Evaluating a new approach to selecting medical students

Summary. Dissatisfaction with the traditional methods of selecting Australian medical students, which use only secondary school achievement, led to an innovative alternative method at the Newcastle Medical School. This multistage approach uses tests of problem-solving ability, empathy, creativity and moral dilemmas to screen applicants otherwise suitable on academic achievement. In the 5-year trial since its inception, this process appears reasonably reliable and valid. There is some merit in using a composite score for ranking applicants, based on weighted contributions from the psychological tests used in its multifactorial battery. However, the ultimate effectiveness of individual tests of a composite score will depend on their predictive validity, which is yet unmeasured.