Use of ECFMG certifying examinations for national comparisons: Performance of graduates of Israeli medical schools in basic and clinical science examinations

Examinations were used for comparison of Israeli medical school graduates. The two schools with traditional curricula had higher pass rates for first takers of Day 1 (68% and 61%, mean scores 76.6 and 76.4) than the community-based school (44%, mean score 74.5) and the technologically oriented school (40%, mean score 72.5). There were similar pass rates for traditional school first takers of Day 2 (97% and 91%, mean scores 82.4 and 80.4) as for community-based school first takers (94%, mean score 80.1). The traditional schools and the community-based school demonstrated higher pass rates and mean scores for first takers of Day 2 than the technologically oriented school. Analysis of the time lapse between the basic science curriculum and taking the basic science examination reveals no trend in scores or pass rates. While the likelihood of better performance on Day 1 seems enhanced by traditional curricula, there is an equivalent performance on Day 2 by graduates of schools with traditional curricula.