[Abstract] Objective This study discusses the role of case-based learning (CBL) in the development of common competency in medical students. Methods Students majoring in clinical medicine were divided into study (63 students) and control (58 students) groups. The study group was composed of 5 teams

with 12 - 13 students in each team. CBL and traditional lecture-based learning (LBL)　were applied to the study and the control groups

respectively. After the courses

a questionnaire with 10 indicators of medical students’ common competency was scored by the students. The scores were entered into SPSS　19.0 for two independent-samples t-test. Results The effective questionnaire recovery rates for the study and the control groups were 92.1% and 98.3%

respectively. For the 10 indicators of medical students’ common competency

students in the study group scored significantly higher than those in the control (p < 0.05). Students in the study group performed much better in communication

collaboration

information collection

or critical thinking than those of the control (p < 0.001). Conclusion CBL can promote the early development of medical students’ common competency during basic medical education. Teaching in smaller teams is much better in ability training

compared to the traditional LBL.