Naplex results 2020. 17. What Does NAPLEX Application See maps and real-time presidential election results for the 2020 US election. Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Department of Consumer Affairs Gavin Newsom, Governor. This score demonstrates an increase of more than 10 percentage points from their 2018 score and, most notably, is more than 6 percentage points higher than this year’s national average. Apr 1, 2023 · INTRODUCTION. graduates taking the North American Pharmacy Licensure Examination (NAPLEX), the national examination for professional pharmacy practice that is administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). Jul 1, 2022 · The bivariate association analyses results revealed that the 2019 NAPLEX first-attempt pass rates were significantly lower for pharmacy schools that required the NAPLEX preparation program for every student, for programs that used a third-party resource (eg, Exam Master, Pass NAPLEX Now, RxPrep), for private pharmacy schools, and for pharmacy The NAPLEX is a 6-hour exam composed of 225 questions that are delivered in a computerized, fixed form. You’ll be fine. The objective is to characterize the structure and content of required NAPLEX preparation courses. I haven't checked my results & i don't have the guts to check. University of Southern California. We don't want to sound too serious too soon, but we may "like-like" your email address. Even more alarming is that more than a third of schools had a decline of ≥10% over this time period. NABP claims it takes about 7 business days. 2020 NAPLEX and MPJE Mega Thread 2. BELOW. RxPrep 2019 NAPLEX Course Book (Brand New) $160 Brand new, for sale $160 (original price $188). Students were included in the analysis of PCOA scores if results were available. 4% since 2015, and down 17% from the all-time (at least as far back as I could find records) high in 2008. 7% 88. While the All Graduates Pass Rate had remained fairly constant at 87% since 2017, for 2022 it's now dropped to 78%, a sizable decline! Mar 2, 2018 · Like a lot, actually. John Fisher University Wegmans School of Pharmacy averaged a first-time NAPLEX pass rate of 90. Larissa Doucette. Go. At the request of the community, this thread is for all questions regarding the NAPLEX or MPJE, including studying, timelines and deadlines, applications, and results, just to name a few. First time pass rate stays consistent at 88ish percent. Four of the 20 studies were published as posters with extractable data. Contact the board of pharmacy in the state in which you want to be licensed. He reports chronic pain in his right knee that has become worse in the last few months and is limiting his physical activity. Take it out to a nice steak dinner. Linear and logistic regression analysis were utilized to identify independent predictors. 2,3 While the COVID-19 pandemic is an easy scapegoat for the decline in performance, the cause is Feb 25, 2016 · Jun 18, 2020. First, if your online account before/during/soon after taking NAPLEX said "ATT Generated" with options in the furthermost column being: 1. Jan 1, 2021 · The North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination ® (NAPLEX ®) Competency Statements provide a blueprint of the topics covered on the examination. For these states, there is an additional $85 application fee, and candidates may be accepted to take the exam only after having met all application Jan 5, 2024 · A total of 52 individuals completed the survey with a response rate of 64%. Our class of 2020 graduates achieved a first-time pass rate of 97. 20, 28 Chisholm-Burns and colleagues 20 found that pre-NAPLEX was a significant predictor of NAPLEX score and explained 44% of the variance in NAPLEX total scaled scores (p < . Results. The national average first-time pass rate for all 2020 graduates from The NAPLEX is administered on a computer at a testing center. Class of 2018: Class of 2019: Class of 2020: Class of 2021: Class of 2022: Class of 2023: Number of graduates: 95: 81: 88: 83: 69: 76: NAPLEX pass rate (first time Jun 3, 2021 · NAPLEX Registration Step One. 8%, respectively). RxPrep Course Book: 2020 Naplex Course Book Karen Shapiro , Chelsea Bombatch , Stephanie D. 2%. These questions are presented as examples to familiarize examinees with their formats and are not intended to represent content areas on the NAPLEX. No highlighting, wrapped in original packaging. NAPLEX Nuggets - The Cliffnotes study guide is that key. We'll treat it with courtesy and respect. The practice exam offers: 100 Exam Questions. When you are well prepared for these through practice, these are questions that can mean the difference in obtaining a passing score. Imagine that