IngentaConnect Demographic and socio-economic associations with academic attainm...

Abstract:

Background

In the United Kingdom medical students are selected predominantly on their academic merit. Their academic achievement marks are equated via the tariff point score structure administered by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). We studied the applicant databases for 1998-2003 for one English medical school to determine the factors that predict high tariff point scores. Methods

Complete demographic data and relative socio-economic status, educational institution attended and tariff point score was available for 8997 UK applicants aged 21 years or younger to the 5-year Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (BM BS) course at Nottingham University medical school (and partially complete data for a further 1891 applicants). The data were subjected to standard univariate and multivariate analyses and to path analysis. Results

In these samples, the independent predictors of a high tariff point score were being younger and male. The effect sizes were small, although significant. Higher tariff point scores were achieved by those from households less materially disadvantaged. Ethnicity was also a predictor with white, Chinese and those of mixed ethnic origin achieving higher tariff point scores than those from other groups. Finally, the type of school attended predicted academic achievement with applicants from further education colleges, independent schools and grant-maintained schools achieving higher tariff point scores. Conclusion

Notwithstanding the relatively homogeneous (predominantly young, white, high academic achievers) applicant pool to a single UK medical school we identified consistent significant predictors of high tariff point scores. As high tariff point scores are still the major entry criterion to UK medical schools, our findings will be of value in informing policy decisions concerning `widening access' schemes being established at government request.

Keywords: *educational measurement; *school admission criteria; *schools, medical; *education, medical, undergraduate; socio-economic factors; humans; adult; female; male

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2929.2006.02683.x

Affiliations: 1: Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia 2: Medical Education Unit, University of Nottingham Medical School, Nottingham, UK 3: Risk Analysis, Social Processes and Health Group, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, UK

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$49.48 plus tax Refund Policy

Demographic and socio-economic associations with academic attainment (UCAS tariff scores) in applicants to medical school