Workplace Based Assessment (WPBA)

The WPBA assessments reflect and respond to changes in general practice, the RCGP curriculum, and the mandatory requirements of the GMC.

The Learning Log is used to collect evidence about your progress and share it with your supervisors and ARCP panel, as part of the Workplace Based Assessment component of the MRCGP exam.

Find out what you need to know about the Clinical Supervisors Report (CSR), Interim Educational Supervisor Report (iESR), Educational Supervisor Report (ESR), and Personal Development Plan (PDP).

The WPBA is designed to test GP trainees’ capability in 13 key areas derived from the core RCGP curriculum statement ‘Being a GP’.

Satisfactory completion of the WBPA part of the MRCGP examination includes requirements to demonstrate competence in CPR, AED and safeguarding.

The evidence you collect in your Trainee Portfolio is reviewed at least every 12 months in the ARCP.

This applies to all users of the Trainee ePortfolio, Trainees, Trainers, Clinical Supervisors, Educational Supervisors, Deanery Administrators and Assessment Leads, and ARCP Panel Members and Chairs.

Introduction to the WPBA in GP training

Workplace Based Assessment (WPBA) is one of the three assessments that make up the MRCGP assessment system. WPBA evaluates your progress in areas of professional practice and behaviour best tested in the workplace and that are difficult to assess in the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) and Simulated Consultation Assessment (SCA).

WPBA looks at your performance in your day-to-day practice to provide evidence for learning and reflection based on real experiences. It supports and drives learning in important areas of capability with an underlying theme of patient safety and provides constructive feedback on areas of strength and developmental needs. 

Evidence of WPBA, as approved by the GMC, includes:

  • the completion of specific assessments and reports
  • the documentation of naturally occurring evidence
  • certain mandatory requirements such as Safeguarding and CPR/AED.

Throughout your GP specialty training, you collect evidence related to 13 areas of professional capability and record it in the Trainee Portfolio. This evidence is used to inform six-monthly reviews and - at the end of training - to make a judgement about your readiness for independent practice.

Learning logs

The Learning Log is your personal learning record. It’s used to collect evidence about your progress and share it with your supervisors and ARCP panel. The most common learning log type is the Clinical Case Review, where you'll reflect on cases you have seen and demonstrate your learning against the Capabilities across a range of patient types referred to as Clinical Experience Groups.   

Case-Based Discussion (CbD) and Care Assessment Tool (CAT)

CATs are structured assessments designed to evaluate your professional judgement across the scope of General Practice. A CbD is a type of CAT, that enables reflection and discussion on care already provided to a patient. 

Mini Consultation Evaluation Exercise (MiniCEX)

A MiniCEX is an observed, real-life, interaction between you and a patient. The MiniCEX assesses your clinical skills, attitudes, and behaviours. The MiniCEX is completed in the non-primary care setting.

Consultation Observation Tool (COT) and Audio-COT

The COT is an expanded version of the MiniCEX and considers your consultations with real patients in real time during your primary care placements. The Audio-COT provides an additional tool to enable the assessment of your telephone consultation skills. 

Clinical Examination and Procedural Skills (CEPS)

The CEPS assessment records evidence against the Clinical Examination and Procedural Skills capability, and assess whether you are competent in clinical examinations and procedures. By the end of your training you'll demonstrate competence in five GMC-mandated "intimate" CEPS and a range of other CEPS (such as Respiratory system or Musculoskeletal system) relevant to GP. 

Multi-Source Feedback (MSF)

The Multi-Source Feedback (MSF) tool is used to collect your colleagues’ opinions on your clinical performance and professional behaviour. It provides data for reflection on your performance and self-evaluation.

Leadership activity and MSF

In your ST3 training year you'll undertake a Leadership activity, as well as a leadership-focussed MSF that is designed to obtain feedback on your leadership skills.

Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ)

The Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ) provides patient feedback on your empathy and relationship-building skills during consultations. Patients are asked to complete the questionnaire (which includes 9 multiple choice questions) after their consultation.

Quality Improvement Project (QIP) and Quality Improvement Activity (QIA)

The GMC recommends that all doctors demonstrate an involvement in Quality Improvement at least once a year. During your GP training you'll complete a Quality Improvement Project (QIP) when you are in a primary care placement and a Quality Improvement Activity (QIA) in the other two training years. A QIP is a more specific project, while a QIA is broader, encouraging you to evaluate the quality of your work and promote and consider change where appropriate.  

Prescribing assessments

In your ST3 year you will undertake a prescribing assessment, a formative exercise that encourages you to reflect on prescribing practice, highlighting trends and learning needs within your prescribing.

Learning Event Analysis (LEA)/Significant Event Analysis

You'll undertake an LEA for events which may not have a serious outcome but highlight issues which could have been handled with greater clinical effectiveness, and from which lessons can be learnt. For events that pass a GMC-set threshold, you'll instead undertake a Significant Event Analysis. 

CPR and AED

You'll need to provide evidence of competence in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillation (AED) for both children and adults every 12 months throughout your training. This will usually be by attending a training session (such as a Basic Life Support (BLS) session) run by an approved Resuscitation Council trainer/assessor or equivalent.

Safeguarding

You'll need to demonstrated competence - and provide evidence of application of learning - in safeguarding for both children and adults throughout your training. 

Placement planning meeting 

You will have a placement planning meeting with your Clinical Supervisor at the start of each new post, to discuss the opportunities and objectives that are appropriate for that post. 

Clinical Supervisor's Report (CSR)

The Clinical Supervisors Report (CSR) is a short, structured report completed by your Clinical Supervisor in each post where they will record observations on your performance. 

Educational Supervisor's Report (ESR)

The evidence you collect in your Trainee Portfolio is reviewed at six-monthly intervals by your educational supervisor. ESRs provide feedback on your overall progress and identify areas where you need more focused training. Reviews are informed by the evidence you collect through the WPBA tools, along with ‘naturally occurring evidence’ from elsewhere in the Trainee Portfolio (for example, the Learning Log).

Personal Development Plan (PDP)

The PDP enables you to demonstrate that you can assess your learning needs, plan actions to meet these needs and review your achievement of these needs.