Relationship between general practice selection scores and MRCGP examination performance
What were the key findings?
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Entry scores are good predictors: The scores candidates get when applying for general practice (GP) training are usually a good sign of how well they will do during that training.
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The link is weaker for some groups: This link between entry scores and later performance was less clear for international medical graduates (IMGs) who took the PLAB test. This may be due to "range restriction"—where a narrow set of scores makes it harder to predict future results.
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Improving predictions: For IMGs who took the PLAB test, we could better predict their future performance by looking at their English language test scores (IELTS) or their specific PLAB results.
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The importance of attempts: For these doctors, knowing how many times they took the PLAB test before passing was actually a better predictor of their future success than their final passing score.
Why did we commission this research?
This review follows earlier research by Professors Esmail and Roberts. Their study found significant differences in failure rates between different groups of doctors in the Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA)—one of the main exams for passing GP training.
For example:
- BME UK graduates were nearly 4 times more likely to fail on their first try than White UK graduates.
- BME International graduates were nearly 15 times more likely to fail.
We wanted to see if we could use entry scores to identify which doctors might struggle later on. If we can predict who might have difficulty, we can provide extra support early in their training to help them succeed.
What did the research involve?
Researchers looked at data from 2008–13. They matched the scores doctors got when applying for GP training with the scores they achieved during their actual training. They specifically looked at whether these results differed based on a doctor’s ethnicity or where they gained their primary medical qualification.
