MB ChB Admissions 2014/15
Dr Gail Nicholls
Director of Admissions
MBChB Selection
Aim of Admissions Process
To select students academically able to complete the MBChB degree course and to practise as a Foundation Year doctor
To select students that will make the best doctors
To use a fair and equitable process to achieve this
Facts and figures
UK picture
In 201213
41,422 medical students studying at 32 medical schools in the UK
More than half of all medical students in the UK were female
Medical school application competition
Leeds 17.1 applicants per place
RAF pilot: 450 applicants per place Leading UK employers: 85 applicants per place
National 10.6 applicants per place
MBChB Selection
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2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Applicants
Places
2013 entry
3515 applicants First year total: 237
Male: 76, Female: 161 (68% Female)
219 home and 18 international 20 transfer Bradford Foundation Year in Clinical Sciences 1 Interdisciplinary Science Foundation Year 3 repeating year 1 14 international students (part of the quota of 20 places
for international students others admitted in 3rd year) 4 international students from the International Science
Foundation Year (2 Kuwaitis + 2 Saudi students) outside the quota of international students
MBChB Selection
What makes a good doctor?
GMC 2011
MBChB Selection
The selection system takes a look at:
Academic criteria
Better of GCSE or AS results (if cashed-in)
A levels (or equivalent)
BMAT
Non-academic criteria
Personal statement
Interview
MBChB Selection
3750 + UCAS received
Triaged for minimum criteria
Academic scoring
+
BMAT
Non-academic attributes
from
the personal statement
Top 1000 forms Scored 2 assessors
3rd assessor if difference
Better of (GSCE or declared AS) + A2 + Aptitude Test
VERY few rejected
Minimum criteria well advertised
Academic Criteria
GCSE At least 6 grade Bs must be offered including:
English
Maths
Dual Science/Double Science, or Chemistry and Biology
IGCSE English curricula vary
Admissions policy has full details
For school leavers predicted 3 As, 40% had perfect academic scoring last year i.e. 9 A* at GSCE or 3 As at AS
Academic Criteria
AS-level Three AS-levels.
Same subject restrictions as A-levels.
We look at your best 3 AS-levels if declared cashed in after the first year of study. We do NOT accept undeclared AS-levels or AS-levels cashed-in later, nor do we regard A-level results as equivalent.
If the total is higher than your GCSE total, we will use your AS score
We use either your GCSE score OR your AS score you cant add one declared AS to 8 GCSEs.
If your school doesnt declare AS levels, we will use your GCSE score.
We do NOT accept module scores or predicted or undeclared grades.
Academic Criteria
A-level
Three A-levels no advantage to having 4
Chemistry at Grade A is mandatory
General Studies, Critical Thinking and the Extended Project are not used in academic scoring
No Chemistry with Biology and Human Biology
No Chemistry with Maths and Further Maths
Standard offer is AAA no advantage to A*
Predicted/achieved treated equally
MBChB Selection
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A levels subjects offered in 2013
Aptitude Test
Between 2008 and 2013, we used UKCAT
For anyone applying after January 1st 2014, we will be asking for BMAT
No alternatives will be accepted
UKCAT will not be accepted as a substitute
Aptitude testing
A score based on BMAT performance will be combined with a score based on GCSE/AS/A2 performance or prediction
A high academic score can help compensate for a low BMAT score and vice versa
There will not be a pre-determined cut-off score
BMAT
Subject specific admissions test for applicants to medicine, veterinary medicine
2 hour pen and paper test, local centers
3 sections test of skills and knowledge that you are already expected to have
Aptitude and skills
Scientific knowledge and application
Writing task
BMAT sections
Section 1: Aptitude 35 MCQ or short answer questions Problem solving, understanding argument, data analysis
Section 2: Scientific knowledge 27 MCQ or short answer questions Scientific knowledge up to Key Stage 4 Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics
Section 3: Writing One essay from choice of 4 A little learning is a dangerous thing (Alexander Pope)
BMAT preparation and registration
Papers available to download
Section 2 based around the national curriculum studied by the majority
Cost 44
Register from Sep to Oct
Test early Nov
Results late Nov
This is how we find out about applicants..
