Data and research on differential attainment
Our data
Our research
Research carried out by us and research which we have commissioned.
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Research Title Pub. Date Description Not just a tick box exercise: how poor inductions can impact doctors and patients
2021
Steve Loasby, Research Manager at the GMC, discusses how induction is an important tool that can affect a doctor’s wellbeing, workplace environments and patient care.
2019
Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) doctors identify ten key factors which they felt gave them the opportunity to succeed in post graduate training.
Psychological theory is used to explain why these are important for learning.
Broader DA literature identifies why BAME trainees are systematically less able to benefit from these kinds of support.
Practical examples from stakeholders and trainees illustrate how interventions can improve outcomes.
November 2018
The overall aim of this research is to enhance fair training for all. It aims to support and encourage training organisations and educators to evaluate interventions and programmes of support, and to share their learning with others in order to build an evidence base.
May 2017
To follow up from the 2015 research which focused on trainee/trainer perspective, part two of the research explores differential attainment at an organisation level.
Fair training pathways for all: understanding experiences of progression - Part one
July 2016
In 2015 we asked researchers from University College London to develop the model proposed by HEFCE commissioned research (described below), in the context of postgraduate medical education and training to help us understand more about how differential attainment affects doctors in training.
July 2016
A summary of key messages arising from the publication of exam, ARCP and recruitment data for the 2014/2015 academic year.
November 2015
We commissioned an independent review of existing research and literature on differential attainment across medical education pathways. We want to understand potential causes of differential attainment; ways in which differential attainment has been researched; and potential interventions.
November 2015
This research investigates the correlation between selection scores and exam performance of GPs over a number of years.
Q4 2015
Our fifth annual GMC report sets out what is happening in the education and practice of doctors, and considers some of the current challenges facing the profession and the systems in which it works.
Building our understanding of professional support services offered to doctors in training
November 2015
To identify how doctors in training are supported, we worked with the Conference of Postgraduate Medical Deans (COPMED) to survey deaneries and local education and training boards across the UK.
Our survey of professional support units aimed to draw on the expertise and experience within these organisations to identify and share effective practice.Preliminary analysis of data on postgraduate exams and recruitment
March 2015
A summary of key messages arising from the publication of exam and recruitment data for the 2013/2014 academic year.
GMC Corporate Conference Workshop
January 2015
In January 2015, we held a workshop on differential attainment at our annual conference. We used the conference as a key moment to share emerging findings with a range of healthcare professionals, and to get their feedback about our approach to the research and what they think we should prioritise.
View slides from our differential attainment workshop
Read our overview of the workshop themes and discussions2013
In 2013 we asked Professor Aneez Esmail to carry out an independent review of the Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP), an integrated assessment system, success in which confirms that a doctor has satisfactorily completed specialty training for general practice. This table shows the progress we, and other organisations, have made against the recommendations in the review's final report.
Non-GMC commissioned research
Research commissioned by other organisations.
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Research Title Pub. Date Description Authors /contributors 2020
The NHS Staff Survey in England shows that people from ethnic minority groups report experiencing discrimination and higher levels of bullying, harassment or abuse from other staff compared with white staff. NHS staff may also be subjected to racism by patients and other members of the public during their work with consequences for their health and wellbeing.
This report shares lived experiences of BME NHS staff in their everyday work, the stories behind the data and ways in which some NHS organisations are tackling inequalities and inclusion in everyday work.
S. Ross, J. Jabbal, K. Chauhan, D Maguire, M. Randhawa and S. Dahir
Links between NHS staff experience and patient satisfaction: Analysis of surveys from 2014 and 2015
2018
Using NHS staff and inpatient survey data, this report identifies the most important aspects of staff experience in predicting inpatient satisfaction. It also examines the experiences of staff (and patients) from a black and minority ethnic (BME) background, examining the extent to which treatment of BME staff is linked with patient experience.
