Is the UCAT appropriate for selecting undergraduate medical students?

Powis, David; Munro, Don; Bore, Miles

doi:10.5694/mja2.50906

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…Mentorship in academia provides notable in uence on juniors' career trajectories and productivity in research in the form of publications and grant achievements. 3 Despite evidence that such guidance nurtures success, most medical schools and postgraduate training programmes are yet to implement academic supervisors as, at the very least, a non-compulsory option. This could serve as one potential intervention for institutions to provide greater guidance and opportunity.…”

Section: It Is All About Who You Know: Disparities In Opportunitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Though self-limiting, symptoms during an acute phase can be severe and crippling. 3 A literature search revealed another similar case of CVN reported in a 29-year-old woman who presented with acute vertigo, which settled within one week of antiviral, steroid and symptomatic treatment. 2 However, in our case, vertigo developed after an acute febrile phase and gradually resolved over four weeks.…”

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confidence: 94%

“…The role of steroid therapy is inconclusive. 2,3 Vestibular rehabilitation with physical exercises and balance training hastens recovery. Audiovestibular symptoms in COVID-19 are extremely rare (1%) and long-term consequences such as audiovestibular dysfunction have not been reported.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…2,3 It is plausible to assume the impacts on education identi ed by Smith and Cleland may also negatively affect students' ability to access and prepare for these aptitude tests, minimising any potential bene t of their use. The recent problems experienced by nal-year medical students sitting the online situation judgement test are a clear example of this 4.…”

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confidence: 99%

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It is all about who you Know: Disparities in Opportunity

Youssef¹

2021

Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

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Section: It Is All About Who You Know: Disparities In Opportunitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 94%

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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It is all about who you Know: Disparities in Opportunity

Youssef¹

2021

Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

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“…1 Unfortunately, a recent study found contradictory effects and no studies have investigated the impact of COVID-19 on these aptitude tests. 2,3 It is plausible to assume the impacts on education identi ed by Smith and Cleland may also negatively affect students' ability to access and prepare for these aptitude tests, minimising any potential bene t of their use. The recent problems experienced by nal-year medical students sitting the online situation judgement test are a clear example of this.…”

Section: Are Aptitude Tests the Solution To Widening Participation Du...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Authors’ Reply

Cleland¹,

Smith²

2021

Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

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Letterstarget groups are different: Australia has major inequities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and other Australians, whereas the UK's inequities are based mostly on social class issues. So too are practices -for example, Australia uses a quota system to ensure representation of students from remote and rural, and indigenous backgrounds in medical school. The UK takes a more meritocratic approach.Our nal point is that we need to stand back and stop focusing on which tool is 'best' for widening access. No one selection tool is going to provide the magic bullet in respect of addressing societal ills. Medical school selection is highly contextual, complex and politicised. 6 We urge medical schools to shift from their predominant reductionist views of selection (the 'best' tool(s)) and instead explicitly acknowledge medical school selection in a way that respects complexity and uses disruption productively. Only by doing so can we create approaches to selection that are t for purpose, fair and future-focused.

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Psychometric properties of an aptitude test administered to Sri Lankan first-year medical students

Sanchayan,

Dharmaratne,

Pathirana

et al. 2025

TAPS

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Introduction: Selection for basic medical training is highly contextual. The use of cognitive aptitude tests, which commonly supplement measures of prior academic achievement in the selection process of medical schools internationally, is rarely reported from resource-constrained settings in South Asia. We report on the psychometric properties of an aptitude test designed based on the UCAT format, administered to first-year medical undergraduates to determine its utility. Methods: The aptitude test was administered online to first-year medical students shortly after their admission to two medical faculties in Sri Lanka (n=328). The reliability of the test was determined using Cronbach’s alpha. Overall and subtest scores were computed, and the scores of different demographic groups were compared using the t-test. Factor analysis of the subtests was performed. Results: The internal consistency of the test was 0.63. The difficulty and discrimination indices were within the acceptable range. The mean score of the aptitude test (AT) was 70.9/100 (SD 8.88). The mean score for females was higher than for males (p=0.04). No statistically significant differences in AT scores were observed between different ethnicities or religions. The entry academic scores demonstrated a weak correlation with the overall AT score (Pearson’s correlation coefficient r=0.27), verbal reasoning (r=0.24), the human body (r=0.19), quantitative reasoning (r=0.18), and situational judgement (r=0.128). Factor analysis indicated items that need revision. Conclusion: The results indicate the potential value of aptitude tests in Sri Lanka and in similar jurisdictions where selection criteria have yet to expand beyond prior academic performance. A way forward in introducing such tests has been outlined.

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Is the UCAT appropriate for selecting undergraduate medical students?

Cited by 4 publications

References 11 publications

It is all about who you Know: Disparities in Opportunity

It is all about who you Know: Disparities in Opportunity

Authors’ Reply

Psychometric properties of an aptitude test administered to Sri Lankan first-year medical students

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