The Thai medicine programme, Faculty of Medicine Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) has been established since 1985. In 2003, we have cooperated with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, the University of Nottingham (UoN), UK, initiating a Joint Medical Programme. During the first three years of this special programme, the students attend basic biomedical science degree at the UoN. After that, they continue their clinical subjects at the Faculty of Medicine, SWU. This study was designed to compare the achievement of the 1^st exposure to the national license examination (NLE) step 1 of medical students between both programmes.

For three consecutive years (2011‑2013), we have followed the scores of the 1^st exposure to the NLE step 1 of medical students of the two programmes.

All students in the Thai medicine programme attend extra-tutorial courses for two weeks prior to the NLE step 1.  A selected group of students who had scored low in the basic biomedical science courses was arranged for an intervention consisting of extra-lectures, small group discussions, and questions and answers (Q&A) periods daily for 8 hours. A tutor system is set in which advanced students gave tutorial to other students in groups for 1–2 hours, 3 days per week during the two months before the NLE. One advanced student is assigned as a peer to 1–2 weak students. In addition, during the last two years, we have assigned a student who has obtained a mean higher than the 80^th percentile score in basic medical subjects as a buddy to one weak student for two months prior the NLE.

On the other hand, as there are differences in perspectives and curriculum between Thai and U.K. medical courses, the students of the Joint Medical Programme are subjected to an intervention by additional tutorial activities consisting of voluntary group self-tutorial sessions (students are self-tutors), and questions and answers (Q&A) periods during weekends for three months before the NLE. They also communicated with their peers in Thailand for group-tuition and self-tuition materials during their three years studying at the UoN.

During 2011, 2012, and 2013, the students in the Thai medicine programme who passed the 1^st exposure for NLE step 1 were 92.50% (N=120), 99.16% (N=119), and 99.16% (N=119), respectively. Whereas, for the Joint Medical Programme during the same period, the students who passed the 1^st exposure for NLE step 1 were 40.0% (N = 10), 22.2% (N = 9), and 100.0% (N = 10), respectively.

There are two main outcomes of Thai medicine study: 1) the intervention is effective, and 2) The subset of scores in basic medical subjects can predict the success in NLE step 1 exam.

In 2013, the Joint Medical Programme students had more awareness and worked very hard during weekends for extra tutorial activities in order to be able to improve their scores in NLE step 1.

An important factor was to stimulate the students and make them aware of the importance in preparing for the NLE step 1. Also students are made aware of the importance of self preparation, helping each other in learning, and helping their classmates without waiting for the teacher to arrange activities for them.

Thanks Srinakharinwirot University for support.