- Professional Service
AAMC PREview® Professional Readiness Exam Research
The AAMC conducts ongoing research and evaluation on the AAMC PREview® professional readiness exam, including on its validity, psychometrics, fairness, and reactions from examinees and medical schools. These data are used to provide medical schools with empirical evidence to support the use of PREview scores in the admissions process.
Nearly a decade of research on the PREview exam has been completed, including a longitudinal validity study and evaluation of the 2020-2021 pilot administrations. Overall, results of these research studies have demonstrated that the PREview exam:
- Is reliable and valid.
- Predicts medical student performance.
- Demonstrates small to no group differences.
- Adds value to the admissions process above and beyond existing application data.
Additional information about the ongoing research and evaluation on the PREview exam included below.
PREview Publications
Evaluating a Situational Judgment Test for Use in Medical School Admissions: Two Years of AAMC PREview Exam Administration Data (2023)
This article evaluates the relationship between PREview scores from the first two years of administration and other admissions data, group differences in mean PREview scores, and whether adding a new assessment tool affected the volume and composition of applicant pools.
Designing a Situational Judgment Test for Use in Medical School Admissions (2023)
This article highlights the development, evaluation, and launch of the AAMC situational judgment test (SJT) for use in medical school admissions. The authors evaluate the evidence for the need for SJTs in medical school admissions, summarize existing research on SJTs, and discuss goals that were the foundation for developing the AAMC PREview® professional readiness exam.
Predicting Medical Student Performance With a Situational Judgment Test in Admissions (2023)
This article examines how scores from a prototype version of the AAMC® PREview professional development exam and other admissions data predict performance during their first and second year of medical school. These studies provide initial evidence that SJT scores may add value to the medical school admissions process because scores were related to faculty ratings of professional behaviors and provided unique information relative to MCAT scores and UGPAs.
Research Areas
Validity
Research on validity examines medical student performance and explores how well applicants’ PREview scores predict their performance in conceptually related areas (e.g., teamwork, cultural competence, ethics, resilience) during their four years of medical school. The results provide evidence of the validity of PREview scores and can inform medical schools on the meaning of PREview scores. Sample research questions include, but are not limited to:
- What is the correlation between PREview scores and medical student performance in conceptually related areas during pre-clinical and clinical training?
- Do PREview scores predict medical student performance in conceptually related areas above and beyond current tools, such as MCAT® scores, undergraduate GPA, and interview ratings?
Psychometrics
Research on the psychometric properties of the PREview exam explore the reliability, score distributions, and validity of PREview scores. Results are used to support the evidence of the reliability and validity of PREview scores and inform question development and guidance for using PREview scores in medical school admissions. Sample research questions include, but are not limited to:
- What is the correlation between PREview scores and other admissions data (e.g., MCAT scores, undergraduate GPA, interview ratings)?
Diversity, Fairness, and Preparation
Research on diversity, fairness, and preparation explores the relationship between applicants’ demographic characteristics, test preparation, and PREview scores. Results are used to inform and guide the AAMC’s development and dissemination of preparation resources. Sample research questions include, but are not limited to:
- On average, do applicants from different demographic groups score differently on the PREview exam?
- How does the amount of time spent preparing for the PREview exam affect PREview scores?
Examinee and Medical School Reactions
Research on examinee and medical school reactions explores examinees’ and medical schools’ reactions to the PREview exam, as well as medical schools’ use of PREview scores in the admissions process. Results are used to improve and guide PREview policy, preparation resources for examinees, and training materials for medical schools. Sample research questions include, but are not limited to:
- How do medical schools use PREview scores in the admissions process?
- Do medical schools believe that PREview scores “add value” to the admissions process?
- What are examinees’ experiences in taking the PREview exam, including setting up for the exam, taking the exam, and preparing for the exam?
2020 Validity Study
Six medical schools partnered with the AAMC to design a longitudinal validity study to continue exploring the validity of the PREview exam and use of PREview scores in the admissions process. Partnering schools reflect a variety of regions and applicant pools, include both public and private schools, and include MD- and DO- granting schools.
| School | Principal Investigator(s) |
|---|---|
| Des Moines University Medicine & Health Sciences | Molly Moeller Martin Schmidt, PhD |
| Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine | Michelle Schmude, EdD, MBA |
| Morehouse School of Medicine | Shawntel Jordon, PhD Franklyn Geary Jr., MD |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine | Christina Grabowski, PhD Angela Sullivan, PhD, MS |
| University of California, Davis, School of Medicine | Charlene Green, PsyD Mark Henderson, MD |
| University of Minnesota Medical School Twin Cities campus | Dimple Patel, MS |
This longitudinal study will span approximately six years (2020-2026). The timeline for the study will support the evaluation of the PREview exam during the 2020-2021 pilot administrations and explore the performance of entering students who completed the PREview exam from entry through graduation.
Data from this study will expand the existing body of evidence supporting the validity of the PREview exam and value of PREview scores in the admissions process. Findings will also help medical schools understand the meaning of PREview scores and inform their decisions about how to incorporate the scores into their admissions processes.