Abilities Required for Admission to Medical School in Korea: Report on the Medical (Dental) Education Eligibility Test / 医学教育

1) The Medical (Dental) Education Eligibility Test was developed as the medical school admission test in Korea and was administered for the first time on August 29, 2004. The test evaluates reasoning abilities in language, natural sciences, and spatial relationships.<BR>2) The language section assesses cognitive and communication abilities. The natural science section assesses cognitive ability on the basis of academic knowledge in the field, whereas the spatial relationships section evaluates aptitude expected of dentists in their clinical examinations.<BR>3) Because entrance examinations have traditionally placed too much emphasis on academic knowledge and achievement, assessment of other kinds of aptitudes, such as ethics, cooperativeness, and communication skills, has recently become increasingly important. It remains to be seen how these aptitudes and interpersonal skills can be measured and scaled with admission tests.

An Investigation into Admission Systems in Medical Departments of Universities in Japan / 医学教育

A nationwide survey of Japanese teachers belonging to departments of medicine was conducted to investigate their opinions about: 1) expanding medical departments into medical schools and, 2) the required subjects and selection criteria for admitting students to the faculty of medicine. We found that responses to both questions depended largely on the specialty of the teachers. With regard to the medical school design, which will cause a dramatic change in medical education in Japan, 60% of the teachers were in favor of expanding departments into medical schools.