Online test helps identify tomorrow’s doctors and dentists

10 Jan 2012

by: Margaret Snell

After a competitive bid process the UKCAT Consortium has renewed its contract with Pearson VUE for the continued provision of computer-based aptitude testing of applicants for medical and dental degree programmes across the UK.

Comprising 26 UK universities, the consortium uses its clinical aptitude test as one of the measures to identify whether applicants possess the ability, attitude and professional behaviour required to pursue clinical careers. Pearson VUE has delivered the test through its global network of centres since 2006.

The new contract involves enhancements to both the candidate experience and services to universities. Candidates will see improved levels of dedicated customer support and improvements to test preparation resources provided free of charge through the UKCAT website.

Pearson VUE, UKCAT and the Work Psychology Group will work together to develop situational judgement tests (SJTs) for the assessment of professional attributes relevant to medical and dental training. The Work Psychology Group is leading the development of SJTs for use in postgraduate and medical training.

Pearson VUE’s delivery of the test – which measures a range of abilities including verbal, quantitative abstract reasoning, and decision analysis – ensures a distraction-free and secure assessment environment. The bespoke solution features an automatic marking function and the prompt production of results. As well as administering the test, Pearson VUE is responsible for test registration, marketing, booking and payment.

Matthew Poyiadgi, managing director, Pearson VUE Europe, said: “This renewal is a testament to the ability of CBT to deliver fairer testing which generates meaningful results for the consortium. Given the increasing popularity of medical and dental degree programmes, the assurance of a truly robust testing solution is more important than ever before.”

 

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