PHYSICS SCORES AS PREDICTORS OF THE MEDICAL COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TEST

Assessment tools used in a physics course were evaluated in terms of their predictive ability of student performance on the medical colleges admissions test (MCAT) physical sciences subtest. In particular, using regression and correlational analyses, relationships between the exams, final exam, overall semester scores, quiz scores, lab scores, paper score, and the MCAT scores on the physical sciences subtest were analyzed. The strongest correlations with the subtest scores existed with those tools that assessed analytical abilities. Specifically, the score on a comprehensive, multiple-choice final exam provided a single tool that can serve as an effective predictor of the subtest score. This study was undertaken to serve as an assessment tool to establish a baseline database from which future curriculum revisions could be planned and evaluated