Greetings Gang 🧐 This post will be straight facts based on the statistics published by the ASCP BOC itself. Some of you think you’re struggling because you’re “not smart enough.” No. The exam is just HARD. Here are the official ASCP Board of Certification stats for MLS and MLT pass rates (from ASCP data): 🔬 MLS (Medical Laboratory Scientist, ASCP) • First-time pass rate: ~69% • Repeat test taker pass rate: ~45–50% range 👉🏽 That means about 3 out of 10 people fail their first attempt. 👉🏽 And repeat attempts are even harder statistically. 🧪 MLT (Medical Laboratory Technician, ASCP) • First-time pass rate: ~74–75% • Repeat test taker pass rate: ~50–55% range 👉🏽 About 1 out of 4 fail on the first try. 👉🏽 Retakes are significantly tougher. What this means: ✅ You are NOT alone if you're struggling. ✅ This exam is DESIGNED to be difficult. ✅ Passing requires strategy + preparation. ✅ Failing once does NOT mean you can’t pass. This exam is filtering for minimal competency to safely work in a clinical lab; it’s supposed to challenge you. What successful students do differently: ✔ They study patterns, not just facts ✔ They practice question strategy ✔ They review weak areas intentionally ✔ They don’t quit after one attempt If you’re studying right now, keep going. If you failed, regroup. If you passed, you freaking EARNED it. This exam is not easy, but you CAN beat it. 🩸 If you're looking for a study strategy and a game plan to pass this exam, join the Inner Circle of Microscope Views where we have weekly study sessions to break down ASCP questions from the question to each of the answer choices. 📚🔬 Join HERE See you there, xoxo Marilyn

One of the cool things about clinical microbiology class is how nonchalantly the lab assistant will throw a dish of E. coli or K. pneumoniae on your table and be like “may the odds be ever in your favor.”

Is it worth it to take both the AMT and ASCP MLT? I will be taking the ASCP MLT, but is there any benefit to also doing the AMT?

So, I’m in my last semester of my MLT program which is a hybrid program where lectures are online and labs are in person. It has consisted of only two 16 week semesters. Each semester is divided into 8 week blocks. There are 8 weeks for lectures, lab class and exams, and 8 weeks for clinicals. Last semester we did hematology, UA and chemistry and clinicals for those subjects. This semester we are doing immunology/serology, microbiology and blood bank, and clinicals for those subjects. I often feel like I want to cry at the amount of stuff we have to do every week. We have labs and lectures every day M-F. We have a test or quiz in every subject once a week (often scheduled on the weekend). We have 3-4 chapters we cover for each class every week. We have lab assignments to finish outside the lab (reports) and lecture assignments too which are due on Sundays. I feel like I’m fighting for my life to pass. I felt this last semester too. Passing is 74. This 1 year program makes what I did when I got my BACHELORS degree in anthropology seem like the easiest thing in the world. I suppose I’m doing okay and have leeway in my grades so far, except in blood bank, my 79 is scaring me. I do really good on assignments and in lab. Like 100s and 95s on everything. Then we get to quizzes and Exams and I’m getting 60s. It tanked my grades last semester and it’s happening again. It’s a nightmare. They ask the most obscure questions on exams it seems like. And it’s not just me. I talk with my cohort all the time and we all feel this way. Almost all of us are struggling with grades abut also mentally and emotionally. Last semester I was getting nose bleeds because of stress. I don’t know how to do well on these tests that ask such specific questions. I understand the process of all 3 complement pathways pretty well. I felt good about it. I got a 53 on that test. She was asking very specific questions like what prevents attachment of the C5b67 complex to cell membranes. I looked back at my notes and she didn’t even go over that. It was in a small chart she had put in her power point and skipped over.

I took an exam on MediaLab for my MLT program. I got a 74. That’s a big fail since my program’s standard of passing for this round of exams is an 81 or higher. I realize it wasn’t the computer adaptive version of the test and was only 100 questions, but I would assume a 74 is still a decent score according to ASCP standards? Apparently not according to my MLT program. Idk who got an 81 or higher in my class if anyone did, but like damn.