In order to address the complexity of the Educational Performance Measure, a Task and Finish Group, with representation from students, schools, employers and foundation schools was set up.

The role of the group was to consult and carry out research, with the aim of making recommendations on how to calculate the EPM score. This included rules on how to ensure the EPM  is reliable, robust, representative of a student’s performance up to the point of their application to the Foundation Programme, valid and fair, as well as being a legally compliant framework that is not too costly (in terms of time and resources) to administer and quality assure.

After considering all the evidence it was recommended that schools would decide how to calculate the EPM locally, but would be required to publish how the score is produced (including information on which assessments are used and the weightings between years) and its methods for giving students points for their performance at medical school and whether this differs for students on different programmes e.g. graduate entry. It has been recommended that the EPM move to a decile point system, rather than the current quartiles. Once medical schools publish how they are going to calculate the EPM locally, students will be able to discuss this and any concerns they have about this directly with the medical school.

Applicants would continue to receive additional points for degrees, prizes, publications and presentations. A maximum of 5 points will be available for degrees and a maximum of 2 points would be available for prizes, publications and presentations. The individual medical school would allocate these points locally.