Sir, we were very interested to read Dr Hobson's Opinion article (Challenges to future dental education; BDJ 2009; 206: 125–126). We shall let our fellow dental admissions tutors take issue with his comment, '..the dental undergraduate recruitment process is at best a lottery, and at worst can be described as restrictive.' Dr Hobson is of course entitled to his opinion.
We must however correct his comments regarding UKCAT. It is not based on a medical model. As Chair of the Test Development Group of UKCAT (LC) and the Dental Schools Council UKCAT Board Representative (BC), we can confirm that dentistry has always been a full and equal partner in the Test's development.
UKCAT is a test of aptitude. It is simply another instrument available to the admissions tutor to help in the selection process and ensure that the process is fair and not a 'lottery.'
Research programmes are underway to determine its predictive validity in both dentistry and medicine.
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Cabot, L., Chadwick, B. A fair process. Br Dent J 206, 449–450 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2009.362
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2009.362