The predictive validity of school leaving grades and admissions interview scores for medical school performance

Brown C
Record ID 32002000719
English
Authors' objectives:

This report seeks to systematically review the available evidence to compare the predictability of school-leaving grades and admissions interview scores in terms of undergraduate student performance in Medical School or performance as doctors after graduation. In addition, a costs analysis of the interview approach to selection is offered.

Authors' results and conclusions: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria; of these only one provided any assessment of post-Medical School performance. Of the included studies, 27 correlations of performance with grades and interview scores were made. Grades were positively correlated with performance (at 5% significance or above) in 18 of these correlations. For interviews, 5 correlations showed positive significance; and 3 negative significance. The remaining correlations were insignificant.
Authors' recommendations: The available evidence suggests that grades appear to be a more effective predictor of undergraduate Medical School performance than interviews. However, these results should be interpreted with caution given the quality and quantity of the evidence base. More research on the longer-term predictive validity of different selection methods is required, and given the results of the costs analysis, this would appear to be a worthwhile investment.
Authors' methods: Systematic review
Details
Project Status: Completed
Year Published: 2002
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: England
MeSH Terms
  • Education, Medical
  • Educational Measurement
  • Schools, Medical
Contact
Organisation Name: West Midlands Health Technology Assessment Collaboration
Contact Address: Elaena Donald-Lopez, West Midlands Health Technology Assessment Collaboration, Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT Tel: +44 121 414 7450; Fax: +44 121 414 7878
Contact Name: louise.a.taylor@bham.ac.uk
Contact Email: louise.a.taylor@bham.ac.uk
Copyright: University of Birmingham
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.