you have NAPLEX Results: 2018-20 Graduation Year # of First -time Takers from Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination Passing Rates for 2018-2020 Graduates Per Pharmacy WITHIN the Average ± SD. Western New England University's Doctor of Pharmacy Class of 2020 has achieved a pass rate of 93. Review the NAPLEX Competency Statements to gain an understanding of the topic areas covered in the exam. help@nabp. Only 200 questions are used to determine your result; 25 questions have no bearing on your result and are merely experimental. The NAPLEX ® is a 250-question, multiple choice, computerized examination designed to determine whether candidates have the knowledge, judgment and skill necessary to practice pharmacy at entry-level competence. ca. You need a key to get through that door. Between 1970 and 1999, accredited pharmacy programs increased from 74 to 76 programs. Anyway. 24 among U. 847-391-4405. 52% 77 58. Of the questions, 200 will be used to calculate your exam results. News & World Report. Pharmacy Licensing Questions & Answers. Cancel Registration. First time attempts dropped to 13,300, a decline of about 500. Phone: (323) 442-1369. #1. We'll never do anything untoward with your email address. Deadline for submission of a Manual Scoring Request for a February 2024 NPLEX examination. National average pass rates and descriptive statistical analysis for the NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) At the request of the community, this thread is for all questions regarding the NAPLEX or MPJE, including studying, timelines and deadlines, applications, and results, just to name a few. 1. April 30, 2024. This exam measures whether a prospective pharmacist is qualified and competent to practice. 9% 78. Really paid attention to hot chapters. 5 While the survey response rate was less than desirable, the results are likely representative of the Academy. Took exam on Saturday - took 5 hours and 58 minutes. 00% 42 59. universities in 2020, according to U. Got the online score back Thursday. /KS ----- On or around 8/9/2018, your NAPLEX results were emailed to you. 20 found that pre-NAPLEX was a significant predictor of NAPLEX score and explained 44% of the variance in NAPLEX total scaled scores (p<. Nov 15, 2019 · Numerous updates for 2020 to keep up to date with guideline changes! Atrial fibrillation, Crohn's disease, Hyperlipidemia, Ulcerative colitis, and more! Passing the NAPLEX is your door of entry into the profession of pharmacy. Oldest data I found was 2015 with a 222020 Nt A L Eion P R 20172019 Gaduat School SCHOOL NAME 2017 GRADUATES All Attempts Pass Rate Pass Rate All Attempts Pass Rate Pass Rate All Attempts Pass Rate Pass 2020: 79: 92. They offer important information about the knowledge, judgment, and skills you are expected to demonstrate as an entry-level pharmacist. Garrett , Amy Drew , RxPrep (Firm) , Angie Veverka RxPrep, Incorporated , 2020 - Education - 1071 pages Oct 25, 2022 · Area 2: Identify Drug Characteristics (~ 14%) Area 3: Develop or Manage Treatment Plans (~ 35%) Area 4: Perform Calculations (~ 14%) Area 5: Compound, Dispense, or Administer Drugs, or Manage Delivery Systems (~ 11%) Area 6: Develop or Manage Practice or Medication-Use Systems to Ensure Safety and Quality (~ 7%) Apr 17, 2024 · As first-time pass rates on the North American Pharmacy Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) continue to decrease, pharmacy educators are left questioning the dynamics causing the decline and how to respond. Deadline for submission of an August 2024 NPLEX application. From 2016 to 2022, University of Florida College of Pharmacy averaged a first-time NAPLEX pass rate of 89. The following are examples of question types that examinees may encounter when taking the NAPLEX. 3%. Aug 7, 2015 · On or around 12/26/2019, your NAPLEX results were emailed to you. 7% National average – 88. 7% . There were 3 factors that Oct 8, 2020 · Pursuant to our most recent review, new competency statements will go into effect in January 2021. Sharing your results with your college of pharmacy is optional but highly encouraged to provide NAPLEX Passing Rates - National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. The Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination ® (FPGEE ®) will be offered once per year. 0% {85. Media Contact. 38% Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination® Passing Rates for 2021-2023 Graduates Table 1: School Examination Counts and Pass Rates by Graduation Year (continued) School Name 2021 Graduates 2022 Graduates 2023 Graduates USC ranks No. Institutional and student factors both influence first-time NAPLEX pass rates. The NAPLEX is a unidimensional test, meaning that it is designed to measure a single construct of general pharmacy Based on the changes to Business and Professions Code section 4200, NAPLEX and CPJE results are evaluated each time an application is processed as well as at the time of licensure which may result in an applicant having to retake the CPJE and/or NAPLEX examination. 0% 2017 2018 Pass Rates by Days from Graduation to Exam Colored by difference from the sector on the right of the chart (Negative differences are orange and positive differences Jul 6, 2020 · Our NAPLEX & MPJE results for 2020 were good. I’ve seen my friends get it within 2-3 business days but I get it around 7 business days. Passed the 2020 NAPLEX. The NAPLEX is a 6 hour exam composed of 225 questions that are delivered in a computerized, fixed form. Mar 21, 2024 · April 1, 2024. Survey responses were 3. NABP offers a variety of pharmacy examinations including NAPLEX, MPJE, and FPGEE for recent graduates, FPGEC applicants, and licensed pharmacists. – and the highest among its Texas peers – based on calculations of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy's 2010-2020 North American Pharmacy Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) results by the website ClinCALC. Mine was exactly seven business days. From 2016 to 2022, St. Mar 1, 2024 · What is Passing Score for NAPLEX? A scaled score of 75 or better is considered for passing of NAPLEX. 00%: (NAPLEX). Select the department you want to search in Objective. You can also visit the official website of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy to check out whether you can access the score results online or not. and the results are concerning. University of Houston, College of Pharmacy - UHCOP Pharm. The current occupational analysis for CPJE is in effect 4/1/2016 through 5/31 This new all-time low (80%) for NAPLEX rates is a 6% decline in first time NAPLEX pass rates overall since 2020, down 12. 8%. Pharmacy schools established before 2000, those housed within an academic medical center, and public rather than NAPLEX 2/23/2024. D. Archived post. The availability of NAPLEX score results online is also based on your state. How long to get NAPLEX Results? NAPLEX result will be available within 14 business days after taking the exam. com. 2021 North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination Passing Rates for 20182020 Graduates Per Pharmacy School Larkin University - - - - 50 56. Current and Future Candidates. Given the recent national declines in pass rates, programs are making significant investments of time and money in NAPLEX preparation. 00% *Graduates who apply for a pharmacist license are required to take the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX Jan 1, 2024 · Purchase the Pre-NAPLEX in the Practice Exams section of your NABP e-Profile. The charts below display data for all candidates who took the CPJE examination between October 2020 to March 2021, inclusive. Past NAPLEX Questions. Over 1200 (yes, 1200) questions with answers and detailed explanations. The results of a simple linear regression model using PCOA total score to predict NAPLEX total score are located in column one of Table 4 (Model 1). 05). 4% 2. 94%, which is well above the national first-time pass rate (88. Just wanted to let others know, take a deep breathe. Jan 6, 2023 · Discipline yourself to work from beginning to end to formulate your answer. NAPLEX – SWOSU first time takers pass rate – 90. Aug 1, 2019 · The study cohort consisted of students who graduated from 2012 to 2016 who had taken NAPLEX and whose first-attempt examination scores were available to the school of pharmacy. 5. ---- Packed full with helpful tips and key drugs—to help you reach a high score! students from the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy 2019 and 2020 cohorts. Great way to prepare for the NAPLEX especially since some of the questions related to 35 patient-profile reviews. The state board will issue paperwork and instructions that determine your eligibility, and will notify the NABP. This pass rate is WITHIN the mean (±SD) of the average national pass rate for the same time period (85. 2 Maine and Vlasses first reported results of programs’ first-time California State Board of Pharmacy CPJE Statistics October 2020 – March 2021. 