Ultrasound Student Assessment (USA)

 
 

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The Ultrasound Student Assessment (USA) is an examination of intrinsic skills that are essential for the sonography profession. It is administered by Pegasus Lectures through a remote proctoring environment. The USA exam was created to specifically test examinees for: coordination, persistence, problem solving, spatial ability, judgment, graph interpretation, visualization, and logic. Study tools and practice exams are not available. Please visit the Pegasus website for additional information. The ACC DCVS Program will use the clinical and question analysis score categories to apply points towards the program application.

Instructions

  • Applicants must email CollegeProgram@PegasusLectures.com or call Pegasus Lectures at 972-564-3056 (Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm CST) to schedule a time to take the assessment in a remote proctoring environment and make payment in the amount of $65 (includes proctoring fee) for their test. Visa/MC/AMEX or Discover are acceptable forms of payment. Testing times are set by Pegasus.
  • Once the appointment and payment have been made, the applicant will receive an email from Pegasus Lectures confirming the appointment time.
  • On the testing day, the applicant will receive an email prior to the testing time with a link for the proctor to connect to your computer.  Make sure to follow the instructions in the email.
  • The USA must be completed in one sitting. There is no time limit. Testing time is generally 1.5-2 hours.
  • Close all other programs prior to starting the USA.
  • When the USA asks if you are right-handed or left-handed, you can select your dominant hand or the hand that you use to operate a computer mouse.
  • If you do not know your GPA, maximum GPA possible, rank in college, or how many students were in your class, click “enter” and N/A will be entered on the line(s).
  • Applicants may take the test only once prior to submitting the sonography program application.
  • A recorded chat box with the exam proctor will be available during testing. If you have questions during the exam, be sure to ask for assistance. The proctor may or may not be able to answer your question depending on the nature of it. Do not continue with the test if significant technical difficulties arise.
  • Applicants will not receive their scores upon completion of the USA. See FAQs below for additional information.

Technical Requirements

  • You will be downloading USA to your computer to take the exam. The USA will not work on a Mac, Chromebook, tablet or phone.
  • The applicant must have the following prior to starting the USA:
    • Windows operating system on their computer
    • A standard-size, free-moving mouse is required
    • A mouse pad is strongly suggested
    • A physical keyboard (touchscreens will not work for the exam)
    • A flat surface and clutter free area
    • Computer display settings at no more than 100%

Scoring System

The Ultrasound Student Assessment accounts for a maximum of 50 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.

The ACC DCVS Program uses the clinical and question analysis categories to award points on each applicant’s ranking worksheet. These points are then added together as your overall USA score. The clinical category involves evaluation of judgment, visualization, persistence and dexterity/hand-eye coordination. The question analysis category involves following directions. The USA is not a pass/fail exam and does not use a 0-100 point scale like other standard exams. An average score in any category is zero (0).

ACC DCVS Admission Weighted Score

The weighted USA points are distributed as follows at Alvin Community College:
Physics: 0 points
Clinical: 15 points
Question Analysis: 35 points
Maximum Total: 50 points

Ultrasound Student Assessment (USA) FAQ’s

The Diagnostic Cardiovascular Sonography program is highly selective. The USA is being utilized to test specific skills required to learn and perform ultrasound clinical studies.

Students must register for and take the USA exam no less than 2 days prior to the application deadline. Tests taken after the application deadline will not be used for the current admissions cycle.

There is no time limit.  The USA must be completed in one sitting. Testing time is generally 1.5-2 hours.

Students are required to email CollegeProgram@PegasusLectures.com or call Pegasus Lectures at 972-564-3056 to schedule a time and make payment via Visa/MC/AMEX or Discover for their test. The cost is $65.00 (including proctoring fee) effective May 1, 2022. All costs are subject to change without notice.

The USA program is a true aptitude test and as such, there is not studying possible. This program tests innate abilities such as visualization and hand-eye coordination which impact the ability of an individual to master essential skills required to perform sonography. The USA is not a pass/fail exam and does not use a 0 – 100 point scale like other standard exams. An average score in any category is zero (0). There are some areas for which students may see a negative value in the raw cut score. This does not mean failure; it only identifies weaker areas in a particular quality.

Applicants will not receive their scores upon completion of the USA. Scores will be sent out the first Monday of every month, excluding holidays. Scores are sent by the ACC DCVS program and will come from info@pegasuslectures.com. Please be sure to check your spam folder. Please do not contact Pegasus Lectures for scores.

The USA is not a pass/fail exam.

Applicants may take the USA only once per application cycle. It must be completed prior to submitting the DCVS Program application. Students are encouraged to concentrate, analyze and carefully select their answer choices. The USA may only be taken twice by any DCVS program applicant, and only once per application cycle. Applications cycles are once a year, March 15th to May 15th.

Ultrasound Student Assessment (USA) scores do not expire. If a student is not accepted to the program as a first-time applicant, they may choose to retake the assessment for the following year as a re-applicant. The USA may only be taken twice by any Sonography program applicant, and only once per application cycle.