Final examinations in surgery: support for the retention of the clinical examination

Students' results in the final M.B., B.S. (W.A.) examination in surgery between 1976 and 1979 inclusive (375 students) were analysed. Marks in all parts of the examination, namely clinical, multiple choice, essays, pathology, and fifth year multiple choice, were correlated with each other and the total mark in surgery. Multivariate analysis showed that the marks in the clinical examination accounted for most of the variation in a student's total mark, and this was only in part due to its heavy weighting in Western Australia. The authors of this paper strongly support the retention of the clinical examination in surgery and consider that the loading placed on this part of the final examination in Western Australia is justified.