Growth Patterns in Subject Scores Based on Customized Assessment Services Exams in One Medical School

• In Event: Predictors of Success and Academic Trajectories

Abstract

Gaining basic science knowledge is an important component of the first and second year of medical school that is assessed by the USMLE Step 1 examination. This study examined latent growth patterns in five subject areas using customized assessment services (CAS) tests in one medical school. Growth Mixture Modeling is employed to find the growth patterns in each subject and the relationship between growth parameters with Step 1 performance. We found students have homogeneous growth patterns in some subjects (Biochemistry/Genetics, Microbiology/Immunology), while in other subjects (Anatomy/Embryology, Histology/Cell Biology/Pathology and Pharmacology/Toxicology), have heterogeneous growth patterns with different starting points and slopes. We also find in Microbiology/Immunology and Pharmacology/Toxicology, higher growth rates in better performance group associated with better Step 1 performance.

Authors

• Ling Wang, Michigan State University

• Heather Laird-Fick, Michigan State University

• Carol Parker, Michigan State University

• David J. Solomon, Michigan State University