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Feedback for Summer 2006 candidates - Oral

Introduction

In the MRCGP summer 2006 the RCGP experienced the largest cohort of candidates ever to sit the Oral examination. The pass rate was 75%. There follow some suggestions based on candidate performance this summer which may help prospective candidates for future examinations.

Preparation

It was clear that some candidates were unfamiliar with the range of areas that are covered in the Oral.

It is essential that candidates know what the purpose of the Oral is. The details of this are given in the MRCGP Examination Regulations available from the RCGP website and The Insider’s Guide to the MRCGP Oral Examination, but to re-iterate in brief:

the Oral examination explores decision making and the professional values and behaviour that underpin this.

Candidates should be able to discuss the implications of challenging situations, recognise options for resolving them and be able to justify what strategy they finally decide to adopt. The questions will be spread across three areas:  communication, professional values, and personal and professional growth.

Practice

Some candidates had clearly not considered some of the common topics of GP e.g. consultation models, rationing, employment law etc. Do make an effort to familiarise yourself with the common areas of GP and rehearse your arguments with colleagues. Remember you will have to JUSTIFY what you say so can’t trot out jargon and expect not to be challenged e.g. ICE, the four principles etc. You must understand what you’re saying and the relevance of your response.

Many candidates appear to have attended examination preparation courses. While these can be very valuable and frameworks learnt at preparation courses can be useful, they are of limited help if you are asked about a topic that you’ve never even considered.

Although there are many examination preparation courses, which include practice Orals, examiners are continuously developing relevant new questions based on recent developments in GP. Don’t be surprised if you get a question you haven’t heard before. There are lots of them!

It was clear from some of the candidates that they had a very limited experience of the actual day to day work, responsibilities and administration of GP. Do take advantage of your GPR time to get as much experience of GP as possible as examiners can tell the difference if you don’t know what you’re talking about.

Examination technique

Many candidates remain surprised at the pace of questioning. Think broadly and practice answering quickly. You only have four minutes to answer each question and time passes very quickly. If you’re not used to this pace of discussion you may not perform well.