This study sought to determine the magnitude and direction of achievement gender differentials at the UWI medical school in St. Augustine. This tertiary institution provides a unique opportunity to investigate gender differentials in the English-speaking Caribbean because males and females are self-selected and equally matched in ability. The study is set in the context of a variety of innovative teaching-learning strategies, assessments modes, and disciplines throughout an extended 5-year programme. Data for 9 years (graduating class 1994 to 2002) were collated and analyzed.

An earlier study of gendered achievement at the UWI School of Medicine at St. Augustine suggested that most differentials were negligible to small at the preclinical stage and small to moderate at the clinical stage (De Lisle and Pit-Miller 2002). One explanation for these small gender differences was that the stringent selection processes created sample restriction. In 2003, changes were made to the assessment scheme in the biomedical sciences, with the elimination of a number of formats.