Italy Considers ‘Amnesty’ for Medical School Entrance Exam after Low Pass rates
Table of Contents
The Italian Ministry of University and Research is weighing a significant policy shift – potentially opening medical school enrollment to students wiht failing grades – following alarmingly low pass rates on the second round of the national medical school entrance exam, held December 10th. The move comes amid fears of widespread vacancies and mounting pressure to address systemic issues within the highly competitive admissions process.
Second Attempt Yields Disappointing Results
The December 10th exam, comprised of sections in biology, chemistry, and physics, served as a crucial hurdle for nearly 50,000 students retaking the test after a challenging “filter semester” introduced under the Bernini reform. Initial data indicates that just over 10 percent of students passed the first round of the exam, a figure that prompted widespread concern. The results of this second and final attempt are slated for release on Tuesday, December 23rd.
Traditionally, admission to Italian medical schools hinges on achieving a minimum score of 18 out of 31 in each subject.Though, facing the prospect of numerous unfilled spots, the ministry is now contemplating an “amnesty,” allowing students with deficiencies in one or two subjects to enter the ranking.
A Two-Tiered System Proposed
Under the proposed plan, the first 20,000 students would be assigned to universities based on their overall scores, even if they haven’t met the 18-point threshold in all subjects. Universities would then administer a supplementary test by the end of February to assess these students’ ability to address their academic shortcomings.
“The obstacle was once again the physics exam,” highlighting the particular difficulty students faced in that section, according to reports. Despite the initial anxiety, the possibility of an amnesty offered a degree of reassurance to students.
Concerns Over Exam Integrity and Time Constraints
Beyond the low pass rates, concerns have emerged regarding the quality of the exam itself. Francesca ballarini, a physics teacher in pavia, noted that while the questions weren’t inherently difficult, the allotted time was insufficient. “Some took up to 5 minutes to complete, but the students had 45 minutes in total,” she commented.
Ballarini also pointed out several errors within the exam, including inaccuracies in a question regarding the density of wood and water – “Otherwise you’ll want to bring the bottles from the supermarket!” she quipped – and a duplication of answer choices in another question. Students themselves reported additional errors, such as a missing preposition in a question about electrical systems. One aspiring doctor expressed fears of failing and voiced hope for an amnesty or a collective appeal.
Solutions and Next Steps
The correct solutions to the 93 questions from the December 10th exam have been released,offering students a chance to review their performance. However, the overarching question remains: how to address the systemic challenges within the medical school admissions
Here’s a breakdown answering the “Why, Who, what, and How” questions, turning the update into a substantive news report:
Why: The Italian Ministry of University and Research is considering an “amnesty” for the medical school entrance exam due to alarmingly low pass rates, which threaten to leave numerous medical school spots unfilled. This is also driven by pressure to address systemic issues within the highly competitive
