RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Predicting performance on the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada internal medicine written examination JF Canadian Medical Association Journal JO CMAJ FD Canadian Medical Association SP 1305 OP 1307 VO 165 IS 10 A1 Patrick Brill-Edwards A1 Louis Couture A1 Gerald Evans A1 Peter Hamilton A1 Irene Hramiak A1 David Megran A1 Mary Lou Schmuck A1 Gary Cole A1 Nadia Mikhael A1 Geoff Norman YR 2001 UL http://www.cmaj.ca/content/165/10/1305.abstract AB Background: Although the written component of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) internal medicine examination is important for obtaining licensure and certification as a specialist, no methods exist to predict a candidate's performance on the examination. Method: We obtained data from 5 Canadian universities from 1988 to 1998 in order to compare raw scores from the American Internal Medicine In-Training Examination (AIMI-TE) with raw scores and outcomes (pass or fail) of the written component of the RCPSC internal medicine examination. Results: Mean scores on the AIMI-TE correlated well with scores on the RCPSC internal medicine written examination for all postgraduate years (r = 0.62, r = 0.55 and r = 0.65 for postgraduate years 1, 2 and 3 respectively). Scores above the 50th percentile on the AIMI-TE were predictive of a low failure rate (< 1.5%) on the RCPSC internal medicine written examination, whereas scores at or below the 10th percentile were associated with a high failure rate (about 24%). Interpretation: Candidates who are eligible to take the written component of the RCPSC certification examination in internal medicine can use the AIMI-TE to predict their performance on the Canadian examination. The AIMI-TE is a useful test for residents in all levels of training, because the examination scores have a strong relation to expected performance on the Canadian examination for each year of postgraduate training.