Students coached for an admission test perform less well throughout a medical course

Abstract

Background: Undertaking commercial coaching to improve one’s chance of selection into medical school is widespread. Although its effect on selection test performance appears to be relatively minimal, its impact on the predictive validity of the tests is unknown. Aims: To examine whether commercial coaching for the Undergraduate Medical and Health Sciences Admissions Test (UMAT) changes its ability to predict the subsequent academic performance of medical students. Methods: The first two cohorts to enrol in a new Australian medical school provided information at the time of their selection interview about whether or not they had undertaken a commercial coaching course to help prepare for the ..