What is the evidence for biology as the ‘heart of eligibility’ to study medicine? A retrospective analysis

Abstract

The first, sometimes the only, selection tool for entry into undergraduate medicine is prior educational attainment (PEA). This is often further specified to include certain subjects, for example, biology is a prerequisite for entry into medicine in many Asian countries. However, there seems no clear evidence base for this prerequisite. Our aim, therefore, was to carry out a retrospective quantitative study comparing the performances of five cohorts of students (2015–2019 entry; n = 588) with and without biology PEA in Years 1 and 2 Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) integrated written assessments (n = 3) and anatomy practical examinations (APE) (n = 5). The study was conducted at one of Singapore’s three medical schools. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests and Mann–Whitney U with p values of less than 0.05 were considered significant. There were no significant differences in performance on any Years 1 or 2 integrated written assessments. Similarly, in one of the APE, a significant difference was found for one cohort (academic year [AY] 2015–2016) out of five assessments. These results suggest that having a prior biology qualification does not make a difference in assessment performance in the early years of medical school. This information may help stakeholders and admissions committees decide whether biology is required for medical school entrance.