Situational Judgement Test (SJT): Everything You Need to Know
The AAMC’s new test was beta tested in the 2019-20 cycle by two medical schools (University of California, Davis and University of Minnesota). It expanded in 2020-21 to include Geisinger, Morehouse, and University of Alabama, Birmingham (UAB), and this cycle also includes the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, and Des Moines University. The SJT is required at Morehouse and UAB, and strongly recommended at the other three. Each school will decide to what extent it uses the SJT in its admission decisions. It is considered a tool to help admissions committees assess pre-professional competencies of their applicants.
The SJT is a 75-minute test (90 minutes including pre and posttest procedures) that is monitored by a remote proctor. Applicants must show a photo ID and have their identity verified by the proctor. Each applicant is presented with a series of written scenarios and must decide on the “effectiveness” of possible responses or behaviors.
The four answer options are:
Very ineffective Ineffective Effective Very effective
The tricky part is that some scenarios have more than 4 responses (items), which means several responses can have the same answer. For a single question, you might decide that 2 responses are effective, 2 responses are ineffective, 1 response is very effective, and 3 responses are very ineffective. You will get full credit when you match the best response and partial credit for being “close to” the best response for each item. For example, if the right answer is “effective,” you can get partial credit for choosing “very effective.” Each test includes 30 scenarios and 186 items. the exact questions vary between test dates, for fairness. Your total score is ranked on a scale of 1-9.
There are 4 test dates offered in June, and 2 test dates every month from July-September. Only students who plan to apply to schools that require the SJT should take it.
Scores are released approximately 1 month after taking the exam. Scores will only be visible to schools participating in the SJT. Scores are not expected to expire, but it will be up to each participating school to decide how many years a previous score will be valid. Since the SJT is new, it is possible some schools will use it on a test basis, or a limited basis, i.e. to help manage their wait list.
The AAMC took 8 years to plan and create the SJT, with the goal to help medical schools identify applicants who possess strong professional and interpersonal skills. These are attributes that are felt to be just as important for future physicians as the more commonly assessed skills of scientific inquiry, critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and communication (which are measured through the MCAT and GPA). The SJT identifies the following 8 core pre-professional competencies:
The CASPer was developed by Altus Assessments to assess applicants for non-academic or “people skills.” It is used by a variety of health professional programs (physical therapy, dental, veterinary medicine, nursing, and occupational therapy). In the CASPer you will see video or written scenarios, then have 5 minutes to respond to 3 open-ended questions. Your answers are scored by raters trained in each area. The CASPer takes 60-90 minutes and, like the SJT, it is monitored remotely. The SJT was developed to assess skills that med schools care more about, so it is possible that it will replace the CASPer over time.
In its first two cycles, the SJT is free.
The CASPer is $10 to take the test and an additional $10 for every school it is sent to.
The SJT was designed to help schools identify candidates who can do the right thing when faced with a difficult situation. As with every aspect of applying to medical school, it is just one piece of a complex puzzle. Make sure you understand the 8 core competencies and why they are important. This is accomplished through doing the practice exam and studying the rationale behind each answer. As a side benefit, the SJT might even introduce you to skills you can use in your future practice as a physician!
Maximize your chances of getting accepted to medical school by working with a medical school admissions expert who will guide you through acing every step of the application process. Check out our Medical School Admissions Consulting & Editing Services to find out how we can help you get ACCEPTED.
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Dr. Suzi Schweikert has served on the UCSD School of Medicine’s admissions committee, and has mentored students in healthcare programs for over 20 years. She holds a BA in English Lit from UCLA, an MD from UCSD, and an MPH from SDSU. Want Suzi to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch with Dr. Suzi Schweikert.
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Source: Accepted.com
Situational Judgement Test (SJT): Everything You Need to Know
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