Use of UKCAT scores in student selection by UK medical schools, 2006-2010

Jon Dowell,Rachel Greatrix,Jane Adam

doi:10.1186/1472-6920-11-98

Abstract

BackgroundThe United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) is a set of cognitive tests introduced in 2006, taken annually before application to medical school. The UKCAT is a test of aptitude and not acquired knowledge and as such the results give medical schools a standardised and objective tool that all schools could use to assist their decision making in selection, and so provide a fairer means of choosing future medical students.Selection of students for UK medical schools is usually in three stages: assessment of academic qualifications, assessment of further qualities from the application form submitted via UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) leading to invitation to interview, and then selection for offer of a place. Medical schools were informed of the psychometric qualities of the UKCAT subtests and given some guidance regarding the interpretation of results. Each school then decided how to use the results within its own selection system.MethodsAnnual retrospective key informant telephone interviews were conducted with every UKCAT Consortium medical school, using a pre-circulated structured questionnaire. The key points of the interview were transcribed, 'member checked' and a content analysis was undertaken.ResultsFour equally popular ways of using the test results have emerged, described as Borderline, Factor, Threshold and Rescue methods. Many schools use more than one method, at different stages in their selection process. Schools have used the scores in ways that have sought to improve the fairness of selection and support widening participation. Initially great care was taken not to exclude any applicant on the basis of low UKCAT scores alone but it has been used more as confidence has grown.ConclusionsThere is considerable variation in how medical schools use UKCAT, so it is important that they clearly inform applicants how the test will be used so they can make best use of their limited number of applications.

Highlights

The United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) is a set of cognitive tests introduced in 2006, taken annually before application to medical school
For many years there have been three stages in the selection of students for UK medical schools: assessment of academic qualifications and further qualities obtained from the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) application form, usually leading to invitation to interview, and selection for offer
This paper describes the patterns and changes in the use of the UKCAT cognitive scores by UK medical schools in student selection over the four years of testing, 2006 to 2009 inclusive, based on an annual telephone survey of admissions conveners of all participating schools

Summary

Introduction

The United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) is a set of cognitive tests introduced in 2006, taken annually before application to medical school. Selection of students for UK medical schools is usually in three stages: assessment of academic qualifications, assessment of further qualities from the application form submitted via UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) leading to invitation to interview, and selection for offer of a place. For many years there have been three stages in the selection of students for UK medical schools: assessment of academic qualifications and further qualities obtained from the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) application form, usually leading to invitation to interview, and selection for offer (either after or without interview). The number of correct responses was transformed into a scaled score and presented to candidates once they had completed the test

Methods

Results

Conclusion