The ACT as a predictor of success on the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination.

: The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive ability of the American College Test (ACT) with respect to success (achieving a passing score of 75 or higher) on the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE). Records of 209 dental hygiene graduates from the 1975-1984 baccalaureate degree program at the Baylor College of Dentistry were used in this retrospective study. Descriptive statistics, median (MD), mean, standard deviation, maximum/minimum values, and 95% confidence intervals were determined for each year for the ACT and NBDHE. Pearson product moment correlation coefficients (Pearson r), coefficients of determination (r2), t-ratios and p-values were calculated. The ACT scores were found to be a weak to moderate predictor of success (75+ passing score) on the NBDHE in five of the 11 years investigated.