-erase marker for notetaking.
All other personal belongings must be left in front of the room away from the secure testing area.
In addition students must follow the NBME’s rules and conduct found here and listed below: https://www.nbme.org/common-questions/exam-rules-and-conduct
Do not bring any personal/unauthorized items into the secure testing area. Such items include but are not limited to, outerwear, hats, food, drinks, purses, briefcases, notebooks, notes, pagers, watches, cell phones, recording devices, and photographic equipment.
You are not permitted to access any unauthorized items during the exam administration.
Do not make notes on your note board prior to entering your CIN or start up code. Once your exam begins, you are permitted to make calculations or notes ONLY on the erasable note board provided.
You must adhere to the instructions provided by proctors administering the examination.
Carefully review and agree to abide by any instructions provided or that appear at the start of the examination session.
Test proctors are not authorized to answer questions from examinees regarding examination content, testing software or scoring.
Do not leave the testing site at any time during your administration unless you inform and obtain permission from the testing proctor or are instructed to so do by test administration staff.
Failure to follow test day rules and procedures may result in the withholding or cancellation of your scores, and/or a bar from future exams administered by the NBME.
The proctor will provide instructions to students before the start of the exam.
Any technical issues will be handled by the proctor.
Proctors will have a limited number of back up laptops available in the exam room on exam day.
We encourage you to take the exam during business hours.
Module Exam Scores and Performance
About a week after the exam, your official exam score will be posted to your Module Blackboard gradebook. You will also receive an email from NBME with access to an individual exam profile which provides your exam score and performance by exam subtopic in graph format.
Students will receive a Module BlackBoard announcement from the Office of Curricular Affairs team detailing the exam location and other important information, including verification of approved accommodation if applicable.
Practice of Medicine Exams
Each Practice of Medicine module will include two exams, which consist of one or more clinical cases using Standardized Patients (SPs) and an associated written note, generally hosted in or in partnership with The Morchand Center. In addition, intermittent quizzes will occur.
The exams will utilize a standard checklist or rubric related to the skill being tested (such as history taking, physical exam technique, or documentation). A student must complete enough items on the checklist to be above a set cut off percentage to pass the exam. The Clinical Competency Mentors or the Standardized Patients will score these checklists. Clinical Competency Mentors will not observe students in their own Learning Community in exams.
Practice of Medicine exams will generally occur on Thursdays, and each student will be scheduled for specific times that day. Some exams, such as POM assessment week in the POM 2 module will be scheduled over several days. These days are listed on the academic calendar as restricted days for absences.
Postponing or Rescheduling an Exam
Planned Absences
Per the Preclerkship Absence Policy, days with assessments (Practicals, Proctored CAS Exams, POM assessments, etc) are designated as restricted days, during which absences cannot be requested. These restricted days are indicated on the Academic Calendar.
Students may request an exception to the restricted days policy for major religious holidays (e.g. Rosh Hashana, Eid al-Fitr, Good Friday). Requests for holiday absences must be submitted at least 14 days (2 weeks) in advance. This policy does not extend to religious ceremonies (e.g. weddings, baptisms). Students will be required to make up the exam on a designated make-up day. Absence Request Form.
Unplanned Absences
Exceptions for medical or other emergencies are permissible, but students must request an absence prior to the start of the assessment. Students will be required to make up the exam on a designated make-up day. Absence Request Form.
Unexcused Absences
Students who do not follow the policies above regarding notification of planned or unplanned absences for assessments will be considered unexcused. They will receive a zero for that assessment.
Students with Testing Accommodations
Approved testing accommodations occur through the Office of Student Disability Services. Accommodations should be requested as soon as possible to ensure adequate time to implement. Please note that accommodations can never be retroactive.
Accommodations are implemented by the Preclerkship team in the Office of Curricular Affairs. If you experience a problem on test day related to accommodations contact preclerkships@mssm.edu
Please be aware that a student’s status as a student with a disability is often noticeable during these exams when accommodations such as extended time, separate location, or alternate test taking devices are used. You may opt out of these accommodations at your discretion by emailing the Director of Disability Services at least 2 weeks before the test date.
For more information: https://icahn.mssm.edu/education/students/disability
Amboss Quizzes - Students set their own testing time in Amboss. The Office of Curricular Affairs cannot see or alter student information. Only students with approved accommodations may change their quiz time.
Proctored CAS Exams - For the proctored CAS exams the Preclerkship team will receive your name and accommodation/s and will implement needed accommodations. They will communicate any necessary information to you via email (i.e., room location, etc.).
Practice of Medicine - The exact format of the exam will be provided by the course directors.
Anatomy Practical Exams - Students with similar time-based accommodations will rotate together, separate from the standard time group. Students who require accommodations for the way they take the exam (such as screen-readers, keyboard based, etc.) will be provided those accommodations in the room.
Team-Based Learning Assessments - Students without accommodations will take their Individual Readiness Assurance Test (IRAT) in class on BlackBoard, at the start of class. Students with accommodations will take their IRAT prior to class on BlackBoard with their designated accommodations.
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