Communication
There are around 4000 applicants
There are 5 of us
IF YOU WANT US TO KNOW SOMETHING PLEASE PUT IT ON THE FORM!
Please do not provide us with supplementary information by phone, email or letter
Non-Academic Criteria
Evidence will be sought from all sections of the UCAS form and at interview
1.Personal Statement
2. Interview
Writing a Personal Statement
Motivation
and
Insight
Interests
and
Achievements
Responsibility
and
Leadership
Social
Awareness
Mitigating circumstances, Access to Leeds
What evidence do you need?
How have you looked into a career in medicine?
Have you taken positions of responsibility?
Do you know a bit about the world outside your friends and family?
Do you know how to relax and de-stress?
A typical applicant at interview
A typical applicant who gets to the interview stage would have all of the following:
Excellent GCSE or AS grades
Predicted or achieved 3 As at A level (or ABB for A2L)
A good BMAT score
A good personal statement
What does the interview do?
MMI (Multiple Mini-Interview)
Assesses further non-academic attributes
The candidates who perform the best at interview will be offered a place
We aim to interview 512 applicants
32 batches of 16 over two weeks
Interviews are currently scheduled for January 2015
Our MMI
8 stations, 4 groups per day, 64 candidates per day
Each stations- 1 minute reading, 7 minute task
Each station tests 1 or more attributes
Includes: communication skills, UCAS statement, ethical reasoning, negotiation, current affairs, situational judgement test, written station.
Alternative Routes
"We have always believed that anyone with the talent and ambition to succeed should be able to come to Leeds...
Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Arthur
Access to Leeds Bradford Partnership
Interdisciplinary Science Foundation Programme Access courses
Alternative Access Routes
Access to Leeds Alternative admissions scheme that allows us to
identify applicants who have the potential to succeed but who may not be able to demonstrate their talents through grades alone
Realising Opportunities Operated by the charity Brightside in collaboration
with 12 universities and enabling increased access
Work alongside standard UCAS application Typical offer 2 grades lower if university modules are
passed
Interdisciplinary Science Foundation
CFGO
Full-time, 1 year
Enables students who may have been disadvantaged in their preparation for tertiary education to prepare for degree level study and gain the necessary academic competence required for entry to the degree programme
Criteria for transfer: at least 70% in Chemistry, successful interview
Clinical Sciences BSc
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CLINICAL SCIENCES AT BRADFORD AND THE MBChB COURSE AT LEEDS
FOUNDATION
YEAR 1
YEAR 2
YEAR 3
BSc (Hons) Clinical Sciences
Bradford
40 intake
YEAR 1
YEAR 2
YEAR 3
YEAR 4
YEAR 5
MBChB Leeds
223 intake
20 transfer
20 transfer
20-40 intake
20-40 output
250-270 output
Access to Medicine Courses
College of West Anglia
Sussex Downs Adult College
They have to reach a certain standard in these courses: overall mark 70% and 70% in Chemistry
Plan B.
Feedback
We will provide limited feedback to unsuccessful applicants
This will take the form of a ranking, showing position in relation to the rest of the cohort in
Academic performance (all applicants)
Aptitude performance (all applicants)
Personal statement (if scored)
Interview performance (if interviewed)
Second time/re-sit applications
Assessed in competition with all the first-time applications
Examination re-sit results are only accepted in exceptional circumstances
Evidence of circumstances is needed
If you want to reapply: WHY was the application rejected? Any feedback? We do provide some feedback but we wont rewrite
an application!
Think about what can be done to make the necessary changes MAKE THEM!
Alternative Access Routes
UCAS Closing Date for Medicine is earlier than for other programmes Institution Code: L23 Course Code: A100 BMAT registration deadline is different from the UCAS deadline.
LOOK AT THE WEBSITES!!
Other sources of information
NHS Careers Website - www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/ General Medical Council Website - www.gmc-uk.org/ Medical Schools Council Website -
www.medschools.ac.uk/ BMAT-http://www.admissionstestingservice.org/our-
services/medicine-and-healthcare/bmat/about-bmat/
Leeds Medicine Admissions website - www.leeds.ac.uk/medicine/admisisons/
How to make an application successful.