• A form of performance-based testing used to measure candidates clinical competence.

• During an OSCE, candidates are observed and evaluated as they go through a series of stations in

which they interview, examine and treat standardized patients (SPs) who present various types of

medical problems.

Objective Structured Clinical Examination

Oral examinations are being used as a mode of assessment of medical students for years. Traditional

oral examinations consist of a dialogue or discussion with the examiner who asks questions to which

candidate must reply. Orals give the examiner the unique opportunity to explore students’ depth of

knowledge as well as their ability to express it in a precise manner

Structure Oral Examination (SOE)

Confidentiality

• You will be continuously monitored by video, physical walk-throughs and the observation window during your test. All testing sessions are video and audio recorded.

• You must present valid (unexpired) and acceptable ID(s) in order to take your test. • You are required to sign out and sign back in and show your ID to CSTC Administrator when you leave. • You are prohibited from communicating, publishing, reproducing, or transmitting any part of your test, in any form or by any

means, verbal or written, for any purpose. • You must not talk to other candidates when exam starts or refer to their screens, testing materials, or written notes in the test. • You must not use written notes, published materials, or other testing aids, except those allowed by CSTC.

Clinical Skills Testing Center ( CSTC ) Regulations

Confidentiality

• Any clothing or jewelry items allowed to be worn in the test room must remain on your person at all times. Removed clothing or jewelry items must be stored in your locker.

• You must not bring any personal/unauthorized items into the CSTC. Such items include: outerwear, hats, food, drinks, purses, briefcases, notebooks, pagers, watches, cellular telephones, recording devices, and photographic equipment. You will be asked to empty your pockets prior to entry into the CSTC.

• You must return all materials issued to you by CSTC at the end of your exam. • You are not allowed to access the locker during your break. • You must conduct yourself in a civil manner at all times when on the premises of the testing center. Exhibiting abusive behavior

towards the CSTC, or any other staff member of the test center, will result serious actions. • When you hear ” Please leave the Room” you must leave the room and stay in front of the same room until you are permitted to

move to the next room. • Do not enter any room unless you hear “ Please enter the Room ‘ then you are allowed to pick up the chart ( if available ) and

enter the room. • Do not leave any notes, scratch paper or pens inside any exam stations, when done from writing or taking a note or filling a form

take it out with you and hand it over to CSTC staff.

• During the application process, you agreed NOT to disseminate or reveal to others the exam materials and content. That means you CANNOT discuss or disclose exam content at any time, in any way, even after the exam is over. Examples of this includes, but are not limited to, comparing patient responses with your colleagues, sharing content with future exam candidates, using exam content in study groups, posting case information online, and sharing case information in social media.

• Any breach may lead to disciplinary and legal measure, including invalidating your results and preventing you from participating in future exams.

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• Stethoscope

• White lab coat without a

university or hospital logo

Items to bring: • Watches (analogue/digital/smartwatches)

No Exceptions (NOTE: a clock will be

provided in each station)

• Cell phones, pagers,

media players, laptops

• Electronic devices with internet access,

transmission, reference or recording

capabilities

• Electronic stethoscopes

• Pens, pencils, pen lights

• Paper, books, notebooks

• Bags, briefcases, wallets, keys

Items that are NOT permitted:

Confidentiality

• Do not open until the exam begins .

• Candidate should write his National ID number, name and specialty at the specified area.

• Candidate will be given 1 notebook ̶ additional pages CANNOT be added.

• Never rip out any pages ̶ Candidate notebook must be returned intact at the end of the exam.

Confidentiality

At each clinical station, there is a written statement (CANDIDATE INSTRUCTIONS) that:

• Introduces a clinical problem • Directs the candidate to appropriately interact with a

standardized patient (SP) • Specifies the task such as:

obtaining a focused history

conducting a focused physical examination

conducting a combined history/physical

addressing the patient’s concerns

• Indicates whether there are examiner oral questions at the 8-minute signal

A copy of the instructions will be available inside or outside the room for your reference.

Confidentiality

Examiners observe and assess your performance with preset rating sheets

Standardized patients (SPs) are trained to simulate patients’ signs and symptoms in a reliable and consistent manner

Treat them as you would a real patient.

Confidentiality

• You will be expected to use the hand sanitizer that will be available in every physical examination station. You may be prompted by the examiner

• Use the Physical Examination Kit available in every station at your discretion. This kit includes items such as gloves, tongue depressors, sensory testing supplies etc.

• Be sure to drape the standardized patients (SPs) appropriately

• Carry out any maneuvers necessary for assessing the presenting problem

Examiners only give credit for tasks completed satisfactorily.

Confidentiality

Examiners may intervene to:

- Ask you to reread the instructions The intent is to remind you to refocus on the task and to save you time

- Stop you from performing genital, rectal, vaginal, breast or other invasive examinations

If such examinations are appropriate, all you need to do is clearly inform the examiner

Help the examiner score by: - Telling the examiner what you are doing (e.g., inspection) Describing any findings

Include findings that are normal

Confidentiality

• Before leaving, you must follow the sign-out procedure

• When it is your turn, hand in your:

Candidate notebook (all pages intact). ID badge. Pen, Pencil or any given items by the test center administrators.

• Sign out on the sheet

Candidates may be required to remain on site before or after the exam for security reasons.

• The length of time varies between specialties.

• There is no access to personal belongings or telephones during this time

• Talking with other candidates will not be allowed during post-exam sequestering

Candidates will hear three announcements during their exam:

- Please Enter the Room - this allows the candidates to pick up the instructions and to enter the room.

- Two minutes remaining - this is to inform the candidates about the remaining time.

- Time is over please leave the room - to inform the candidates to leave the room immediately and to stay in front of the station after leaving the room.

Rotating between stations inside the exam hallway will be the exam administrators role.

Candidates may evaluate exam in overall.

Item Excellent Good Needs Improvement Deficient

Pre-Exam Orientation

Standardized Patient Encounters

Objective Structured Clinical Exam Stations (OSCE)

Structure Oral exam Stations (SOE)

Overall Organization

What did you like about the exam?

What can be improved?

Your group leader and the support staff are there to answer your questions and guide you from station to station

Try to relax and stay focused on the exam

The purpose of the exam is to provide a fair and accurate assessment of your clinical skills

Before you start the exam:

- If you are unwell or have extenuating circumstances which may negatively impact your performance today, and wish to withdraw from the exam, please notify a staff member as soon as possible

- If you choose to start the exam, it will count as an attempt, even if you cannot finish

Results will be made available to you in SCFHS website www.scfhs.org

- Depending on the date of your exam, candidate results may be released at different times within 1-4 weeks from your exam date.

Read the instructions carefully

Complete the specified task

Demonstrate your clinical skills

REMEMBER: once an oral question is answered and the next question has been asked, you cannot go back and modify your answers. If you decide to skip a question, you cannot go back and answer it at a later time

You cannot interact with the SP after the warning signal in stations where there are oral questions.

Treat the SPs as real patients

DO NOT leave without signing out

DO NOT divulge or disseminate any exam content, even after the exam is over.