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OSCE Exams & FAQs

OSCE Exams & FAQs

Covering MRCEM OSCE, FRCEM OSCE exams

OSCE Exams

MRCEM & FRCEM OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Exam) allocated candidates will be contacted by email to confirm the exam place, including full details of the location, date and time of the exam.

+ Preparation

Preparation

To prepare for an OSCE, candidates should familiarise themselves with the domains that will be assessed. See further information on the curriculum, including details of the learning outcomes that will be assessed. Candidates may also find it useful to consult with relevant materials on RCEM Learning in preparation for their exam. Time management is a key component of the exam and candidates may wish to practice techniques.

A journal article will be released to all candidates via email four weeks before the start of the OSCE for the CLA station. It is the candidate’s responsibility to download the article from the link provided and read the article in advance of the examination.

The OSCE station will take the form of a guided conversation about the paper that will focus on your ability to critically appraise the article. Candidates will not be asked to summarise the paper and do not need to memorise it. In the OSCE circuit, there will be a reading station immediately before the critical appraisal station, where the paper will be available to re-familiarise with it. Both stations are of the standard eight minute duration, with a one minute lead in time to read the candidate instruction. During the station, the conversation will cover aspects of internal validity (does the research tell us what the authors say it tells us and has the research been conducted properly?) and external validity (does the research tell us what we need to know as clinicians and whether and how it could change practice?). There will be no expectation to carry out calculations in the station.

See a sample CLA Journal and Questions.

+ Exam Day

Exam Day

On the exam day, please ensure you leave plenty of time for your journey to the exam location at the start of the registration window. Any late candidates will not be permitted to take the exam if they arrive after the registration window closes.

Candidates may be allocated to a morning or afternoon place; the timeframes for both sessions can be seen below:

AM Session PM Session Activity
09:00 – 09:30 12:45 – 13:15 Candidate Registration Window
09:45 – 09:59 13:25 – 13:39 Candidate Briefing
10:00 – 12:42 13:40 – 16:22 OSCE
12:42 – 13:15 16:22 – 16:40 Candidate Debriefing
13:15 16:40 End of Exam

Morning exam session candidates will be required to remain in a supervised area following their exam whilst the afternoon session candidates register. Candidates will have access to their belongings during this time, but electronic devices will not be returned until this has finished.

Candidates must present valid ID when they arrive for their exam, matching the first and last name on their RCEM account. All electronic devices must be switched off and surrendered upon registration and will be returned at the end of the exam. During registration, candidates will be provided with a badge to wear throughout the exam, which should remain clearly visible. All belongings will be secured in the dedicated briefing room during the exam. Candidates are not required to bring any equipment, including stethoscopes. Any equipment requirement to complete a station will be made available.

Candidates are expected to adhere to a smart professional dress code and are welcome to wear scrubs if preferred. Limited changing facilities are available to change prior to the exam, during the registration window.

+ Stations

Stations

Each station has one minute reading time prior to entering the station room. A briefing sheet for each station will be available, providing the following details:

  • A description of the scenario and/or patient
  • The required task
  • The domains (skills) being assessed (presented in a pie chart)
  • The role of the examiner.

This provides all of the introductory guidance for the station and will direct candidates how to spend the station time. For example, if a station is 90% assessing practical skills, do not spend 5 minutes taking patient history.

OSCE stations will present scenarios that reflect real life practice and could be seen in any Emergency Department in the UK.

When entering stations, candidates should try to remain calm and behave as they would during a normal day at work, addressing patients and any other individuals professionally and with courtesy.

OSCE Exam Candidate Experience

OSCE Exam FAQs

The FAQs cover the MRCEM OSCE and FRCEM OSCE exams.

+ Am I eligible for the exam?

Am I eligible for the exam?

Eligibility information can be found in the Information packs for all exams:

MRCEM OSCE Information pack
FRCEM OSCE Information pack

+ Can a timer be visible to candidates during OSCE stations?

Can a timer be visible to candidates during OSCE stations?

No, candidates are expected to prepare for 8-minute station. Candidates are responsible for their own time management during the station. An analogue clock will be visible in each station should candidates wish to use this for time management.

+ Are the iPads reliable when collating results? What happens if the iPad or software fails?

Are the iPads reliable when collating results? What happens if the iPad or software fails?

The iPads and the software used for marking is a robust and reliable method for marking. All marks are autosaved in real time, this mean that if the Wi-Fi connection was lost, the iPad was to die, etc. no marks will ever be lost. If an iPad was to fail during a station, all examiners are advised to abandon the iPad and to continue marking on the paper marksheets provided. The exams team are on standby throughout the circuit to rectify any technical issues should they arise.

+ Are there any double stations?

Are there any double stations?

There are no double stations in the MRCEM or FRCEM OSCE exams.

+ How many rest stations are there?

How many rest stations are there?

MRCEM OSCE: there are two rest stations.

FRCEM OSCE: there are two rest stations built into the FRCEM OSCE exam. One of these rest stations can also be used as a prep station. Candidates are expected to be familiar with the CLA journal prior to exam so this station is purely to remind and refresh candidates of the content as a copy of the journal will be available in this station.

+ How many resuscitation stations are there in the FRCEM OSCE?

How many resuscitation stations are there in the FRCEM OSCE?

The FRCEM OSCE will include three resuscitation stations. Please note, in addition to achieving the pass mark, candidates will be required to pass at least one of the resuscitation stations in order to achieve a pass overall.

+ (FRCEM OSCE only) What do I need to know about the new format with the SLOs?

