Use of cumulative examinations at US schools of pharmacy

A questionnaire was mailed to the department of pharmacy chairs at 77 schools of pharmacy to investigate the current use of cumulative examinations at schools of pharmacy. Information collected included: demographics of the pharmacy school, usual examination format and whether the school administered cumulative examinations. Schools that administered cumulative examinations were also questioned regarding the format, test content, advantages/disadvantages of administering this examination and consequences resulting from examination failure. Forty-six (59.7 percent) completed questionnaires were returned. Thirty-seven (80.4 percent) of the respondents did not administer cumulative examinations. Five out of the 37 schools that do not administer a cumulative examination stated they were in the process of implementing a cumulative exam. Nine (19.6 percent) reported administering a cumulative examination. The primary rationale for administering cumulative examinations was to encourage students to review material prior to advancement. Cumulative examinations are rarely used to determine advancement.