Getting on the carousel

Since 2007, almost all UK medical students will have taken the United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT), a standardised test that universities use as part of admissions criteria. Similar tests exist in the US (Medical College Admissions Test) and are soon to be rolled out in India (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test). One of the aims of these tests is to widen access to medicine to under-represented groups. Such groups include those from low socio-economic backgrounds and ethnic minorities. But six years after implementation of the UKCAT, did the test do its job?

A recent BMJ study says it might have, but how much so depends on how universities use the test when making their overall decision. Our research explained article this month dissects the prospective cohort study and puts it into context (doi:10.1136/sbmj.e3365). Chris McManus’ linked editorial (doi:10.1136/sbmj.e3407) questions whether admissions should come down to quotas and numbers. He