01
The brief
RCS England had identified differential attainment in both parts of the MRCS exam and commissioned Enventure Research to investigate the probable causes and ways barriers might be reduced.
Case study · Membership
Exploring differential attainment in surgical exams
Mixed-method research with recent MRCS candidates helped RCS England understand likely causes of differential attainment and identify areas for targeted intervention.
AudienceSurgical trainees who had recently completed MRCS examinations.
ApproachSecure online survey with 181 responses followed by 10 depth interviews.
Value to RCS EnglandEvidence on barriers to exam success to support targeted interventions and actions.
The project
Understanding the factors behind unequal exam outcomes
A sensitive mixed-method programme designed to explore how personal characteristics and wider factors may affect examination success.
02
The approach
We securely hosted a survey of recent exam candidates, receiving 181 responses, then conducted 10 follow-up interviews by video or telephone. Interview recruitment focused particularly on participants who felt their personal characteristics had negatively affected their exam success.
03
The outcome
Quantitative and qualitative findings were brought together in one comprehensive report for RCS England.
- Evidence on factors that may contribute to differential attainment.
- Detailed personal accounts bringing the barriers behind the data to life.
- Insight to support development of targeted interventions and actions.
Client feedback
“Enventure provided a fantastic service from the first meeting to the production of the final report. They were responsive and easy to work with, and showed genuine interest in the research we wanted to undertaken. I cannot recommend highly enough.”
Alastair ShawRoyal College of Surgeons of England