The predictive validity of specific admission tests in success of medical students in the basic science comprehensive exam

Abstract Background: The predictive validity of specific tests of entrance exam for the later performance of medical student in the medical basic science is one of the main factors in acceptance of medical student. Objective: To determine the predictive validity of university entrance exam and its correspondence with the success of medical students in the medical basic science comprehensive exam. Methods: The existing data from the records of medical students in the comprehensive exam of medical basic science in 1998 and their records of specific tests in the university entrance exam were gathered. Pearson correlation and regression analysis was used to determine the predictive validity. Findings: The findings revealed that the score of chemistry in the entrance exam has the highest correlation with the score of comprehensive exam of medical college (r = 0.56, P = 0.0001) .The Pearson coefficient correlation for physics, biology, math and English were 0.53, 0.50, 0.48 and 0.39 respectively. Conclusion: The entrance exam of chemistry has the highest predictive validity for the later college performance of medical students.