title: Relationship between academic achievement and student performance on the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination-USA level 2.
abstract: The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination-USA (COMLEX-USA) is a three-part examination used for licensing osteopathic physicians. The relationship between performance on this examination and prior student academic performance has been unclear. This study explores the relationship between COMLEX-USA level 2 scores and student academic performance at Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (OSU-COM). All first-time examination candidates from OSU-COM had a formal, weeklong board review in March 2000, and all passed the examination. Predictions about COMLEX-USA scores generated by the academic dean's office at OSU-COM underestimated student examination performance; results suggest a significant correlation between level 2 performance with (1) level 1 performance (.751); (2) grade point average (GPA) in basic science (.659); (3) total GPA (.672); and (4) Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores (.406). The correlation of level 2 scores to clinical GPA (.269) was lower but still significant. Results of this study suggest that performance on COMLEX-USA level 2 is strongly correlated with prior student academic performance in this population.
authors.affiliation: Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Tulsa 74107, USA. pevans@osu-com.okstate.edu
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Leigh B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Goodson
authors.forename: Susan I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Schoffman
mesh_terms: D004521:Educational Measurement; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D008007:Licensure, Medical; D010021:Osteopathic Medicine / Q000193:education*