Association between students' dental admission test scores and performance on comprehensive clinical exams

This study examined the association between Dental Admission Test (DAT) scores and the comprehensive exams conducted at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. The authors hypothesized that students who scored high on the DAT would also perform well on the comprehensive examinations. Sixty-six students from the graduating classes of 2005 and 2006 were included. The outcome variable of interest was the final composite grade obtained by the students in the three comprehensive examinations. The main independent variable of interest was the individual component scores on the DAT. Multivariable logistic regression analysis using the maximum likelihood methods was used to examine the association between comprehensive exam grades and DAT scores. Effects of age, gender, and race/ethnicity were adjusted in the regression models. On the first comprehensive examination, seventeen students obtained an Honors grade, while thirteen did so on the second comprehensive examination and fifteen on the third comprehensive examination. None of the DAT component scores were significantly associated with Honors grades on the first comprehensive examination. On the second comprehensive examination, quantitative reasoning scores (OR=2.48, 95 percent CI=1.09-5.68, p=0.03) and total science scores (OR=14.17, 95 percent CI=1.89-106.80, p=0.01) were significantly associated with Honors grades. Reading comprehension score was associated with increased odds of obtaining Honors grade on the third comprehensive examination (OR=1.81, 95 percent CI=1.13-2.92, p=0.01). Students who scored well on the quantitative reasoning, total science, and reading comprehension sections of the DAT had higher odds of receiving an Honors grade on the second and third comprehensive examinations. These factors may be associated with the problem-solving/critical thinking components in the school's PBL curriculum.