1. Sally Curtis Carolyn Blundell Linda Turner
The effect of English language skills on academic performance of medical students on a widening access course
Sally Curtis
Carolyn Blundell
Linda Turner

2. The reason for this study

3. English language test given correlated with previous
Method
English language test given
3 times during the year –
correlated with previous
standard of English
Correlation of initial attainment and test scores
Test 1
Test 2
Test 3
Spearman’s
correlation test
(rho values)
0.608**
0.563**
0.590**
** p< 0.001

4. Method Test correlated with current standard of English
** p< 0.001

5. Correlation of examination performance
and test scores

6. Improvement in English language
test scores

7. Distribution of differences in English language test scores

8. “Since starting the BM6 programme
Student perceptions
“Since starting the BM6 programme
do you think your language skills have improved?”
Using a scale of 1 – = no improvement
5 = greatly improved
Semester 1
mean (median) score
Semester 2
mean (median)
score E1
2.56 (3) E2
3 (3)
3.5 (4)

9. “Do you think you would have benefited from English language support?”
Student perceptions
“Do you think you would have benefited
from English language support?”
Yes No
Did not
answer E1 3 11 2 E2 5 4

10. English language skills did not predict performance
Conclusions
English language skills did not predict performance
in BM6 examinations
Language skills appear to improve during the course
especially in E2 students
Optional tutorials in English language skills would be
welcomed by all students

11. With thanks to the BM6 05/06 cohort
Acknowledgements
With thanks to the BM6 05/06 cohort