THE EXAM

About the exam

The Clinical Assessment is an OSCE exam for candidates who graduated more than 2 years before the start of FY1. Therefore, in short, you will be required to take the exam if you: 

1. Have graduated from medical school more than 2 years before the start of the programme

2. Have not completed a GMC approved internship 

Once you have completed eligibility, you will be sent an invite to sit for the exam around September. The exam itself is held around October or November at the University Hospital of South Manchester, at Wythenshawe Hospital. It typically runs over a few days, depending on the number of candidates that have to take it. This hospital is a famous location for OSCEs as one of the sessions for the PACES exam for the MRCP postgraduate diploma is also held there. 

The examination is set in the OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) format. Each candidate will take the OSCE on a single day. 

It will comprise 10 different stations including 2 rest stations. 

This gives you 12 stations in total.

Each cycle comprises of 5 stations and one rest station. At the end of each cycle, there will be a 10 minute break. Each cycle lasts approximately 90 minutes. Each station lasts 10 minutes. The 10 minutes are broken up into 1 minute of reading time and 9 minutes in the actual station. 

The UKFPO will tell you the day of your examination and your cycle. Cycles 1 and 2 are in the morning. Cycles 3 and 4 are in the afternoon. On the day of the examination, you will be given a sticker which will state which station number you will be starting at. This will state, for example, W11 – you will start in the ward area at station number 11 or C2 – you will start in the clinic area at station number 2. Cycles 1 and 3 will start in the clinic area. Cycles 2 and 4 will start in the ward area.

The ward area is made of dividers. The stations are situated very close to each other so while the stations themselves are private from visual prying, you are able to hear everything that is going on around you. Don’t let this distract you. Do not attempt to listen to what other candidates are doing in other stations as this will only serve as a detriment to you.

Try to concentrate as best as possible on your current station. The circuit can be confusing but there are helpers who will direct you to your next station. There are no particular types of stations that are tested in the ward area for example; you could get anything from counseling to procedures in this area. The clinical area is made up of individual rooms on a single corridor. Again, helpers will assist you if you become lost or confused. This area is completely private. The BLS station and the prescription station are usually tested in this area but you will also get a variety of the other types of stations here as well.

Tips:

1. Wear smart clothes with sensible shoes. There is no need to bring a watch. 

2. There is one rest station per cycle. Water and tissues are provided and you are allowed to visit the toilet if you need to.

3. Use your one minute of reading time well. Don’t waste time looking around at what the other candidates are doing. 

4. Please remember the patients’ names. 

5. Formulate a good introduction and stick to it. Practise it in the mirror or with family members as much as possible. 

6. Pause during the stations! Yes, you are on a time limit but some stations require you to wait for patient responses.