A total of 239 students from 12 UK medical schools responded to the questionnaire. In addition to their EPM, academic and SJT scores, all participants provided data on gender, duration of course (i.e. 4 or 5 years) and whether or not additional resources were used for the SJT. There was no correlation between the SJT and the academic scores (Spearman's = 0.0458; probability of any relationship = 0.4865).

This study reports the views of second year medical students from 6 Universities on the value or not of deferring entry to medical school in order to take a 'Gap Year' obtained from an anonymous questionnaire. Data were analysed using Fisher's exact test to produce a two tailed P value, with significance defined as p <0.05. A total of 184 questionnaires returned, 79 from gap year students and 105 non gap year students. Nearly all who had taken a gap year (77/79) would advise current school leavers to take one, compared to only 48/105 who had not (p <0.0001). A similar difference was observed between the two groups when asked if they thought a gap year helped students become more mature (78/79 v 46/105, p <0.0001). Similarly, gap year students were significantly more likely to consider that a gap year made it easier for them to make friends (70/79 v 26/105, p <0.0001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in finding it difficult to settle into work at University (31/79 v 36/105, p=0.5373). This study shows overwhelming support for deferring entry to medical school and taking a gap year from those students who took one, and nearly half of those students who did not. Medical school entrance committees should re-consider their advice to students who wish to defer entry in order to take a 'gap year'.

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