1. UK Medical Education and the Medical Selection Process
Simon Fitch, Head, International Development, St George’s, University of London
Kim Piper, Head of Admissions, Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London

2. UK Medical Education
36 medical schools awarding Primary Medical Qualifications – rich history (but limited numbers) of international students
Diversity in:
History
Size of intake/university
Curricula – Undergraduate and Graduate Entry
Application processes
Applications and access for international students (the ‘7.5%’) – new approaches
Recent developments and innovation

3. UK Medical Education

4. UK undergraduate medical programmes
What will I do?
Finishing school
Medicine 5 or 6 year programme
Clinical Science years, plus short general practice and community visits; Case Based Learning
Year 1
Year 2
Problem Based Learning and clinical rotations
Clinical Transition Year
Advanced Biomedical study and independent research project
BSc (optional in 5 year programme)
Clinical rotations in a variety of hospital departments; revision, exams and teaching sessions
Penultimate Year
Final Year
Foundation/Residency

5. Application statistics
2014 entry statistics
Queen Mary, University of London
St George’s, University of London
Total applications
2629
2791
Places available (Home/EU)
253
239
Places available (Overseas) 24 50
Rejected prior to interview
1729
1637
Invited to interview
900
1086
Offered a place
420
424

6. Check the academic selection process
GCSE scoring – best of 8/9 or overall average?
A level or IB school: check beyond the minimum, tariff
How many A levels in one sitting?
Further Maths A level – check if accepted
Check UCAS website for Tariff points and declare them eg EPQ in the scoring area of the UCAS form
Check if you need to declare module grades

7. Choosing the ‘best’ students
UCAS (academic)
October 15th deadline*
UKCAT or BMAT
Interview
Decision

8. A variety of processes Components – U/G entry
Number of Public Medical Schools
Pre-Application questionnaires 3
UCAS for Academic Record
All
UCAS for Non-Academic record 24
Personal statement is scored
Approx. 70% of institutions using UCAS for non-academic record
UKCAT 25
BMAT 7
No U/G Entrance Exam 1
Own selection test
Interview (all students) 33

9. Minimum academic entry requirements
QUEEN MARY
6 GCSEs at grades AAABBB or above (in any order) to include Biology (or Human Biology), Chemistry (or double science), English Language and Maths (or additional Maths or Statistics)
Chemistry and Biology at AS level
410 Tarriff points and UKCAT 50:50 weighting
AAAb from three A2s and one further AS (one must be Chemistry or Biology + another science if not both taken)
ST GEORGE’S
8 GCSEs/IGCSEs at average grade A, to include Biology, Chemistry, Maths and English
AAA at A level. If a fourth subject is offered to A2 or AS level, a minimum grade of B must be obtained. Must include Biology and Chemistry
Alternatively, IB diploma with 666 at HL and 666 at SL, must include Biology and Chemistry, at least one to HL
UKCAT with minimum 500 in each section, plus overall cut-off

10. The ‘best’ students Bright Mature Well organised Thoughtful Empathetic
Honest

11. The ‘best’ students

12. The personal statement
Write it themselves
Ensure it does them justice
Explain any contradictions
Make sure it’s in English
Emphasise their WORK EXPERIENCE and its relevance for them
Think about team working, communication

13. Personal statement / Extra-curricular
Use for screening prior to interview
Many schools don’t use it. Some use it in a limited fashion
Likely to be partly replaced by SJT
Use for supporting the interview
How examples in extracurricular activities can support your answers in the interviews or MMI

15. Team working evidence

16. Work experience

17. Aptitude tests

18. UKCAT & BMAT key dates 2015 DATE UKCAT BMAT Test registration begins
01 May 2015
01 September 2015
Test registration ends
22 September 2015
01 October 2015
Testing begins
01 July 2015
04 November 2015
Testing ends
06 October 2015
Release of results
On day of testing
24 November 2015

19. The UKCAT
Personnel
Consortium of 26 universities (Medicine and Dentistry
Pearson VUE, Team Focus and TUNRA
Computer Based Testing – on screen, not online
150 UK High-Street testing locations and in 97 other countries worldwide
Independent from schools’ assessment
Candidate initiative for booking
Identical testing experience for candidates
Security and identification checking
Scheduling to take the test at a time and location
convenient to the candidate

20. The UKCAT – what is it?
Explores the cognitive powers and other attributes considered to be valuable for healthcare professionals
No specific curriculum or science content
No revision required but questions practice advised (see UKCAT website)
Section
Items
UKCAT Standard Test
(includes 1 minute
per subtest
for instruction)
UKCAT Extended Test
(includes 2 minutes
Scoring
Verbal Reasoning 44
22 minutes
28 minutes
Quantitative Reasoning 36
25 minutes
31.5 minutes
Abstract Reasoning 55
14 minutes
17.5 minutes
Decision Analysis 28
32 minutes
39 minutes
Situational Judgement 67
27 minutes
34 minutes
1-5
Total time
120 minutes
150 minutes

21. The BMAT Test Questions Minutes Scoring Aptitude and skills 35 60 1-9
Pen and paper test
In sections 1 & 2, average score is 5; 7 is exceptional
Section 3 is an essay marked by 2 examiners
Used differently by the medical schools – as hurdle or composite
Crucially results are in November after the UCAS deadline of 15th October
Test
Questions
Minutes
Scoring
Aptitude and skills 35 60
1-9
Scientific Knowledge and Applications 27 30
Writing task
1 from choice of 4
0-5 for content
A-E for English

22. Interviews – different approaches
Semi-structured interview
Multi mini interview (MMI)
Panel interview (increasingly rare)

23. Semi-structured interview
Same questions to all candidates
Blind scored
Scoring criteria
Trained interviewers

24. Semi-structured interview
Prior to interview candidates are sent a scenario
This is used as a discussion topic in the interview
Interviews are structured and minutes long with two experienced staff interview panel members – scored
Decisions made at the end of the interview cycle

25. Britain's only saviour sibling twins
Semi-structured interview
Britain's only saviour sibling twins
At the age of two, little do they know it but Amy and Anthony Maguire are Britain's only 'saviour sibling' twins, created to be donors for their sick older brother.

26. Semi-structured interview
Appreciates complexity
Sympathetic
Has researched background – ethical issues
Can cope with alternative views

27. Multi Mini Interview (MMI)
Increasingly common
“Speed dating” as candidates move around a number of “stations” completing different activities
Same experience for every candidate
Each activity scored independently by a different assessor

28. Multi Mini Interview (MMI) – core competencies
Academic ability and intellect
Empathy
Initiative and resilience
Communication skills
Organisation and problem solving
Team work
Insight and integrity
Effective learning style

29. Multi Mini Interview (MMI) – sample questions
Describe some of the challenges facing healthcare systems as a result of an ageing population. How could these challenges be confronted?
You are a doctor, responsible for two patients both of whom need a kidney transplant. One is a 70-year-old man who has spent his life raising money for disabled war veterans. The other is a 27-year-old single mother whose illness is a result of a drug addiction. Only one kidney is available. Who would you give it to, and why?
Explain to a mentally handicapped child how to read an analogue clock.

30. Resources Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
Medical Schools Council
Biomedical Admissions Test
St George’s, University of London
General Medical Council
UK Clinical Aptitude Test
Taste of Medicine -

31. Thank You - global@sgul.ac.uk
Question time!
Thank You -