Predictive value of the admissions process and the UK Clinical Aptitude Test in a graduate-entry dental school.

AIM: To assess the association between admissions performance and the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT), and subsequent achievement within a graduate-entry dental school.

METHOD: The study was conducted at the University of Aberdeen Dental School between 2010 and 2014. Student demographics, pre-admission scores (PAS), Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) tariffs, multiple mini-interview (MMI) grades, UKCAT scores and percentiles were correlated with academic performance reported as the University Common Assessment Scale (0-20).

STATISTICS: Data were analysed by Pearson correlation and multiple regression (IBM(®) SPSS(®) Statistics 21).

RESULTS: Data were obtained for 71 students (F: 44; M: 27). Student age, MMI, UKCAT scores and UKCAT percentiles demonstrated a correlation with CAS scores (r(2) = 0.119, P = 0.001, r(2) = 0.136, P = 0.001, r(2) = 0.077, P = 0.019 and r(2) = 0.118, P = 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that student age, candidate performance at MMI and the UKCAT might be a predictor of academic achievement for graduate-entry dental students.