Ultrasound Student Assessment


Ultrasound Student Assessment (USA)


Test Description:

The Ultrasound Student Assessment (USA) Program is a true aptitude test. An aptitude test is defined as a tool to assess if a person has the specific skills necessary to perform in a particular field.

The USA can be completed at any time throughout the year but must be done before you apply to the program. The deadline is April 1 of the year you apply, which is 2 months before the application deadline. Please plan as this exam must be scheduled in advance.

Please note that this exam does not require any ultrasound knowledge.

Scheduling:

There are two options for applicants to schedule the Ultrasound Student Assessment.

Option 1: Test at Home

Schedule a proctored exam with Pegasus Lectures. Complete the USA with your own equipment. The exam fee is $70 and includes a $20 proctoring fee.

Option 2: Test at ACC

The sonography program will offer select dates throughout the year for testing on campus. These dates are scheduled with the program only, not at an ACC testing center. When testing on-campus, students will use ACC-issued Dell desktop computers. The exam fee is $50. The Sonography Program does not charge a proctoring fee.
Schedule your testing appointment by emailing [email protected]. Once your appointment is confirmed, make payment for your test on the Pegasus Lectures website. Do not add the proctor fee.

Payment and Contact Information:

Visit Pegasus Lectures to pay for the exam via credit/debit card.

$70 fee for at-home testing.
$50 fee for on-campus testing.

You may also contact Pegasus Lectures by email: [email protected] or by calling their office at 972-564-3056 during business hours.

Retain a copy of your email payment confirmation. You will need to show this to the ACC on-campus exam proctor prior to entering the testing room.

Required Setup for Proctored Exams:

For proctored exams, you should make sure of the following well before the exam start time:

  • The USA is not compatible with:
    • Tablet
    • Phone
  • A computer with a screen resolution minimum of 1100×860.
  • Power to your computer or laptop (running from battery is not recommended).
  • Reliable internet connection.
  • A well-functioning mouse and a mouse pad (not a laptop trackpad or other mouse substitute).
  • A functioning video camera.
  • A quiet room in which to take the test.

Some Rules for a Proctored Exam:

A list of the rules will be given at the time of the exam. Below is a partial list of the rules so that you can be prepared:

  • You are not allowed to speak to anyone during the exam (with the exception of the exam proctor).
  • You are not allowed to leave the computer or take any breaks during the exam. Be sure to use the bathroom before the exam starts.
  • You are not allowed to open any computer applications or browser windows except the proctoring window and the actual exam window throughout the entirety of the exam.
  • You are not allowed to use your phone, the internet, or any other electronic device during your exam.
  • Once you complete a question and move on to the next question, you will not be able to return to the previous question.
  • You are allowed to drink during the exam (water is highly recommended).
  • You are allowed to use a pencil or pen and up to three pages of clean scrap paper during the exam. You will need to number each side of the paper and show the proctor the pages before the exam starts. At the conclusion, you must destroy the while the proctor is watching.
  • Attempting to screen capture any pages of the test will be detected and lead to an immediate failure and a direct indication on your score report.

USA Retakes:

Applicants are permitted one exam attempt within a given application cycle. A reapplicant has the option to retake the exam once in a new application cycle.

The total number of allowed attempts is limited to a maximum of two.

Scoring:

The Ultrasound Student Assessment accounts for a maximum of 25 points toward your application. Points are awarded algorithmically based on your Z-score for each test category.

What is a Z-score?

As it relates to the USA, a Z-score is a statistical value describing the relationship between the applicant’s scores and the average of all test takers. The average Z-score in any category is approximately 0. A positive Z-score indicates a score above the average of all test takers, and a negative Z-score indicates a score below the average of all test takers. Test categories include Physics, Clinical, and Question Analysis. A negative Z-score in a test category results in 0 points, and a Z-score of 3 results in the maximum points for that category. Scores are provided to the program by the test administrator, Pegasus Lectures, upon test completion. Contact us at [email protected] for your results.

Questions:

The exam consists of between 65 and 70 questions. The number of the questions and the remaining number of questions are indicated in the upper right-hand corner of the test window.

The Difference

Most students are familiar with achievement-based tests, for which studying improves performance. Studying for a true aptitude test is not possible.

Why is it not possible to study for this exam?
This program primarily assesses topics that are not “taught” such as your hand-eye coordination, your ability to remain focused, your ability to see patterns in data, and reasoning. Unlike tests on mathematical formulas or mathematical conversions, you simply cannot study for the content of this test.

Time Allotted:

This exam is not intended to be time-intensive. There is no time limit for the exam.

Most students complete the exam in approximately 2.5 hours – but some complete the exam more quickly, and some utilize more time.

Remember that question types will vary through the exam, and that not all questions will require the same amount of time to complete.

Pre-Exam Questions:

A series of informational questions is asked before the actual exam begins. These questions are intended to gather information about you as a student, but more importantly, to make sure that the test is configured appropriately for you (such as which hand you prefer to use to control your mouse).

Additionally, you will be asked for your high school (and college if applicable), Grade Point Average (GPA), and class rank. You should look this up before the exam date. If your school did not publish a GPA of a rank, you can enter Not Applicable (NA).

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