3%) and 2020 (88. Table 2 presents the results from the Chi-square tests. Before we describe our process of creating our new NAPLEX candidate performance report, it is important to discuss exactly how the competency area scores are created and how they should be interpreted. The NAPLEX is just one component of the licensure process and is used by The NAPLEX is a 6-hour exam composed of 225 questions that are delivered in a computerized, fixed form. The exam tests three fundamental areas of competence: managing drug therapy, safely and accurately preparing 3. A strong understanding of the Competency Statements will Feb 13, 2021 · The results were split between the two studies that investigated the association between pre-NAPLEX test scores and NAPLEX scores. WITHIN. Our board-certified pharmacists possess a combined INTRODUCTION. 44% 61 57. NABP finally retrieved and processed e-transcript, Monday after exam. To estimate whether first-time pass rates on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) have been influenced by the number of pharmacy programs founded since 2000, the programs’ accreditation era, and the changes to the blueprint as well as changes to the testing conditions and passing standards implemented by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP I’m losing my mind waiting for these results. 0% 80. After 2000 until 2015, the number expanded to 125. Mastered the rx prep calculations & no calculations from there. The patient alternates taking Advil and Tylenol around the clock to make the pain tolerable. From 2016 to 2022, University of Arizona R. Larkin University is no longer lowest pass rate, honor goes to Hampton University. 20,28 Chisholm-Burns et al. The remaining 25 are pretest questions distributed throughout the exam, administered so they can be evaluated for possible inclusion in future examinations – you will not Wait for seven business days to get the mail of your official test scores. Long School of Select the department you want to search in An extensive QBank of exam-level questions, bite-sized video lectures led by industry insiders, customizable learning tools, and more—this is what makes UWorld RxPrep the go-to resource for pharmacy students worldwide. By using the NAPLEX, the state boards WITHIN the Average ± SD. Maybe a movie and some mini-golf. The North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination ( NAPLEX) is a standard examination created by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) to help individual state boards of pharmacy assess an individual's competency and knowledge so that they may be given a license to practice. MPJE scores declined to 77% for first time pass rates, a 6% drop from 2020 also. The respondents reported the number of hours spent preparing for the NAPLEX ranged from 4 to 2200, with a mean of 319 (SD = 424). gov. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy averaged a first-time NAPLEX pass rate of 84. 00%: 86. FPGEE. NAPLEX Exam Feedback. MK is a 69-year-old male visiting his primary care provider for a routine follow-up. 4%) national pass rates published by NABP. Seven business days is what they tell you. Feb 21, 2023 · Also released, the NAPLEX all-time pass rates for 2020-2022; CU Pharmacy’s all-time pass rate stands at 95 percent. 1 This increase in the number of programs raised concerns about the quality of students’ education and North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) pass rates. Please see mailed instructions on how to proceed with re-testing. Numerous updates for 2020 to keep up to date with guideline changes! Atrial fibrillation, Crohn's disease, Hyperlipidemia, Ulcerative colitis, and more! Passing the NAPLEX is your door of entry into the profession of pharmacy. Pharmacists educated outside of the United States are required to achieve FPGEC Certification and take the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Equivalency Examination. Concordia University Wisconsin School of Pharmacy (Mequon) — 90% (50) 15. 4. Pass the First Time with The Gold Standard of NAPLEX Course Books. Nov 3, 2020 · Results of the 2020 U. The NAPLEX is designed to evaluate general practice knowledge and is taken by recent college of pharmacy graduates shortly after they receive their degree. 6% State, 13,260 206 and National 2019 Pass Rates by Graduation Year - School, 90. The author covers OTCs and TPNs more in-depth with this book and in a case-study format. 85% with their first-time pass rates. This achievement would be remarkable in a Jan 20, 2024 · NAPLEX Passing Rate in 2020 to 2023 January 20, 2024 0 The passing rate data in this article were aggregated based on the first attempt and all attempts criteria of graduate students from ACPE-accredited institutions. Please also search the subreddit prior to posting questions, as many of these questions have been asked before. 1985 Zonal Avenue. (MA btw). 