(FRCEM OSCE only) What do I need to know about the new format with the SLOs?

Detailed information regarding the examination can be found in the FRCEM Final Examinations Regulations and Information Pack from page nine to 12.

+ Do I need to bring my stethoscope?

Do I need to bring my stethoscope?

You are not required to bring your own stethoscope. If a station requires the use of a stethoscope, then one will be available in that station. If you would like to bring your own stethoscope you are welcome to, but this is not mandatory.

+ Where can I leave my belongings?

Where can I leave my belongings?

Your belongings will be left in one of the College’s meeting rooms. This room will be secured and will be made available to you at the end of your examination session. The examination team will take all communications devices (phones, smart watches, tablets, laptops, etc) during the registration window. These devices will also be held securely.

+ What should I wear to my OSCE exam?

What should I wear to my OSCE exam?

The OSCE is a professional exam and therefore smart professional attire is required. You are welcome to wear scrubs if you prefer. Toilets are available onsite should you need to change prior to your exam.

+ Am I allowed to wear a scrub skirt?

Am I allowed to wear a scrub skirt?

Yes, this would be acceptable.

+ My scrubs have my name on them, is this an issue?

My scrubs have my name on them, is this an issue?

If you can wear plain scrubs this is recommended. However, if you only have scrubs with your name on them, you will still be able to wear these. Candidates can request tape to cover their name / hospital name.

+ Can I wear religious face coverings?

Can I wear religious face coverings?

Clothing which covers the face (veil/niqab) is not permitted during the exam and candidates will be required to remove face coverings when signing in for the exam.

+ When will I get allocated to a session?

When will I get allocated to a session?

If this exam is oversubscribed, we will allocate spaces to candidates using our Oversubscription Criteria. We aim to review all applications and complete our allocation process approximately 3 weeks after the application window has closed.

+ Do I have to pay for my OSCE before I am allocated a space?

Do I have to pay for my OSCE before I am allocated a space?

If you are allocated a space in the upcoming exam, we will email you with instructions on how to pay for your exam and will give you a timeline in which you need to complete your payment. Please note that if your payment is not completed within that timeline, that exam space will be offered to the next candidate in order of the Oversubscription Criteria.

+ Can I request a specific OSCE date?

Can I request a specific OSCE date?

OSCE exam diets comprise a number of exam days, as advertised in our Exams Calendar. Candidates will be allocated to a single day within that diet, in a morning or afternoon session. When applying to OSCE exams, you are applying to the whole diet and may therefore be allocated to any day within that exam diet. If you cannot attend a specific date within that exam diet, please let us know as soon as possible after submitting your application by emailing exams@rcem.ac.uk with any supporting documentation. Whilst our team will try to accommodate such requests wherever possible, we cannot make any guarantees that these will be facilitated.

+ Can I apply for both the FRCEM OSCE and FRCEM SBA?

Can I apply for both the FRCEM OSCE and FRCEM SBA?

If eligible, you can apply for both exams simultaneously.

+ Can I apply for the MRCEM OSCE before I receive my MRCEM SBA result?

Can I apply for the MRCEM OSCE before I receive my MRCEM SBA result?

No, you need a pass mark in the MRCEM SBA before you can apply for the MRCEM OSCE.

+ Can RCEM have MRCEM OSCE exam centres in middle east countries such as Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates?

Can RCEM have MRCEM OSCE exam centres in middle east countries such as Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates?

Exam centres are continually under review and plans for new centres had been impacted by COVID.

An OSCE took place in Malaysia in September 2022, and we are looking into adding centres in Oman eventually.

+ Can we apply for the CESR after Aug 2021 with just a pass in the SAQ and OSCE exams?

Can we apply for the CESR after Aug 2021 with just a pass in the SAQ and OSCE exams?

Candidates holding passes in FRCEM Final OSCE and SAQ will be awarded FRCEM in September 2021. A CESR application will still need Research and QI evidence.

+ Am I eligible for the OSCE exams?

Am I eligible for the OSCE exams?

Eligibility criteria for the OSCEs can be found in the Information Packs:

MRCEM OSCE Information Pack

FRCEM OSCE Information Pack

+ I’m an international candidate and my visa hasn’t been issued yet or my visa application has been rejected.

I’m an international candidate and my visa hasn’t been issued yet or my visa application has been rejected.

If your visa application has been declined for an OSCE exam, please contact exams@rcem.ac.uk with proof of this to withdraw from the exam and for consideration of a refund. We cannot transfer your application to a later diet, and you will be required to reapply to the next available diet if you cannot sit.

+ Domain Marking Guidance

Domain Marking Guidance

Please see the document “Domain Based Marking” (PDF download)

+ What are the SLOs for FRCEM OSCE?

What are the SLOs for FRCEM OSCE?

SLO 1 Complex Stable Patient
SLO 7/8 EPIC
SLO 9 Supervise & Teach
SLO 3 Resus
SLO 4 Injured Patient
SLO 5 PEM
SLO 12 Management
SLO 10/12 Management or Research

+ What are the SLOs assessed in the MRCEM OSCE?

What are the SLOs assessed in the MRCEM OSCE?

SLO 1 Complex Stable Patient
SLO 2 Answer Questions
SLO 3 Resus
SLO 4 Injured Patient
SLO 5 PEM
SLO 6 Procedural Skills
SLO 7 Complex Challenging Situations
SLO 9 Supervise & Teach

 

+ Where can I find curriculum information?

Where can I find curriculum information?

https://rcemcurriculum.co.uk



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