:) smile-on.com

CPD Record | Add a Course

Email

Password

Every day, smile-on posts original news stories to the site on dental, health and legal matters. Browse our archive using the keyword search, below.

To have smile-on's comprehensive news service delivered to your own site, email editor@smile-on.com.



	Email this news item to a friend Printer Version


	Monday 22nd February 2010 Research: Comparison Of A Level And UKCAT Performance In Students Applying To UK Medical And Dental Schools In 2006: Cohort Study UKCAT is an aptitude test, aimed at increasing diversity and fairness in selecting applicants to UK medical and dental schools. Used alongside more traditional selection tools it aims to increase the transparency of selecting those candidates who will make the very best doctors and dentists of the future. Results from the analysed data from 53 per cent of the first group of applicants who sat the UKCAT in 2006 are published in the BMJ this week in an article entitled Comparison of A-level and UKCAT performance in students applying to UK medical and dental schools in 2006: a cohort study which concludes that there is a modest correlation between A-level and UKCAT scores. This confirms that the test can be used in the selection process as a reasonable proxy before A-level results are available. The test has now been taken by applicants for four years. This initial analysis shows that (similar to A-levels) test scores are influenced by gender and socio-economic factors. UKCAT analysis of test results shows that the actual differences in median scores are small. Girls perform better at abstract reasoning, boys at quantitative and verbal reasoning. The article's research demonstrates that UKCAT scores are less subject to bias than A-level results alone which could potentially indicate that, if combined with A-level achievement, these scores offer a fairer tool for selection. Further research into the use and value of UKCAT scores in both selection and widening participation is required. UKCAT is firmly committed to conducting and supporting research that determines the long-term predictive validity of its tests. The 2008 UKCAT Annual Report giving detailed analysis of the scores of the 20,512 applicants who took the test that year will be published shortly.