Correlation of National Medical Admission Test scores, general weighted average grade in pre-medicine courses, general weighted average grade in medicine and the Physician Licensure Examination scores among medical graduates of the University of the Philippines Manila-College of Medicine

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to examine the validity of the National Medical Admissions Test (NMAT) score, Pre-Medicine general weighted average grade (Pre-Med GWAG) in predicting the academic performance in medical school, as measured by the medical school general weighted average grade (Med GWAG) and Physician Licensure Examination (PLE). It also aimed to study which among the NMAT, pre-medicine GWAG and MedGWAG best correlates with PLE. METHODS: Records of graduates of th UPCM from 2004 to 2009 were retrieved and data regardin the following entry characteristics were collected National Medical Admissions Test (NMAT) scores, pre-Medicine general weighted average grade (MedGWAG). Average and individual subject scores in the PLE were retrieved for this study. Statistical analysis using the Pearson correlation analysis was performed using STATA. RESULTS: The NMAT, MedGWAG and PLE scores of the direct and lateral entrants were not significantly different from each other. There was weak correlation between NMAT and Pre-Med GWAG and weak to moderate correlation between NMAT and Med GWAG. Except for the 2009 graduates where no correlation between NMAT and PLE scores was noted for 2004-2008 graduates. There was moderate to strong correlation between Pre-Med GWAG and Med GWAG and weak correlation between Pre-Med GWAG and PLE scores. There was strong correlation between Med GWAG and PLE scores. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-Med GWAG had higher correlations to Med GWAG than NMAT scores. In Terms of PLE scores, the Medicine GWAG showed the highest correlation followed by Pre-Med GWAG, then NMAT scores.