Predictors of performance on the National Board of Medical Examiners obstetrics and gynecology subject examination.

Abstract

To examine the correlation among the National Board of Medical Examiners subject examination, the US Medical Licensure Examination step 1 scores, and grade point average and to determine if poor performance could be predicted by the US Medical Licensure Examination step 1 score and grade point average. The subject examination scores of 148 third-year medical students were compared with their US Medical Licensure Examination step 1 scores and grade point averages. Scores below the 20th percentile were defined as poor performance. There was a significant correlation between the US Medical Licensure Examination score and the subject examination score (r = .6, P < .001). The correlation with grade point average was also significant (r = .57, P < .001). The US Medical Licensure Examination step 1 performance, grade point average, and performance on the subject examination are all correlated. However, use of the US Medical Licensure Examination step 1 scores and grade point averages to identify all students at risk was associated with a high false-positive rate at our institution.