title: Time: an underestimated variable in minimizing the gender gap in medical college admission scores.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Results of medical college admission tests in Austria demonstrate the slightly worse performance of women, and are the basis for discussions around fairness and a basic science knowledge gap among female applicants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article was to investigate a basic science knowledge gap among female candidates of the admission test at the Medical University of Graz, and to evaluate whether the point of time of taking the examination has an influence on the test results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational investigations of the results of the admission test at the Medical University of Graz were performed. A total of 3405 applicants were included in the study. Statistical analyses were performed by routine methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Male Austrian applicants are invariably more successful than female Austrian applicants when they pass the admission test immediately after completing secondary education. When female as well as male candidates pass the admission test 1 year after completion of secondary education, the differences in the results are no longer statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A basic science knowledge gap in the Austrian applicants can be confirmed. The variable time can be interpreted as an opportunity for the reduction of a basic science knowledge gap.
authors.affiliation: Office of the Vice Rector for Teaching and Studies, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Habersack
authors.forename: Hans Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Dimai
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ithaler
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reibnegger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001317:Austria; D003099:College Admission Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012570:School Admission Criteria / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012586:Science; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult