GAMSAT Dr Aileen O'Brien Prof Peter McCrorie St George's, University of London

What predicts future job performance? Validity ( r ) % add to IQ IQ complx. job.51 65% integ/conscnt % peer ratings.49 14% prev job perform % biograph.data.352% no train.courses.112% yrs education.102% interests.102% age-.010%

Academic predictors of exam performance Science A levels predict exam success in years 1 and 2 but not subsequent performance

But note that Different cognitive & non-cognitive factors correlate with academic success in different schools, so cultures and teaching styles influence outcome.

Clinical performance is predicted by interviews (sometimes) previous study English & Humanities learning style (deep or superficial) measure of empathy / motivation

Suggested good practice for selection for medical school Relevant factors: predictive validity and cost Measure of IQ Structured interview assessing desirable personal characteristics ? additional measures, e.g. structured reference, group activity, psychometric tests, behavioural consistency exercise, etc

GAMSAT Developed and validated by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) To assist in selection of students for graduate-entry programs To assess capacity to undertake high level intellectual studies in a demanding course.

Universities St George’s, University of London The University of Nottingham at Derby The University of Wales at Swansea Peninsula Medical and Dental School (5 and 4 year) Keele University

GAMSAT scores correlate with GCSE & A level points not with degree class not with interview scores 50% overlap with UKCAT

Designed to suit many educational backgrounds More pattern recognition than specific facts Need to know the sciences Not pass/fail, rather a screening test for interview Not pass/fail, rather a screening test for interview Designed to provide a ‘level playing field’ Designed to provide a ‘level playing field’ What is GAMSAT?

Section I - Reasoning in humanities and social sciences Assesses skills in the interpretation and understanding of ideas in social and cultural context. Some material is presented verbally, some more visual and tabular. 75 MCQs in 100 minutes

Example – Section I Which is closest in meaning to the given proverb? Death keeps no calendar AThe evening crowns the day BNothing is certain but death and taxes CDeath devours lambs as well as sheep DWe must live by the living not by the dead

Section II - Written communication Test of writing, emphasis on generative thinking component of writing ability. 2 writing tasks, each from a choice of 5; total writing time 1 hour. 2 short pieces of prose, each marked x 3

Develop and title a piece of writing in response to the following comments One friend in a lifetime is much; two is many; three is hardly possible Friendship makes prosperity more brilliant, and lightens adversity by dividing and sharing it However rare true love may be it is less rare than true friendship It is one of the great blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them

“A politician is an arse which everyone has sat upon except a man”..!

Section III- Reasoning in biological and physical sciences Assesses knowledge and understanding of basic science and problem solving in scientific context –Identify knowledge in new contexts –Translate knowledge from one form to another –Estimate measurements and recognise limits in accuracy –Formulate hypotheses –Extrapolate and interpret data

Formulate generalisations Deduce relationships from models Analyse data Follow line of reasoning 40% chemistry, 40% biology, 20% physics 110 MCQs in 170 minutes

When animal cells are placed in pure water, which one of the following is likely to move first and fastest across the cell membrane? Aglucose Bwater Camino acids Dsodium ions

St George’s entry requirements 2.2 degree in any discipline UK or EU resident GAMSAT Work experience Interview Police and health screening

Score calculated for St George’s I + II + (2xIII) 4 I + II + III 3

Minimum score of Paper 255 and must achieve 55 in one other paper and 50 in the other

Admission George's GAMSAT 2:2 Reference and personal statement not used GAMSAT “level playing field” Multiple mini interview then decides