How Hard is the ASCP MLT Exam?
How hard is the ASCP MLT exam? It is a common question that is asked in the Google search bar again and again.
The following are also some extra questions related the ASCP MLT exam
- How to prepare for the ASCP MLT exam?
- How to pass the MLT (ASCP) exam?
- Is it strenuous to pass the ASCP medical lab technician exam?
How hard is the ASCP MLT exam? We are going to explain A-Z information in this regard.
How Hard is the ASCP MLT Exam?
The following are three main reasons that make the MLT (ASCP) exam difficult:
- Syllabus of exam
- Format of exam
- ASCP scoring system
Syllabus of Exam
How hard is the ASCP MLT exam? Its huge syllabus makes it challenging enough.
The ASCP Board of Certification allocated seven exam content areas for this exam.
The following are all these exam content areas, main topics, and question percentages:
| Subjects | Description | Questions Percentage |
| Blood Banking | Molecular testing, physiology, blood group system, serologic testing, blood products, transfusion practice, pathophysiology | 15-20% |
| Chemistry | Carbohydrates, toxicology, protein, lipids, therapeutic drug monitoring, nutrition and vitamins, heme derivatives, electrolytes, nitrogen-containing elements, base-acid determination, endocrinology. | 20-25% |
| Microbiology | Analytical methods, preanalytical methods, process for bacteriology, analytical method for mycobacteriology, mycology, parasitology, & virology, postanalytical methods | 15-20% |
| Hematology | Hemostasis (lab determinations, physiology, and disease conditions), physiology, lab experiments, disease states | 20-25% |
| Lab Operation | Troubleshooting, lab mechanisms, automated methods, safety, manual methodology. | 5-10% |
| Urine & Other Body Fluids | Disease states, microscopic analysis, physical/chemical testing, physiology | 5-10% |
| Immunology | Transplantation, immunology principles, disease of the immune system, test consequences, serologic methods, infectious disease serology. | 5-10% |
It is vital to cover all these exam content areas with all their sub-categories.
Besides this, the board also determines some calculations & reference ranges that are paramount for learning to achieve the maximum score on the MLT (ASCP) exam.
Exam Format
CAT is the structure of the ASCP MLT exam.
CAT (computer adaptive testing) is loaded with hundreds of questions.
All are MCQs (multiple-choice).
Each question displays on the computer screen with 3 incorrect and 1 correct answer.
There is no skipping button available that permits you to reject any question.
You have to puzzle out all questions whether you know their answer or not.
But this exam structure permits you to change the answer to any question.
The time for this exam is 2 hours & 30 minutes.
You have to solve 100 questions in this given time.
ASCP Scoring System
How hard is the ASCP MLT exam?
The third reason for its being complicated is the ASCP scoring system.
All questions (100) do not score you equally.
Each gives you separate points in note of their amount of concern.
Once you solve your 1st question, its answer decides the degree of challenge of your next question.
If its answer is incorrect, the next one will be a little more straightforward than the first one.
If you answer rightly, the upcoming question will be a little more complex than the prior one.
A right answer to a simple question will score you lower than the correct answer to a tough question.
Answering a series of questions accurately expands the opportunity of obtaining more and more scores.
Abdelhalim Elshawadfy is an ASCP certified Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS ASCP), Specialist in Microbiology (SM ASCP), and Molecular Biology Technologist (MB ASCP) with a distinguished career marked by expertise, continuous learning, and a commitment to elevating the standards of clinical laboratory science. As an ASCP Certification Expert and American Board Certification Expert, Abdelhalim Elshawadfy continues to make invaluable contributions to the field, leaving a lasting impact on the medical community.
