Attached
Introduction: Performance at bar examinations is affected by many factors. The first bar
examination faced by the medical students is the First MBBS examination which is conducted at
the end of 5 terms of study (each term comprising 10 weeks) following entry into the medical
faculty. Sufficient investigations have not been conducted to determine the factors associated
with examination performance of medical students.
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Objective: The present research study aimed to study the personal factors affecting the
performance at the 1st MBBS examination of medical students in a state medical school in Sri
Lanka.
Methodology: A self administered questionnaire was distributed among a sample o f 300 medical
students of 3rd and 4th years, who had got through the 1st MBBS examination. The questionnaire
contained questions on the demographic data as well as those related to examination
performance. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS version 16.
Results and Discussion: The results revealed that 79 participants (26%) had obtained First,
Upper Second or Lower Second classes at the 1st MBBS examination. Overall performance of 1st
MBBS examination was significantly better (p<0.05) in students who have had good island rank
and an A pass at the university entrance (General Certificate o f Examinations- Advanced Level)
examination and attended lectures regularly and also in students who went through past papers.
Students who travelled to the university from own homes had significantly better results
(p<0.05) than those who were boarded at boarding houses or hostels. Similar studies have to be
conducted at other medical schools to in order to gain further insight.
