abstract


British Dental Journal 186, 138 - 142 (1999)
Published online: 13 February 1999 | doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.4800043

Dental school selection: 
An analysis of an admissions system: can performance in the first year of the dental course be predicted?

G Hoad-Reddick1 & T V Macfarlane2

  1. Senior Tutor for Undergraduate Dental Studies and Student Affairs, Turner Dental School, The University of Manchester, Higher Cambridge Street, Manchester M15 6FH
  2. Lecturer in Dental Statistics, Turner Dental School, The University of Manchester, Higher Cambridge Street, Manchester M15 6FH

  • This paper gives the reader some insight into the admissions process. This will help GDPs who are often asked to advise prospective applicants
  • Pupils present for admission to dental schools from a wide variety of schools; they have different life experiences and take different types of examinations. The effects of different GCSE examination type on A-level performance and of the type of school on subjects offered means that admissions tutors will have a better understanding of some of the background problems affecting admissions
  • The analysis of A-level subjects offered in relation to Year I results will influence admissions policy especially with respect to A-level biology


The admissions process must be scrupulously fair and select the most suitable students. Data on applicants to the Manchester Dental School for the 1996/97 academic year were analysed. The aims of this project were to: describe the applicants using information from the UCAS (university entrance) form; to relate information from the UCAS form to interview performance and A-level results; and to evaluate whether these factors can predict performance during the first year of the course.

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