Candidates will not receive exam results right away. Upon completion of the examination, the candidate will receive a “Test Completion” email. Exam results are sent to state/provincial licensing agencies weekly, and candidates in every jurisdiction (except Colorado and Texas) will receive their exam results directly from their licensing agency.
PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE INTERNATIONAL HEARING SOCIETY FOR EXAM RESULTS.
Examination Scoring
The examination is comprised of one hundred and five (105) test questions (items). Of those 105 items, 80 are scored and 25 are non-scored (pilot) test questions. Test-takers will receive a score based upon their performance on the eighty (80) scored items.
This examination utilizes dichotomous scoring, meaning the answer selections are either right or wrong. The candidate will earn one (1) point for getting the question right (correct). The candidate will earn zero (0) points for getting the question wrong (incorrect).
Pass/Fail Results
A score report will be provided to the state/provincial licensing agency. IHS provides a recommended passing score, but the ultimate pass/fail decision is up to the licensing body. The licensing board will then contact the candidate with their examination results, except Colorado and Texas candidates.
All inquiries regarding the status or results of an examination should be directed to the state/provincial licensing agency, not to the International Hearing Society. IHS is not permitted to share overall performance information directly with candidates, except Colorado and Texas candidates.
Please note: The states of Colorado and Texas have adopted the IHS recommended passing score. Colorado and Texas candidates will receive a score report directly from the International Hearing Society.
Topic/Domain-Level Feedback
ILE candidates who failed the exam may request domain-level results for exams taken within the past year. Requests should be submitted via the online request form by the candidate only. Requests are processed weekly, and a report will be emailed to the candidate. Click here to access the online request form.
DISCLAIMER - These domain-level results are being provided upon your request for informational purposes only. The International Licensing Examination for Hearing Healthcare Professionals (ILE) is scored on an overall raw score[1]. Because the overall raw score is the basis used to determine if a candidate has passed the ILE, domain-level results are not considered when determining the pass/fail result. The ultimate pass/fail decision is made by the state/province in which the test-taker is seeking licensure and is based on the overall raw score.
Domain-level results on the ILE are not considered psychometrically reliable.
Questions about the ILE or these results may be directed to the International Hearing Society at exam@ihsinfo.org.
Please note: Domain-level results will not include the candidate's overall score for the exam. Candidates should allow up to 2 weeks to receive their pass/fail result from their state/provincial licensing agency. If a candidate is notified that they failed, then they may request domain-level results from IHS via the process described above.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I expect to receive my exam results?
It varies. IHS sends results to licensing agencies weekly. They will then have to be processed before they can be provided to you. Therefore, it can take quite some time for candidates to receive their exam results. If a candidate has not received their results two (2) weeks after their exam date, they can contact their state/provincial licensing agency for more information about the status of their results.
What information will be provided with my exam results?
The International Hearing Society recommends that licensing agencies report only a pass or fail decision based on overall exam performance, but each jurisdiction can decide what information they will provide to their candidates. IHS does not provide section level results on the exam because it was not designed to provide diagnostic information at the section level. Any performance measures reported at this level would be considered unreliable.
How will I know which areas I need to study?
IHS recommends looking at the Competency Model with your trainer/mentor and having them help you identify areas you may need more practice in. Additionally, you can subscribe to ILE Test Prep which provides two full length practice tests, custom quizzes, and feedback on users’ performance in each topic area with red, yellow, and green progress bars. ILE Test Prep questions also include references to help find information. Plus, it includes the Competency Mapping Tool which relates the Domains and Objectives in the Competency Model to the IHS Distance Learning for Professionals in Hearing Health Sciences course. Finally, you may request domain-level results here.
[1] The raw score represents the number of test questions correct out of the number of test questions possible.