Academic performance of students admitted after repeating entrance examinations to medical school

The academic performance of matched groups of students who did, or did not, repeat a year at school so as to achieve the entrance qualifications necessary for admission to medical school was assessed. Repeating students were asked to provide possible reasons for their failure to enter on their first attempt. Better performance was predicted, to a small extent, in those who offered internal attributions as an explanation for their initial failure. It was not predicted by actual entrance examination grades, either at first or second attempt. Repeating students as a group were clearly academically weaker throughout the medical course. The implications for medical school admission policy are examined.