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Aligning expectations and experiences: Medical student perspectives on progress testing for National Licensing Examination preparation.

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Title: Aligning expectations and experiences: Medical student perspectives on progress testing for National Licensing Examination preparation.
Authors: Doherty, Sarah E.1 (AUTHOR), Cullen, Kathy M.1 (AUTHOR), Cole, Aidan J.1 (AUTHOR), Kearney, Grainne P.1 (AUTHOR) g.kearney@qub.ac.uk
Source: Medical Teacher. Jun2026, Vol. 48 Issue 6, p1030-1035. 6p.
Subject Terms: *Medical education, *Qualitative research, *Educational tests & measurements, *Professional licensure examinations, *Psychological adaptation, *Anxiety, *Medical students, *Research methodology, *Clinical competence, *Medical schools, *Student attitudes, Interviewing, Statistical sampling, Descriptive statistics, Professional licenses, Data analysis software
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
Abstract: Introduction: The first medical students in the UK sat the General Medical Council's National Licensing Examination, known as the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) in 2024. Some medical schools introduced Progress Tests (PTs) to prepare students for the AKT. This study aims to understand the expectations and experiences of the first medical students to take the AKT, prepared using PTs. Methods: The setting was a predefined UK medical school who first administered the AKT in 2024. Using Psychological Contract as a conceptual framework, we interviewed eight Final Year students after completing their AKT. Transcribed data was coded into the analytical framework and agreed by the research team. Results: The expectations (promises) set by the medical school on PTs as preparation for the AKT did not initially align with the experience of students who used agency to self-teach content attempting to improve performance. However, on successfully passing their AKT, students reached a reciprocity point of agreement with the medical school's prior set expectations. Conclusion: Whilst happy to pass the AKT, students described unresolved breaches that their learning for AKTs may not prepare them for their upcoming work as doctors. Early undertaking of the AKT allowed more time to prepare for clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Medical Teacher is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: Aligning expectations and experiences: Medical student perspectives on progress testing for National Licensing Examination preparation.
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  Data: Introduction: The first medical students in the UK sat the General Medical Council's National Licensing Examination, known as the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) in 2024. Some medical schools introduced Progress Tests (PTs) to prepare students for the AKT. This study aims to understand the expectations and experiences of the first medical students to take the AKT, prepared using PTs. Methods: The setting was a predefined UK medical school who first administered the AKT in 2024. Using Psychological Contract as a conceptual framework, we interviewed eight Final Year students after completing their AKT. Transcribed data was coded into the analytical framework and agreed by the research team. Results: The expectations (promises) set by the medical school on PTs as preparation for the AKT did not initially align with the experience of students who used agency to self-teach content attempting to improve performance. However, on successfully passing their AKT, students reached a reciprocity point of agreement with the medical school's prior set expectations. Conclusion: Whilst happy to pass the AKT, students described unresolved breaches that their learning for AKTs may not prepare them for their upcoming work as doctors. Early undertaking of the AKT allowed more time to prepare for clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Medical Teacher is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/0142159X.2025.2604246
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 6
        StartPage: 1030
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Medical education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational tests & measurements
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Professional licensure examinations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological adaptation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Anxiety
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Medical students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Clinical competence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Medical schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Statistical sampling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Professional licenses
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Aligning expectations and experiences: Medical student perspectives on progress testing for National Licensing Examination preparation.
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            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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