All You Need to Know About PA-CAT Scores
One of the newest requirements for entry into PA school is the Physician Assistant College Admission Test (PA-CAT). In the last several years, some PA schools have begun to require this test and others are recommending it.
Students preparing for the PA-CAT often wonder how the test is scored and those who have taken it ask whether their scores put them in the competitive range. Given that the PA-CAT is a new exam, schools have not published much information on average scores of accepted students.
Trying to figure out what your scores mean or whether they put you in the competitive range can be difficult. Here we will review how the PA-CAT is scored and how to interpret your scores on the test.
What are the Different Scored Sections of the PA-CAT?
The PA-CAT covers nine subject areas: anatomy, physiology, general biology, microbiology, genetics, general and organic chemistry, biochemistry, statistics, and behavioral science. The score is broken down into the following sections: Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, Chemistry, and a Composite score. The following subjects are included in each section’s score:
Anatomy and Physiology Score: As the name implies this is a measure of a test taker’s performance on all questions about anatomy or physiology
Biology Score: This section measures performance in general biology, microbiology, and genetics.
Chemistry Score: This section includes general and organic chemistry as well as biochemistry.
Composite Score: This is a measure of an examinee’s performance in all of the above sections as well as statistics and behavioral science which are not included in the other subsection scores.
What is the Possible Range of Scores on the PA-CAT?
The PA-CAT score report or transcript contains two scores for each section: a scaled score and a percentile.
The Scaled Score: This score ranges from 200 – 800 for each section. It is calculated based on the number of questions answered correctly but it also takes into account the difficulty of the exam and an individual’s performance compared to others who have taken the test.
Percentile Score: The percentile score is a two-digit score from 1 to 100. This score shows the percentage of people who scored lower on that section of the test. For example, if you receive a percentile score of 64 on the Anatomy and Physiology section, this means that 64% of people who took the PA-CAT got a score lower than you on that section.
How Many Points is Each Question on the PA-CAT Worth?
Because the PA-CAT score takes into account the difficulty of the version of the exam and the performance of each applicant compared to others, it is not possible to know how many points each question is worth.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that all questions on the PA-CAT are not incorporated into the final score as some questions are pilots. This means they are being tested on examinees to assess whether they are fair and appropriate.
Your answer to the pilot questions, whether correct or incorrect, will not affect your score. There is no way to know which of the questions on the test are pilot questions. This is why it’s important to put your best effort into responding to all questions on the PA-CAT.
What is a Competitive Score on the PA-CAT?
According to the latest data from Exam Master – the body that administers the exam – the top 20% of examinees (80th percentile or higher), achieve the following scaled score on each section:1
- Composite Score: 540 or above
- Anatomy and Physiology Score: 541 or above
- Chemistry Score: 547 or above
- Biology Section: 546 or above
The top 30% of examinees (70th percentile) achieve the following scaled score on each section:1
- Composite Score: 529 or above
- Anatomy and Physiology Score: 529 or above
- Chemistry Score: 535 or above
- Biology Section: 535 or above
For PA schools that require or previously required the GRE, a competitive score has typically been in the 70th – 80th percentile range. If we apply the same percentile range to the PA-CAT, a scaled score of approximately 530 – 540 or higher on each section of the PA-CAT places an applicant in the 70th – 80th percentile and would be a very competitive score on the PA-CAT.
For the GRE, some schools even consider a score in the 50th percentile competitive. The 50th percentile for the PA-CAT composite score is a 512 and ranges from 507 – 516 for other sections. Given that the PA-CAT is a newer exam, we expect these scores to be considered competitive. In fact, several schools that require the PA-CAT indicate on their website that they do not have a recommended minimum score on the PA-CAT, which leads us to believe that schools may be more lenient in the PA-CAT scores they expect of applicants given that it is a new exam.
It is also important to consider that not all schools place the same weight on the PA-CAT. Moreover, PA schools do not only look at an applicant’s PA-CAT score but take into account the entirety of an applicant’s background including their overall and science GPAs, patient care experiences, PA shadowing experiences, and other activities.
When Should I Retake the PA-CAT?
Our general advice to our students is as follows: If you have a score below 510 (approximately 50th percentile), retaking the exam will likely help your candidacy if you can make significant improvements in your score. If your score is at or above 530, retaking the exam may not be the best use of your time. If you fall somewhere in between, the decision needs to be weighed carefully against the opportunity costs of retaking the exam. As more and more people take the test, it will become clearer what constitutes a competitive score.
One way to know if your score is competitive is to reach out to schools and ask if they can provide you with an assessment. You should also sit down with your advisor to evaluate the entirety of your application to determine the overall competitiveness of your candidacy.
- Data source: https://www.pa-cat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PA-CAT-Score-Rankings.pdf
- For more information on the PA-CAT exam, visit www.pa-cat.com
