Nonacademic predictors of China medical licensing examination

National Medical Licensing Examination (NMLE) is the entrance exam for medical practice in China, and its general medical knowledge test (GMKT) evaluates abilities of medical students to comprehensively apply medical knowledge to clinical practice. This study aimed to identify nonacademic predictors of GMKT performance, which would benefit medical schools in designing appropriate strategies and techniques to facilitate the transition from medical students to qualified medical practitioners.

In 1202 medical students, we conducted the deletion-substitution-addition (DSA) and structural equation model (SEM) analyses to identify nonacademic predictors of GMKT performance from 98 candidate variables including early life events, physical conditions, psychological and personality assessments, cognitive abilities, and socioeconomic conditions. The candidate variables were assessed using psychometrically or cognitively validated and accepted instruments.

We identified seven nonacademic predictors for GMKT performance. Body mass index (BMI) and working memory reaction time showed direct negative effects on GMKT performance. Psychological and personality features (conscientiousness, state anxiety, and openness to experience) indirectly affected GMKT performance via BMI, while socioeconomic conditions (father's education and mother's occupation) indirectly affected GMKT performance by influencing psychological and personality features and further BMI.

The identified nonacademic predictors for GMKT performance and their pathways may be useful for improving medical education by strengthening favorable and weakening, rectifying, or compensating unfavorable factors that are modifiable.