After all your hard work, you’ve gotta pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (the PANCE) in order to practice. (No pressure, right?) If you’re worried about the exam and are wondering things like what the average PANCE score is, or what score you need to pass, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’re going to review some FAQs about the exam to put your mind at ease.
Let’s get started!
Studying for the PANCE in 2025? Here’s what to know about the new 2025 NCCPA content blueprint!
How is the PANCE scored?
The PANCE is scored by a panel of experts. These experts know exactly what skills and knowledge an entry-level PA should have in order to be a good clinician. The process of using experts to determine candidate quality is called standard setting.
To score examinations, PANCE experts use something called the Angoff method. Here’s how it works: they look at a test question on the PANCE and then determine if someone who is “just qualified” should be able to get the right answer. The ratings the experts provided for the questions are then used as a basis for determining the “cut score.” This is the threshold that a test taker needs to exceed in order to pass the exam.
What is the PANCE passing score?
The minimum score is 200, the maximum score is 800, and the score you need to pass is 350.
Does the PANCE have subscores?
Another cool thing about the PANCE is that it allows you to see your test subscores. The subscore is the number of questions you got right about a particular body system. This allows you identify which areas are your strengths, and which may be your weaknesses.
Is there a single version of the PANCE that everyone takes?
It’s also important to note that there are different test forms, meaning everyone will be taking a different test. The test is standardized by the content and difficulty of questions. This means that everyone will be tested with questions that are of roughly the same difficulty. They’ll also get roughly the same amount of questions per body system compared to other tests.
So, even if you take a different test than someone else, the grading and passability should be the same.
What’s the average score?
The average PANCE score in 2023 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.
Over the last five years, the PANCE passing rate has decreased slightly. In 2019, the average PANCE score was 464, and the passing rate was 91%. In 2023, the average score was 455, with a total pass rate of 89%.
Don’t let this slight drop in passing rate discourage you. You still have an almost 90% chance of passing the PANCE based on this information, but it’s good to make sure you are extra prepared for the exam.
How do I make sure I pass the PANCE on the first try?
So, how do you make sure you’re ready for the exam?
Here are some tips:
1. Make a study schedule.
When studying for the PANCE, it’s important to put in sufficient time so you’re well-prepared come test day. I suggest creating a study schedule for yourself in the weeks leading up to the exam. Devote a couple hours of each day to uninterrupted study time. That way you’ll make sure you have plenty of time to cover all the topics on the PANCE.
You can even break up your study days into specific body systems so that you can keep things organized. It’s important to note the PANCE will have more questions about certain body systems than others. It’s a good idea to spend extra time on those areas, since you’ll be tested on those things more frequently during the exam. You can find a blueprint of the PANCE topics here.
2. Use your resources.
There are plenty of PANCE studying resources out there. I suggest you take advantage of them! Blueprint PA (formerly Rosh Review) is an excellent resource that’ll give you the tools you need to be confident and well-prepared for your exam. I’d recommend taking some of the practice tests offered by Blueprint. That way you can get a feel for how the PANCE will be.
The benefit of a Blueprint practice test is the rationale provided for each question. You can see why the right answer is correct, and why the incorrect answers are not. This can be really helpful for your studying journey, because it allows you to see which areas you may need to spend a little more time on.
3. Tackle test anxiety.
We all get nervous when it comes to taking tests, and the PANCE is no exception. If you find yourself feeling anxious in the days and weeks leading up to test time, you’re not alone. PANCE test anxiety can ultimately affect your score, so it’s best to manage it as it comes up. Meditation can be a great tool to help manage anxiety, as well as breathing exercises.
If you’re in the testing center and find your nerves getting the best of you, you can always take a break from the exam. Make sure to follow test center rules, but most places do allow for breaks. You can use the restroom, walk around, or get a drink or a snack to help calm your nerves. Positive self talk is also key for test taking.
Remember, you’ve got this! You’ve spent the last two plus years of your life preparing for this exam, and you’ve studied hard. Take a deep breath and remember that you are capable.
Final Thoughts
It’s normal to feel pressure when it comes to the PANCE. But you have what it takes to succeed! Now that you know the average PANCE score is well over the passing threshold and the answers to other key questions, we hope you’re feeling more confident. You’ve put in the work and now you’re ready to take the next step on your journey to becoming a PA.
If you’d like a bit more reassurance, be sure to take advantage of Blueprint’s PANCE review resources!
📈PANCE Qbank – 3,800 NCCPA-formatted questions with explanations
👩💻PANCE/PANRE Live Review Course – 4 days (30 hours) of live content review + 570 PANCE-style practice questions
🤝PANCE Tutoring – 1:1 personalized sessions with a PA-C tutor + access to the PANCE Qbank
Happy studying and good luck!