00%: 87. The #1 trusted Resource for NAPLEX, MPJE, and CPJE Prep for over 20 years. Sent NABP a transcript per new requirement Monday before exam. Score Report. The pass rate for our graduates ranks #8 nationally and puts us at #1 (out of 7) in our region 1 and Effective January 1, 2020, section 4200(a)(6) of the Business and Professions Code is amended to define the examination requirements for pharmacist licensure. 43%) and roughly on par with our pass rates for the previous two graduating classes (98. Mar 9, 2023 · The NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) pass rate for first-time test takers was 80%, down 6% from 2020. It is a computer-adaptive test that provides the most precise measurement of your knowledge and ability in pharmacy. May 31, 2024. Many years of study and hundreds of hours as an intern have prepared you for the NAPLEX, but a trial run can help you stay on track. Questions were developed to collect data on which RxPrep components students used, their study habits, perceptions of the utility of RxPrep materials, perceived level of preparedness for the NAPLEX, and advice for future students. The board also displays NAPLEX scores associated with any candidate who took the CPJE during this time period and was reported to the Board According to the newly released results from exam administrator, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), UHCOP 2020 graduates' first-time pass rate was the sixth highest in the nation among accredited pharmacy programs with at least 100 first-time test takers. 1% ± 10%). Starting May 6, 2024, during the pre-screen before you start the exam, you will be presented with a waiver to opt into a process that will authorize NABP to share your exam results with your college of pharmacy. The NAPLEX (North American Jun 2, 2021 · This past year, the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy scored a 94. I was so shocked by the exam, i still haven't recovered. 2020: 79: 92. Nov 1, 2021 · The included studies were published over a period of 15 years from 2005 to 2020, investigated NAPLEX passing from pharmacy programs ranging from a single institution to 137 institutions, and collectively covered over 13,000 individual students’ NAPLEX results. National average – 84. Any one has the same version! Students who voluntarily consented to release their NAPLEX score to the institution as a part of the college’s assessment plan were included in this study. Eligibility in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah and Wisconsin is all confirmed by NABP. The remaining 25 are pretest questions distributed throughout the exam, administered so they can be evaluated for possible inclusion in future examinations – you will not Nov 22, 2022 · The NAPLEX is developed by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) for use by the state boards of pharmacy as part of their assessment of competence to practice pharmacy. Every examinee is presented with the opportunity to take a tutorial at the testing Pre-NAPLEX: The results were split between the two studies that investigated the association between preNAPLEX test scores with NAPLEX scores. The exam shocked me to my core. Among schools without a formal preparation program, NAPLEX pass rates consistently exceeded the national average in 2020, 2021, and 2022, while the proportion of schools with NAPLEX preparation programs and first-time pass rates above the national average dropped from 59% in 2021 and 58% in 2020 to 44% in 2022. . 22% on the NAPLEX (The North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) marking the third consecutive year that the program has exceeded the national average pass rate. NAPLEX Results; MPJE Results Authorization to Share Exam Results. The NAPLEX at a Glance. Opening of the August 2024 NPLEX application period. How much does the NAPLEX Cost? The fee for the NAPLEX exam is $620 (Effective from 01 March 2024). Aug 23, 2016 · Hello, So I'm writing this to try and help those of us whom are members of masochistic states like my own - by this I mean, they send your scores by mail. Students were considered to have poor performance on NAPLEX if they received an overall score of less than or equal to 82. This initial model was expanded to include dummy variables for the different schools in the sample (Model 2) and for the different student cohort years (Model 3). Aug 23, 2020 · For Sale RxPrep 2019 (Brand NEW) NAPLEX Course Book - $160. 2 Maine and Vlasses first reported results of programs’ first-time Jan 1, 2024 · A review of NAPLEX data shows the overall first-time pass rate declined 7% when comparing overall pass rates from pre-pandemic 2019 to 2022. Los Angeles, CA 90089-9121. Applications and Forms Jun 7, 2021 · The Value of Subscores. 