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Table 5 Comparison of A-level achievement in White and non-White applicants in the UCAS data, for all applicants, applicants taking Chemistry, applicants applying to medical school, and applicants accepted for medical school.

From: The educational background and qualifications of UK medical students from ethnic minorities

 

White Mean A-level scores (SD)

Non-White Mean A-level scores (SD)

Significance

Effect size

All applicants

21.92 (5.93) N = 443,038

21.09 (6.31) N = 74,262

t = 34.397 p < .001

d = -.140

All applicants taking Chemistry

23.83 (6.03) N = 72,925

22.92 (6.35) N = 24,626

t = 20.26, p < .001

d = -.151

All medical school applicants

27.29 (3.56) N = 15,073

26.29 (4.41) N = 8,174

t = 18.81 p < .001

d = -.282

All medical school entrants

28.77 (1.97) N = 9,945

28.54 (2.38) N = 4,373

t = 5.89 p < .001

d = -.114

 

White N (%)

Non-White N(%)

  

All applicants: percent gaining ABB or higher

158,373/443,038 = 35.7%

24,074/74,262 = 32.4%

χ2 = 308.8 (1) p < .001

OR = .862 (CI .848 – .877) d = -.082

All applicants: proportion taking Chemistry

72,925/443,038 = 16.5%

24,626/74,262 33.2%

χ2 = 11,593 (1) p < .001

OR = 2.52 (CI 2.48 – 2.56) d = .-511

Medical school applicants: percent gaining ABB or higher

11,977/15,074 = 79.5%

5815/8174 = 71.1%

χ2 = 204.3 (1) p < .001

OR = 0.634 (CI .60 – .68) d = -.252

Medical school applicants: percent gaining AAA higher

6,893/15,074 = 45.7%

3098/8174 = 37.9%

χ2 = 132.6 (1) p < .001

OR = .724 (CI .69–.77) d = -.178

Medical school acceptances: percent gaining ABB or higher

9509/9945 = 95.6%

4109/4373 = 94.0%

χ2 = 17.9 (1) p < .001

OR = .714 (CI .61 – .84) d = -.186

Medical school acceptances: percent gaining AAA higher

6083/9945 = 61.2%

2586/4373 = 59.1%

χ2 = 5.24 (1) p = .022

OR = .919 (CI .854–.988) d = -.047