The HAPS Comprehensive Examination in Anatomy and Physiology was established in June 1993 as a standardized assessment for a two semester course in Anatomy and Physiology. The graphs above represent the combined totals for 6,993 students that have taken this exam.
Exam guidelines are:
A total of 100 multiple choice questions with five choices each
No negatively styled questions;
(which of the following is not…., a not c…, none of the above…)
Forty percent Anatomy, sixty percent Physiology.
With Bloom’s taxonomy as a guide;
Knowledge 40%, Comprehension 30%, Higher domains 20%.
Exam Makeup:
| Subject Area |
# of questions |
|
Body plan
Homeostasis
Chemistry and Cell Biology
Histology
Integument
Lymphatic (immunity)
Nervous system and special senses
Endocrine system
Skeletal system
Muscular system
Cardiovascular system
Respiratory system
Digestive system (metabolism)
Urinary, fluid, electrolyte, acid-base
Reproductive system
TOTAL
|
2
2
3
3
3
5
16
8
5
5
12
7
9
13
7
100
|
Scoring; Immediate Evaluation and Detailed Item Analysis
For immediate evaluation, each instructor is provided with a percentile response table relating raw score in 2 year and 4 year institutions and percentile in all institutions. Also a breakdown of percent correct answers for each subject area is provided allowing immediate exaluation in relation to a larger number of institutions. The graph at the beginning of page 1 may be enlarged, printed and your own student data may be marked on it.
This immediate evaluation is not a feature on many other exams. It is done for the convenience of both instructors and the students they examine, who may be far more eager to see how well they have done. Please note, immediate evaluation is meaningless and invalidated if you do not provide the deatailed student response data to the HAPS Committee for further analysis which is used for students in the next semester.
The second step of analysis, detailed item analysis, takes several months currently, and uses all of the student responses during the year. The relation between the upper and lower 27% of students in each group and their responses on each question is tested. Thus detailed item analysis may reveal that some questions are themselves negatively correlated with student grade on the exam.
Good questions have a correlation index of + 0.2-0.6. Questions with a negative corralation will be examined for possible replacement. When there are only 100 questions to judge ability in a two semester course sequence every question should be one that helps in the discrimination process.
Administrative costs for examination
In January the HAPS Board and Steering Committee recommended that in view of the time and effort taken to both construct and score this exam that a fee of $5 per student for 1-50 students, $4 per student 51-100 students, and $3 per student 101+ students be collected.
A review copy of the exam may be purchased BY FACULTY ONLY at a cost of $100. This fee will be refunded if the exam is returned to the HAPS office.
Please use THIS FORM to order and pay for tests. Return completed request either by fax or email to:
HAPS
251 S. L. White Blvd.
P. O. 2945
LaGrange, GA 30241-2945
Phone: 800-448-4277 (HAPS)
FAX: 706-883-8215
Email: admin@hapsweb.org
We are gratified by the interest shown in development of this exam. The most popular question is “Do we have an exam for the end of the 1st semester of A&P?” There are several committee members working on this and room for more to participate. The next most popular question is; “Have you ever given this exam before A&P 1, then after A&P 1 and 2?” There are several institutions tryig this to see what we may learn this year.
We have done a pilot test on a secure internet version of the exam, which was very secure and efficient, but there was not time to develop everything in one year.
Please feel free to share your observations about what may make a better exam.
Eric Sun, Chair
HAPS Testing Committee
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For further questions regarding the HAPS Comprehensive Exam, please contact the Committee Chair using the "Committees and Officers" link within the Members Only section of the website.
