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	The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 269 No 7227 p811 7 December 2002	This page Reprint Photocopy
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Letters to the Editor

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Education

Factors to be considered

From Dr D. N. John, MRPharmS

In his interesting paper (PDF 50K) on the subject of educational achievements (PJ, 23 November, p750) Dr Philip Rowe quite rightly acknowledges the limitations associated with data from a single cohort. Further, there are other factors that might explain, at least in part, possible differences between the two groups of students.

One factor that one may expect to contribute to the final degree mark is the "A"-level score on entry into the scheme. For example, did students who self-selected to undertake the sandwich course at Liverpool John Moores University have higher "A"-level scores than those who selected the standard linear four-year course?

Dai John
Head of Clinical Pharmacy, Law, Ethics and Practice
Welsh School of Pharmacy,
Cardiff University

Dr PHILIP ROWE replies:

Some marker of prior ability was required to detect any possible biased intake into the two different forms of the programme. In the published analysis, I used achievement within the MPharm programme itself up to the point where the sandwich and linear students separated. "A"-level scores would be an alternative marker, but would be one further stage removed from final graduation results. The marker used was, I believe, the most current available.

That of course does not absolutely prove that it was the best. It would certainly be interesting to investigate "A"-level scores as an alternative marker.

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