MB ChB Admissions 2014/15 Dr Gail Nicholls Director of Admissions

MBChB Selection Aim of Admissions Process To select students academically able to complete the MBChB degree course and to practise as a Foundation Year doctor To select students that will make the best doctors To use a fair and equitable process to achieve this

Facts and figures

UK picture In 2012–13 41,422 medical students studying at 32 medical schools in the UK More than half of all medical students in the UK were female

Medical school application competition Leeds 17.1 applicants per place RAF pilot: 450 applicants per place Leading UK employers: 85 applicants per place  National 10.6 applicants per place

MBChB Selection

2013 entry 3515 applicants First year total: 237 – Male: 76, Female: 161 (68% Female) 219 home and 18 international – 20 transfer Bradford Foundation Year in Clinical Sciences – 1 Interdisciplinary Science Foundation Year – 3 repeating year 1 – 14 international students (part of the quota of 20 places for international students others admitted in 3 rd year) – 4 international students from the International Science Foundation Year (2 Kuwaitis + 2 Saudi students) outside the quota of international students

MBChB Selection What makes a good doctor? GMC 2011

MBChB Selection The selection system takes a look at: Academic criteria Better of GCSE or AS results (if ‘cashed-in’) A levels (or equivalent) BMAT Non-academic criteria Personal statement Interview

MBChB Selection UCAS receivedTriaged for minimum criteria Academic scoring + BMAT Non-academic attributes from the personal statement Top 1000 forms Scored 2 assessors 3 rd assessor if difference Better of (GSCE or declared AS) + A2 + Aptitude Test VERY few rejected Minimum criteria well advertised

Academic Criteria GCSE At least 6 grade Bs must be offered including: English Maths Dual Science/Double Science, or Chemistry and Biology IGCSE English curricula vary Admissions policy has full details For school leavers predicted 3 As, 40% had perfect academic scoring last year i.e. 9 A* at GSCE or 3 As at AS

Academic Criteria AS-level Three AS-levels. Same subject restrictions as A-levels. We look at your best 3 AS-levels if declared “cashed in” after the first year of study. We do NOT accept undeclared AS-levels or AS-levels cashed-in later, nor do we regard A-level results as equivalent. If the total is higher than your GCSE total, we will use your AS score We use either your GCSE score OR your AS score – you can’t add one declared AS to 8 GCSEs. If your school doesn’t declare AS levels, we will use your GCSE score. We do NOT accept module scores or predicted or undeclared grades.

Academic Criteria A-level Three A-levels – no advantage to having 4 Chemistry at Grade A is mandatory General Studies, Critical Thinking and the Extended Project are not used in academic scoring No Chemistry with Biology and Human Biology No Chemistry with Maths and Further Maths Standard offer is AAA – no advantage to A* Predicted/achieved treated equally

MBChB Selection

Aptitude Test Between 2008 and 2013, we used UKCAT For anyone applying after January 1 st 2014, we will be asking for BMAT No alternatives will be accepted UKCAT will not be accepted as a substitute

Aptitude testing A score based on BMAT performance will be combined with a score based on GCSE/AS/A2 performance or prediction A high academic score can help compensate for a low BMAT score and vice versa There will not be a pre-determined “cut-off” score

BMAT Subject specific admissions test for applicants to medicine, veterinary medicine 2 hour pen and paper test, local centers 3 sections test of skills and knowledge that you are already expected to have – Aptitude and skills – Scientific knowledge and application – Writing task

BMAT sections Section 1: Aptitude – 35 MCQ or short answer questions – Problem solving, understanding argument, data analysis Section 2: Scientific knowledge – 27 MCQ or short answer questions – Scientific knowledge up to Key Stage 4 – Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics Section 3: Writing – One essay from choice of 4 – “A little learning is a dangerous thing” (Alexander Pope)

BMAT preparation and registration Papers available to download Section 2 based around the national curriculum studied by the majority Cost £44 Register from Sep to Oct Test early Nov Results late Nov

This is how we find out about applicants…..

Communication There are around 4000 applicants There are 5 of us IF YOU WANT US TO KNOW SOMETHING PLEASE PUT IT ON THE FORM! Please do not provide us with supplementary information by phone, or letter

Non-Academic Criteria Evidence will be sought from all sections of the UCAS form and at interview 1.Personal Statement 2. Interview

Writing a Personal Statement Motivation and Insight Motivation and Insight Interests and Achievements Interests and Achievements Responsibility and Leadership Responsibility and Leadership Social Awareness Social Awareness Mitigating circumstances, Access to Leeds

What evidence do you need? How have you looked into a career in medicine? Have you taken positions of responsibility? Do you know a bit about the world outside your friends and family? Do you know how to relax and de-stress?

A typical applicant at interview A typical applicant who gets to the interview stage would have all of the following: Excellent GCSE or AS grades Predicted or achieved 3 As at A level (or ABB for A2L) A good BMAT score A good personal statement

What does the interview do? MMI (Multiple Mini-Interview) Assesses further non-academic attributes The candidates who perform the best at interview will be offered a place We aim to interview 512 applicants 32 batches of 16 over two weeks Interviews are currently scheduled for January 2015

Our MMI 8 stations, 4 groups per day, 64 candidates per day Each stations- 1 minute reading, 7 minute task Each station tests 1 or more attributes Includes: communication skills, UCAS statement, ethical reasoning, negotiation, current affairs, situational judgement test, written station…….

Alternative Routes "We have always believed that anyone with the talent and ambition to succeed should be able to come to Leeds...” Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Arthur Access to Leeds Bradford Partnership Interdisciplinary Science Foundation Programme Access courses

Alternative Access Routes Access to Leeds  Alternative admissions scheme that allows us to identify applicants who have the potential to succeed but who may not be able to demonstrate their talents through grades alone Realising Opportunities  Operated by the charity Brightside in collaboration with 12 universities and enabling increased access Work alongside standard UCAS application Typical offer 2 grades lower if university modules are passed

Interdisciplinary Science Foundation CFGO Full-time, 1 year Enables students who may have been disadvantaged in their preparation for tertiary education to prepare for degree level study and gain the necessary academic competence required for entry to the degree programme Criteria for transfer: at least 70% in Chemistry, successful interview

Clinical Sciences BSc RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CLINICAL SCIENCES AT BRADFORD AND THE MBChB COURSE AT LEEDS FOUNDATION YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 BSc (Hons) Clinical Sciences Bradford 40 intake YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 YEAR 4 YEAR 5 MBChB Leeds 223 intake 20 transfer intake output output

Access to Medicine Courses College of West Anglia Sussex Down’s Adult College They have to reach a certain standard in these courses: overall mark 70% and 70% in Chemistry

Plan B……….

Feedback We will provide limited feedback to unsuccessful applicants This will take the form of a ranking, showing position in relation to the rest of the cohort in – Academic performance (all applicants) – Aptitude performance (all applicants) – Personal statement (if scored) – Interview performance (if interviewed)

Second time/re-sit applications Assessed in competition with all the first-time applications Examination re-sit results are only accepted in exceptional circumstances Evidence of circumstances is needed If you want to reapply: WHY was the application rejected? Any feedback? We do provide some feedback – but we won’t rewrite an application! Think about what can be done to make the necessary changes MAKE THEM!

Alternative Access Routes

Other sources of information NHS Careers Website - General Medical Council Website - Medical Schools Council Website - BMAT- services/medicine-and-healthcare/bmat/about-bmat/ services/medicine-and-healthcare/bmat/about-bmat/ Leeds Medicine Admissions website -

How to make an application successful….