140-Minute Time Limit. Feb 1, 2024 · 13. I had my NAPLEX on 2/23rd, I feel that 20-30% of Math weren’t straight forward like UWorld Also many ISMP questions not available on RX prep, some Auxiliary labels questions and law questions that made me feel it’s more like CPJE not only clinical questions. University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Skaggs School of Pharmacy and University of Houston, College of Pharmacy — UHCOP has the fourth highest mean first-time pass rate among accredited peer institutions in the U. PM to contact for purchase through PayPal. It is a six-hour exam with 225 questions. 2020 83. Deadline for submission of an August 2024 Testing Accommodations Request form and all Mar 23, 2023 · 5. MUSC must have this documentation in place by March 30, 2020; MUSC will withhold processing of individual student Board of Pharmacy licensing exam materials until the pre-NAPLEX score report is received and pre-MPJE . Thank you for your patience. The descriptive item results are presented in Table 1. The NABP recently released the NAPLEX Pass Rates for 2022 and the results overall continue their decline. 2. 6% The Rural Health Center has been awarded a federal sub-grant for FY21 by the Oklahoma State Took my NAPLEX on the 13th too. North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination Passing Rates for 2020-2022 Graduates. 72% & 98. You will then be issued an authorization to test (ATT), as well as other documents, including: Jul 31, 2023 · The median change in NAPLEX first-time pass rate declined from 2020 to 2021 and again from 2021 to 2022 in both cohorts; by −3% in schools without a formal preparation program during each of the 2 time intervals and by −3% and −5% in schools with formal preparation, respectively. Pretty good proxy for number of graduates in a year. presidential election, including electoral votes between Trump and Biden in each state, and who is winning the popular vote. Please refer to CPJE and NAPLEX Passing Score – How long are my results valid? for additional information. The exam results will be reported as pass or fail, and candidates are allowed 5 attempts to pass the exam. The UWorld RxPrep NAPLEX course book provides comprehensive and routinely updated coverage of all the NAPLEX topics. In November 2019, we distributed the Pharmacy Practice Analysis Survey to help evaluate and ensure that the NAPLEX competency statements, otherwise known as the examination “blueprint,” are in line with pharmacy practice standards and measure 2720 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95833 Phone: (916) 518-3100 Fax: (916) 574-8618 www. pharmacy. We make even the most difficult concepts easy to understand with study tips, charts, tables, illustrations, reference sheets, and more – all developed by Jun 3, 2021 · 16 The mean NAPLEX first-attempt pass rate for our sample was 88%, which is similar to the 2019 (88. I’d say the latest for you would be next Tuesday. University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy — 90. S. cl On or around 8/1/2016, your NAPLEX results were mailed to you. NABP will be making changes to the Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Examination Committee™ (FPGEC ®) Certification Program in first quarter 2020. Students were included in the NAPLEX analysis if NAPLEX scores and pass/fail results were available. All of this is to say that your information is in safe hands. According to the latest NAPLEX competency statement, approximately 14% of the exam are calculations. South Dakota State University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions (Brookings): 95 percent (74) 6. I studied with rx prep. [1] The NABP has announced that as of November 2016, the fee to take the exam, the number of exam Dec 1, 2019 · After saving the results as a PDF document you will need to up-load it into MyFolio>MUSC Career Exploration> Pre-MPJE folder. MPJE – SWOSU first time takers pass rate – 94. Mastered HIV & i got like 2 question. 1% (111) 14. University of the Pacific Thomas J. Jan 16, 2024 · One of the final tasks for pharmacy graduates to enter practice is passing the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX). Attention: NABP’s e-Profile system will be unavailable due to system maintenance from 7-10 PM CT on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. dmolaflare. It is impossible to determine which questions are experimental and which are not, so candidates are advised to do Feb 20, 2023 · In schools with optional participation in their NAPLEX preparation program, most did not offer incentives to students for completion (15/20, 75%); but of the schools that did (5/20, 25%), incentives included graduation cords or medals, discount/vouchers for pre-NAPLEX or a review course, and free graduation parking. kf it jq uk kv md gi fn xj mb