PREDICTION OF COMLEX-USA LICENSING EXAMINATION SCORES BY PREADMISSION QUALIFICATIONS AND MEDICAL SCHOOL PERFORMANCE

Donna Dixon^1* and Swetha Jarugumilli¹, ¹New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY 10068 U.S.A.

Purpose

This study investigated the value of preadmission variables and measures of medical school performance as predictors of performance on the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examinations (COMLEX) Levels 1 and 2.

Methods
Data from 705 students in four successive classes at this institution was used.  Preadmission variables were total MCAT scores and undergraduate GPAs.  Medical school performance measures were mean GPAs for years 1 and 2, clinical clerkship evaluation scores, and clinical subject exam scores.  Pearson's correlation coefficients and linear regression analyses were calculated.

Results

The total MCATs and undergraduate GPAs were low but significant predictors of COMLEX Level 1 and Level 2 scores.  The two-year medical school GPAs were highly correlated with COMLEX Level 1 and 2 scores.  The clinical clerkship evaluation scores were modest predictors of COMLEX Level 2 scores.  Clinical subject examinations were given after clinical rotations in osteopathic manipulative medicine, family medicine, medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery.  The means of the individual clinical subject exam scores were highly correlated with COMLEX Level 2 performance.

Conclusion

Performance on COMLEX Level 1 and 2 examinations had a low correlation with preadmission variables but a high correlation with the first two years’ medical school GPAs.  The mean clinical subject exam scores were the best predictors of COMLEX Level 2 performance.