Abstract

ENGLISH, R; HANSEN, A  and  VAN SCHALKWYK, S. An exploration of first-year medical students' experiences of assessment in a renewed medical programme. Afr. J. Health Prof. Educ. (Online) [online]. 2026, vol.18, n.1, pp.1-7. ISSN 2078-5127.  https://doi.org/10.7196/AJHPE.2026.v18i1.2110.

BACKGROUND. Formative assessment approaches in the form of multiple and varied assessment opportunities have been shown to positively influence and promote self-regulated learning. OBJECTIVE. This research aims to explore how first-year medical students experienced ongoing, multiple, varied, low-stakes (no- or low-grade) assessments during a newly developed introductory module implemented as part of a renewed curriculum process. METHOD. A qualitative and exploratory research design drawing on an interpretivist paradigm was used. Twenty-seven purposively sampled first-year students participated in four focus group discussions where they discussed their experiences of assessment. The discussions were recorded and transcribed. Transcriptions were thematically analysed. RESULTS. Three themes were identified, reflecting a range of experiences pertaining to the assessment approach, namely: (i) students experienced several emotions; (ii) students underwent a series of adjustments and changes in response to the assessment requirements; and (iii) students' experiences are viewed as journeys as they transitioned into higher education. Assessment literacy and assessment-specific factors were key contributors to shaping student experiences. CONCLUSIONS. The study revealed that the development of self-regulatory skills and assessment literacy is necessary as students transition from secondary education into an integrated medical curriculum, and that the assessment design and tasks are important for student self-regulation. The findings support literature on the role of formative assessment and highlight how assessment literacy can enable self-regulated learning and smoother transitions into higher education.

Keywords : formative assessment; self-regulated learning; assessment literacy; student transitions; low-stakes assessment.

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