One hundred and forty-six (93%) of the University of Wales College of
Medicine intake of new students completed a personality questionnaire
(Cattell 16PF) on registration in October 1988. The students were divi
ded into four groups depending on their academic progress up to and in
cluding 2nd MB BCh. Whereas the majority (73%) encountered no major ex
amination problems, 40 (27%) did experience such difficulties, nine of
them serious enough to delay graduation. Fourteen students had left t
he course, nine of them voluntarily. Academic progress was not signifi
cantly related to any of Cattell's personality factors, either primary
or second order. Further analyses of established clusters of factors
which have previously been associated with problems among students wer
e also shown to be unrelated to the medical students' progress. A prof
ile at entry involving previous degrees, points obtained and number of
attempts at A-levels proved to be a much better predictor of success
during the preclinical period.