Validity of four approaches of using repeaters' MCAT scores in medical school admissions to predict USMLE Step 1 total scores.
BACKGROUND
This study investigated the validity of four approaches (the average, most recent, highest-within-administration, and highest-across-administration approaches) of using repeaters' Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores to predict Step 1 scores.


METHODS
Using the differential predication method, this study investigated the magnitude of differences in the expected Step 1 total scores between MCAT nonrepeaters and three repeater groups (two-time, three-time, and four-time test takers) for the four scoring approaches.


RESULTS
For the average score approach, matriculants with the same MCAT average are expected to achieve similar Step 1 total scores regardless of whether the individual attempted the MCAT exam one or multiple times. For the other three approaches, repeaters are expected to achieve lower Step 1 scores than nonrepeaters; for a given MCAT score, as the number of attempts increases, the expected Step 1 decreases. The effect was strongest for the highest-across-administration approach, followed by the highest-within-administration approach, and then the most recent approach.


CONCLUSIONS
Using the average score is the best approach for considering repeaters' MCAT scores in medical school admission decisions.
Zhao
Xiaohui
X
dzhao@aamc.org
Oppler
Scott
S
Dunleavy
Dana
D
Kroopnick
Marc
M
D003099:College Admission Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004501:Education, Medical; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008007:Licensure, Medical; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011336:Probability; D012570:School Admission Criteria; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013337:Students, Medical; D014481:United States