AAMC PREview key terms

A cluster of knowledge, skills, and personal qualities that predicts a candidate's ability to function effectively in health-professions training and clinical settings.

An assessment that presents realistic workplace scenarios and asks candidates to judge or rank possible responses, measuring practical reasoning rather than factual recall.

A judgment of how helpful or appropriate a described action would be in a given scenario, usually placed on a scale from counterproductive to highly effective.

A concrete action a person takes in a situation, such as speaking up, asking a question, or offering help, as opposed to an internal attitude or belief.

Conduct that others can see or hear, making it a more reliable basis for judging competence than unstated intentions or self-reported traits.

The tendency for people to describe themselves more favorably or inaccurately than their actual behavior warrants, which limits the value of self-ratings.

The tendency to answer in ways that make oneself look good to others, potentially distorting responses on assessments that ask about character or conduct.

A defined area of professional functioning, such as communication or ethics, under which related skills and behaviors are grouped for assessment purposes.

A structured scoring guide that describes levels of performance and the criteria used to judge responses consistently across candidates.

A capability expected of applicants before formal professional training begins, reflecting readiness rather than mastered clinical expertise.

The capacity to recognize and understand another person's feelings and perspective, and to respond in a way that acknowledges their experience.

Attending closely to a speaker, reflecting back what was heard, and asking clarifying questions so the speaker feels understood.

Approaching care by eliciting and respecting the patient's values, preferences, and needs, and involving them in decisions about their health.

A collaborative process in which clinician and patient exchange information and agree together on a course of action.

Obtaining a patient's voluntary agreement to a procedure or treatment after they understand its purpose, risks, benefits, and alternatives.

A patient's right to make their own decisions about their body and care, free from coercion, even when others disagree with the choice.

The duty to protect private information shared in a professional relationship and to disclose it only when authorized or legally required.

Appropriate limits on the personal, emotional, and social dimensions of a professional relationship that protect both the client and the practitioner.

A situation in which a personal interest, such as financial gain or a relationship, could improperly influence professional judgment or obligations.

Consistently acting in line with stated values and ethical standards, including honesty about mistakes and follow-through on commitments.

Taking responsibility for one's actions and their consequences, including acknowledging errors and correcting them rather than deflecting blame.

Behaving in ways that meet the standards and expectations of a profession, such as reliability, respect, and appropriate self-presentation.

Collaborating with others toward a shared goal by sharing information, supporting teammates, and coordinating effort rather than working in isolation.

Addressing disagreement directly and constructively to reach a workable outcome, often by clarifying interests and finding common ground.

Specific information given to a person about their performance, intended to reinforce effective behavior or guide improvement.

The belief that abilities can be developed through effort, feedback, and practice, which supports persistence after setbacks.

The capacity to recover and keep functioning after stress, failure, or adversity, using coping strategies and support resources.

Deliberate habits that maintain one's physical and emotional well-being, enabling sustained performance in demanding roles.

A state of exhaustion, detachment, and reduced efficacy resulting from prolonged occupational stress, often signaling a need for support or workload change.

An ongoing openness to examining one's own biases and learning about others' cultural identities, rather than assuming complete cultural knowledge.

Unconscious associations that can influence judgments and behavior toward groups of people, often despite conscious commitments to fairness.

The goal of ensuring everyone has a fair opportunity to attain good health, which requires addressing avoidable barriers and disadvantages.

Conditions such as income, housing, education, and neighborhood that shape health outcomes and influence a patient's ability to follow care plans.

Speaking up or acting on behalf of a person or group whose needs or rights are not being adequately addressed by others.

Working through a dilemma by identifying the relevant values, stakeholders, and consequences in order to justify a defensible course of action.

The ability to convey information clearly and adjust tone, vocabulary, and format to the audience and context.

The ability to adjust one's approach when circumstances, information, or priorities change, without losing effectiveness.

Deciding what to address first when demands exceed available time or resources, based on urgency, importance, and impact.

Working respectfully with members of other health professions, sharing responsibility and deferring to others' expertise where appropriate.