GTE FAQs for Program Directors
Below are a list of questions commonly asked by program directors about the GTE.
- Can a list of all the incorrectly answered exam questions be provided to fellows and program directors?
- Can the AGA Institute provide discounts to large programs that register many fellows (e.g. volume discounts)?
- Is there a benefit of giving the GTE to all training years?
- Can the GTE be used to justify or deny promotion of fellows?
- Can GTE scores be accessed electronically by the fellows and/or program directors?
- What is the cancellation policy for fellows who are registered for the GTE but cannot take the exam due to illness or emergency?
- Can the examination be given at an individual site multiple times in the testing window? Must each program specify ahead of time which date/time the fellows will take the exam?
- Can the GTE be used to fulfill ACGME Core Competencies?
- Can GTE scores predict who will pass the ABIM GI boards?
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Can a list of all the incorrectly answered exam questions be provided to fellows and program directors?
To protect the integrity and content of the GTE, exam questions and answers cannot be disclosed. The GTE is developed by AGAI GTE Subcommittee members, most of whom serve an integral role in GI training programs (e.g., Program Directors or Key Clinical Faculty). Exam questions are subject to a multi-step review process prior to being accepted for the exam. The performance of each question is analyzed psychometrically after the exam in collaboration with the University Of Michigan Department Of Medical Education. Questions that perform well are kept in the item bank and may be reused on subsequent examinations. Questions that perform poorly are rewritten or discarded.
This comprehensive development and evaluation process has made the GTE a highly reliable and valid test, and is highly-dependent on keeping exam questions confidential. However, we recognize the need to give fellows and program directors more detailed information about individual fellow performance than provided in the past. We will provide to fellows and the program directors the learning objective of each missed question. We hope that this additional information will be helpful to fellows and program directors as they develop curriculum and learning plans.
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Can the AGA Institute provide discounts to large programs that register many fellows (e.g. volume discount)?
The AGA institute treats all programs equally and does not offer discounts to any type of program, large or small.
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Is there a benefit of giving the GTE to all training years?
Fellows in all training years are encouraged to take the exam. A large benefit to giving the GTE to all training years is the ability to track fellows’ progress within specific sections of GI/Hepatology. Since the GTE is a formative exam, it allows fellows to assess their own knowledge and compare themselves to their peers. Fellows can determine areas of strengths and weaknesses from their score reports, and focus on those areas that need improvement.
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Can the GTE be used to justify or deny promotion of fellows?
The exam should be regarded as a “no-pressure” experience by both fellows and GI training programs. The GTE is an educational resource designed to measure the progress of training and the curriculum and to promote continuous improvement by training programs and fellows. The exam should not be used to justify promotions or deny advancement. Scores should be used to provide educational counseling where needed.
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Can GTE scores be accessed electronically by the fellows and/or program directors?
The AGA Institute is researching various options to provide fellows and Program Directors with access to view GTE scores electronically; however, at this time GTE scores will continue to be mailed to GI training programs.
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What is the cancellation policy for fellows who are registered for the GTE but cannot take the exam due to illness or emergency?
The AGA Institute understands that certain instances arise in which a registrant is unable to sit for the exam. Outlined below are emergency situations which may qualify for a refund of the exam:
- Hospitalization of the fellow or immediate family member
- Death in the immediate family
- Jury or Military duty
A request for a refund based upon an emergency, must be submitted in writing and signed by the training director. This notice should be sent within five business days of the emergency. The notice should specify the examinee’s name and nature of the emergency.
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Can the examination be given at an individual site multiple times in the testing window? Must each program specify ahead of time which date/time the fellows will take the exam?
Yes, the GTE can be given at an individual site multiple times during the testing window. All fellows do not need to take the exam on the same day; however, they must take the exam during the designated testing window of March 1-15, 2012. Technical support will be provided by the AGA Institute testing vendor Monday – Saturday from 8AM-7PM ET during the testing window.
In addition, the AGA Institute does not need to be notified ahead of time of the specific date/time in which fellows will sit for the exam. The AGA Institute relies on the GI training programs to “schedule” their fellows to sit for the exam provided it is within the designated testing window of March 1-15, 2012.
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Can the GTE be used to fulfill ACGME Core Competencies?
Yes, the GTE can be used to fulfill ACGME Core Competencies. An ACGME core competency code (e.g., medical knowledge, patient care, practice-based learning, etc.) has been associated with the 2012 GTE questions.
Also, a refined ACGME core competency code report will be provided to program directors detailing scores for individual fellows and program performance by competency. This additional tool should assist program directors in documenting the assessment of the skills their fellows are expected to acquire.
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Can GTE scores predict who will pass the ABIM GI boards?
The GTE follows the content categories in the board exam but is not intended or validated to predict individual fellow performance on the ABIM GI board examination. The GTE is expected to help GI fellowship program directors identify areas in need of strengthening within the training program that should enhance fellow performance.
