Do school exams predict doctors' success?: Career achievements are not only measure

doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7418.810

BMJ 2003;327:810 (4 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7418.810

Letter

Do school exams predict doctors' success?

Career achievements are not only measure

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—McManus et al studied A levels and intelligenceas predictors of medical careers in UK doctors.¹ It is importantto know that A levels as a test of academic achievement canpredict a successful career in medicine. The authors measuredcareer success as more rapid career progression, greater researchoutput, and opting for hospital based practice. As they acknowledgein their paper, they cannot comment on the interaction betweendoctor and patient. Neither could they comment on any importantaspect of the hands-on practice of clinical medicine of thosedoctors in their study.

In important aspects therefore, this study looks at career successrather than success as a clinician. No information was presentedto indicate that the doctor who becomes a consultant more quicklywill be a better clinician than a more slowly advancing colleague,although this might well be the case. Although research in medicineis crucial, . . . [Full text of this article]

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Nick Myerson, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist

Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Llantrisant CF72 8XR Nick-A.Myerson@Pr-Tr.Wales.NHS.uk

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