J. Dawson
Unpacking the dark variance of differential attainment on examinations in overseas graduates
2018
The authors of the report say interpersonal skills may be just as important as clinical knowledge for those on GP training programmes. By demonstrating the importance of interpersonal competence to licensing examination results, the research team have provided new insights into how to support future GP trainees who are likely to struggle with exams that involve social and communication interactions.
F. Patterson, P.A. Tiffin, S. Lopes & L. Zibarras
Differential attainment: Making medical training fair for all
2017
This report summarises some of the causes of differential attainment, provides examples of initiatives that make a difference for BAME trainees, and outlines practical tips for providers, trainers, students and trainees.
British Medical Association (BMA)
2017
Scottish Government consultation on proposals for measuring the poverty-related attainment gap and milestones towards closing it.
Scottish Government
2017
How do student outcomes differ according to various characteristics? This guide looks at outcomes measured in terms of class of degree awarded and employment six months after graduation. In addition, at a sector level, it considers how student outcomes have changed since 2013-14
Office for Students
2014
The aim of this research was to further assess whether the United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) is likely to add incremental value over A level (predicted or actual) attainment in the selection process.
P.A. Tiffin, J.C. McLachlan, L. Webster and S. Nicholson
2013
This study assesses the United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT), and its four sub-scales, along with measures of educational attainment, individual and contextual socio-economic background factors, as predictors of performance in the first year of medical school training.
I.C. McManus, C. Dewberry, S. Nicholson & J.S. Dowell
The mediators of minority ethnic underperformance in final medical school examinations
2013
This study investigates whether demographic and psychological factors mediate the relationship between ethnicity and final examination scores.
K. Woolf, I.C. McManus, H.W.W. Potts & J. Dacre
The educational background and qualifications of UK medical students from ethnic minorities
2008
This study uses two large-scale databases to examine the educational attainment of different groups of students.
I.C. McManus, K. Woolf & J. Dacre
2020
This comparison of undergraduate outcomes for students from gateway courses and standard entry medicine courses shows some evidence that gateway courses allow students from under-represented groups to achieve greater academic potential, with differences in the attainment and aptitude on entry and outcomes at graduation of students on gateway and standard entry courses narrowing by the time they leave medical school.
Sally Curtis and Daniel Smith
Research from other sectors
The issue of differential attainment is not confined to medical practise. Here we have gathered noteworthy research carried out or commissioned by organisations outside our sector.
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Research Title Pub. Date Description Authors /contributors 2019
This inquiry explores staff and student experience of racial harassment at university (including medical schools) and the impact it has on their education, career and wellbeing. Students and staff who experience racial harassment may disengage from core activities, to keep themselves safe or to prevent further erosion of their confidence and wellbeing, but at a cost to their studies or careers. The Commission go on to make recommendations for change.
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Black, Asian and minority ethnic student attainment at UK universities: #closingthegap
2019
This report identifies five steps that can be taken to tackle the disparity between the proportion of 'top degrees' (first or a 2:1 degree) achieved by white and BAME students. The report follows contributions from 99 universities and student unions and six regional round table sessions with 160 attendees into how to improve outcomes and reduce the attainment gap.
Universities UK and NUS
2016
This paper explores the ethnicity attainment gap in higher education (HE). It highlights the challenges for narrowing the gap and provides a source of initiatives and toolkits to people in all roles in HE (including outreach, support, teaching and policy) on how to address it.
Miriam Miller
2016
A journalistic piece which examines three decades’ of diversity data and initiatives from more than 800 US firms to look at what does and doesn’t work to improve career outcomes for employees from diverse backgrounds.
Frank Dobbin and Alexandra Kalev
Qualitative research into Registration Assessment performance among Black-African candidates
2016
Analysis of the General Pharmaceutical Council Registration Assessment data shows that Black-African candidates with a UK MPharm degree performed less well than candidates from other ethnic background. It finds that an interplay of factors affect the experience and performance of Black-African students during their training and the report recommends actions that schools of pharmacy, training providers, NHS education authorities and the GPhC could take to in response to the findings.
Office for Public Management (OPM)
