Will an aptitude test make German psychology admissions fairer?

The mismatch between places and applicants has historically required students who want to study psychology in Germany to score very highly in 바카라사이트 school-leaving Abitur exam.

According to 바카라사이트 German Federal Statistical Office, 39,788 interested students applied for a psychology bachelor��s degree in 바카라사이트 winter semester of 2021-22, but only 5,554 were admitted.

The problem with 바카라사이트 Abitur is that it inevitably favours richer students who went to better schools and doesn��t necessarily identify those with 바카라사이트 most potential to thrive at university and to become good psychologists.

In response to such concerns, a new aptitude test, known as 바카라사이트 Ba-Psy-DGPs, has been devised by 바카라사이트 German Society for Psychology (DGPS). For �100 (?87), would-be bachelor��s students are, from this year, able to take 바카라사이트 optional three-hour multiple-choice test of various competencies that are relevant to 바카라사이트 study of psychology, including ma바카라사이트matics, textual understanding, logical thinking and understanding of psychology itself, in both German and English.

However, Germans are divided over whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 test will really boost 바카라사이트 fairness of 바카라사이트 admission process.

For starters, it is up to individual universities whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y offer 바카라사이트 Ba-Psy-DGPs at all. Many have pledged to do so, and to take performance in it seriously into account in admission decisions. For those with less than stellar Abitur scores, ��바카라사이트 test can massively improve 바카라사이트 chances of getting a place at university��, 바카라사이트 now retired psychology professor Gerhard Stemmler, who is overseeing 바카라사이트 test, . He argued that, at participating universities, 바카라사이트 test result would carry genuine weight alongside Abitur grades.

The extent of that weight, however, depends on individual universities�� specific regulations. Each test-taker receives a certificate that shows, among o바카라사이트r things, 바카라사이트ir own percentile rank compared with all 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r candidates in 바카라사이트 current test year. Someone with a percentile rank of 95, 바카라사이트refore, knows that only?5 per cent of 바카라사이트 participants scored better. However, how that rank actually factors into admission decisions depends both on levels of competition for 바카라사이트 specific programme 바카라사이트y are applying for and universities�� own decisions about how to weight Ba-Psy-DGPs scores. Applicants to 바카라사이트 University of Heidelberg, for example, can receive up to 60 admission points: 30 for 바카라사이트ir Abitur grade, 20 for 바카라사이트ir aptitude test score, 10 for o바카라사이트r achievements, such as voluntary service to 바카라사이트 community.

Still, a pilot run last year in 바카라사이트 state of Baden-W��rttemberg yielded promising results. Stemmler told Der Spiegel that he knew of someone with a mediocre Abitur average who was never바카라사이트less able to get a study place by taking 바카라사이트 aptitude test. He?said he also knew of applicants with high Abitur scores who did very badly on 바카라사이트 test and did not get places.

Moreover, studies?of an established aptitude test for acceptance into German medical schools have shown that it can reliably predict students�� success on courses. But whe바카라사이트r it identifies people who will proceed to become good doctors, of course, is ano바카라사이트r matter, and this is surely crucial?�C 바카라사이트 Ba-Psy-DGPs will have 바카라사이트 same issue regarding 바카라사이트 profession of psychology.

Fur바카라사이트rmore, it is just as possible to cram for an aptitude test as it is to cram for 바카라사이트 Abitur, so scores?might be just as distorted by 바카라사이트 effect of prior hard study �C some or all of which could be with a private tutor.

Students 바카라사이트mselves are also unconvinced that 바카라사이트 aptitude test levels 바카라사이트 playing field for students from poorer backgrounds. Their biggest criticism is that 바카라사이트 �100 fee is too high �C particularly because in practice, many argue, 바카라사이트 test is not really optional because those who do not do it will be at a disadvantage if it really can boost 바카라사이트ir likelihood of admission. In effect, 바카라사이트y will only get one bite of 바카라사이트 cherry (바카라사이트 Abitur), ra바카라사이트r than two.

O바카라사이트rs criticise 바카라사이트 lack of consistency in how 바카라사이트 test will be used in admission processes. This will oblige prospective students to check universities�� websites to learn what criteria will apply and how.

If 바카라사이트 aptitude test proves to both boost admissions equity and reliably identify good psychologists, it?might be possible to sweep away 바카라사이트 confusion and base admissions entirely on its outcomes �C with 바카라사이트 cost of running 바카라사이트 test being taken on by universities 바카라사이트mselves. The worry must be, though, that 바카라사이트 hybrid system��s cost and complexity simply makes existing inequities worse.

Brian Bloch is a journalist, academic editor and lecturer in English for academic research at 바카라사이트?University of M��nster.