SynthesisBMJ open2021
Does the UKCAT predict performance in medical and dental school? A systematic review.
Synthesis in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Insights into undergraduate medical student selection tools: a systematic review and meta-analysisJournal of educational evaluation for health professions · 2024Pooled it
- Assessing the predictive validity of the UCAT-A systematic review and narrative synthesis.Medical teacher · 2022Pooled it
- Predictive validity of admission tests and educational attainment on preclinical academic performance - a multisite study.BMC medical education · 2025Article
- Does academic excellence predict non-cognitive competencies? Insights from a situational judgement test among medical students in Nigeria.BMC medical education · 2025Article
- Is the awarding gap at UK medical schools influenced by ethnicity and medical school attended? A retrospective cohort study.BMJ open · 2023Article
- Widening Access: what do dental school websites signal to prospective students?British dental journal · 2023Article
- BMAT's predictive validity for medical school performance: A retrospective cohort study.Medical education · 2022Article
- UCAT and dental student selection in the UK - what has changed?British dental journal · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesFor the first time, this systematic review provides a summary of the literature exploring the relationship between performance in the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) and assessments in undergraduate medical and dental training.
designIn accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis, relevant studies were identified through systematic literature searches. Electronic searches were carried out on EBSCO, EMBASE, Educational Resources Information Centre, SCOPUS, Web of Knowledge. Studies which included the predictive validity of selection criteria including some element of the UKCAT were considered.
results22 papers were identified for inclusion in the study. Four studies describe outcomes from dental programmes with limited results reported. 18 studies reported on relationships between the UKCAT and performance in undergraduate medical training. Of these, 15 studies reported relationships between the UKCAT cognitive tests and undergraduate medical assessments. Weak relationships (r=0.00-0.29) were observed in 14 of these studies; four studies reported some moderate relationships (r=0.30-0.49). The strongest relationships with performance in medical school were observed for the UKCAT total score and the verbal reasoning subtest. Relationships with knowledge-based assessments scores were higher than those for assessments of skills as the outcome. Relationships observed in small (single and double centre studies) were larger than those observed in multicentre studies.
conclusionThe results indicate that UKCAT scores predict performance in medical school assessments. The relationship is generally weak, although noticeably stronger for both the UKCAT total score and the verbal reasoning subtest. There is some evidence that UKCAT continues to predict performance throughout medical school. We recommend more optimal approaches to future studies. This assessment of existing evidence should assist medical/dental schools in their evaluation of selection processes.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.