A Armstrong1, C Dahl, W Haffner. 1. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the correlation among the National Board of Medical Examiners subject examination, the US Medical Licensure Examination step 1 scores, and grade point average and to determine if poor performance could be predicted by the US Medical Licensure Examination step 1 score and grade point average. METHODS: The subject examination scores of 148 third-year medical students were compared with their US Medical Licensure Examination step 1 scores and grade point averages. Scores below the 20th percentile were defined as poor performance. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between the US Medical Licensure Examination score and the subject examination score (r = .6, P < .001). The correlation with grade point average was also significant (r = .57, P < .001). CONCLUSION: The US Medical Licensure Examination step 1 performance, grade point average, and performance on the subject examination are all correlated. However, use of the US Medical Licensure Examination step 1 scores and grade point averages to identify all students at risk was associated with a high false-positive rate at our institution.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the correlation among the National Board of Medical Examiners subject examination, the US Medical Licensure Examination step 1 scores, and grade point average and to determine if poor performance could be predicted by the US Medical Licensure Examination step 1 score and grade point average. METHODS: The subject examination scores of 148 third-year medical students were compared with their US Medical Licensure Examination step 1 scores and grade point averages. Scores below the 20th percentile were defined as poor performance. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between the US Medical Licensure Examination score and the subject examination score (r = .6, P < .001). The correlation with grade point average was also significant (r = .57, P < .001). CONCLUSION: The US Medical Licensure Examination step 1 performance, grade point average, and performance on the subject examination are all correlated. However, use of the US Medical Licensure Examination step 1 scores and grade point averages to identify all students at risk was associated with a high false-positive rate at our institution.