Progress test (medical)

A progress test is a specific form of test mainly used in medical education. The test is offered repeatedly over several academic years (longitudinal measurement). Students are questioned on the total domain of knowledge of the beginning physician. This makes it possible to provide insight into the student’s knowledge development during the study. This means, among other things, that first-year students are asked questions that are normally only addressed in year three and vice versa.

Developing a good progress test requires a stable domain and an unambiguous understanding of the domain, as well as a major development effort and long-term commitment and funding. It is therefore not a form of test that can be used ‘just like that’ by teachers or programmes.

The so called Voortgangstoets Geneeskunde (VGT, VTG, iVTG) is the most well-known progress test. It is a test administered four times a year to about ten thousand Dutch medical students from most medical faculties. The VGT keeps students continuously engaged with medicine in its broadest sense and allows them to gauge their own progress in medical knowledge. By assigning case studies to the students, you can better assess whether they not only have the right knowledge, but can also apply it. It also helps educators recognise gaps in curricula.

A looser interpretation of the concept of progress tests is that they are any kind of interim test you can use to assess your students’ progress and knowledge. It is then important to administer these tests structurally and consistently so that the results measure consistently and meaningful study recommendations and reports can be produced. Interim tests that are administered randomly cannot be called progress tests.

Want to know more?

• Muijtjens, A., Wijnen, W. (2014). Toetsen met voortgangstoetsen. In: van Berkel, H., Bax, A., Joosten-ten Brinke, D. (eds) Toetsen in het hoger onderwijs. Docentenreeks. Bohn Stafleu van Loghum, Houten. https://doi-org.vu-nl.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/978-90-368-0239-0_15

Zie ook: Case assignment, Test with closed question, TestVision.

VU Taxonomy?

Knowledge base

What total group size?

More than three hundred
More than one hundred

What activity group size?

Individual