Angoff-derived cut-off scores exceeded the arbitrary 60% fixed passing mark, with one study reporting a 74.31% cut-off that would have produced a 41% failure rate¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · review r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Angoff cut-off scores were consistently higher than the commonly used arbitrary 60% benchmark, and a cut-off of 74.31% would have led to a 41% failure rate in an endodontic examination. → Lin Galvin Sim Siang 2026

Evidence¶

Lin Galvin Sim Siang 2026¶

Lin Galvin Sim Siang, Hisham Abdul Rauf Badrul, Majid Muhammad Nazmi Abdul, Foong Chan Choong, Ho Ting Khee, Friedlander Lara T. (2026). Refining competency benchmarks: a scoping review of Angoff standard-setting in dental education. BMC Oral Health. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-026-08195-9

q2 · i? · review · r2

The review reports from Yousef et al.'s retrospective studies of Saudi dental MCQ examinations that Angoff cut-offs were consistently higher than the fixed 60% passing score, and that "a cut-off score of 74.31% would have led to a 41% failure rate".

"Indeed, the Angoff method significantly affected student outcomes; for instance, a cut-off score of 74.31% would have led to a 41% failure rate in an endodontic examination [26]."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• The Angoff method produced lower cut-off scores and higher pass rates than Cohen and Hofstee methods in dental written assessments, especially in early and middle years — related
• Percentage rating format in the Modified Angoff method yields higher reliability than the Yes/No format, with ICCs of 0.48–0.65 versus a maximum of 0.41 — related
• The Borderline Regression method produced higher OSCE pass rates than Angoff methods (97.5% vs 86.6%) and discrepancies raise concerns for small cohorts — related
• Contextual factors (learner level, discipline, format) moderate Angoff outcomes — related
• Angoff methods produce significantly higher pass rates than conventional fixed standard-setting methods — related
• Mastery Angoff produces the highest cut scores and lowest pass rates among Angoff variants — related