Students' perceptions of the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admissions Test (UMAT)

Abstract

Aim Medical schools are still evaluating the place of general cognitive tests in medical student selection. This study explored medical student perceptions of UMAT, and how they prepared for taking the test. Method Medical students at The University of Auckland and University of Otago in New Zealand were invited to complete a mixed-modality survey. Results Students had reservations, with 56% reporting UMAT is not an important test for medical students’ selection and 67% that it is not a fair test. Eighty-one percent believe it is a stressful or very stressful test. The degree of importance or stress related to the weighting of UMAT in selection decisions. More than half of students spent more than $100 on books and $400 on courses to prepare for UMAT, in addition to the costs of sitting the test. Conclusion At present, the majority of medical students in New Zealand who responded to the survey do not see UMAT as an acceptable test of non-cognitive attributes. It is costly to students and also stressful.