Universities are increasingly moving to select students on the basis of a wider set of objective criteria rather than academic results alone.

The use of a purpose-designed admission test assists in the process by providing evidence of skills and abilities that are not directly measured by academic results, but which are also very important to the work and effectiveness of a student and later a practitioner in the health professions.

The use of a professionally developed and marked secure test, in combination with academic results, assists universities in selecting the most suitable students from a large pool of well qualified applicants. Broadening the selection criteria to include performance on a test of reasoning and communication ability provides a means of recognising and valuing qualities and skills that are not specifically demonstrated in academic results. Skills in communication and understanding people, as well as teamwork and information handling, are seen as essential attributes of a successful health practitioner.

Finally, the community expects that the health professionals of tomorrow will, in addition to having the necessary highly developed levels of skill within their field, be able to communicate effectively and relate to their patients.