Susan Ward

The DRCOG examination

The format of the examination was altered a few years ago with the first new-style paper appearing in April 2007. The OSCE has been replaced by twowritten papers lasting 90minutes eachwith a short break in between. Thefirst exampaper consists of ten extended matching questions (EMQs) with three parts to each question and 18 single best answer (SBA) questions. The EMQs and SBAs test the ability to interpret information and apply knowledge. After a short break this is followed by a multiple choice question (MCQ) paper consisting of 40 questions, each with five parts (200 questions in total). The MCQs are good for testing recall of core knowledge. The questions are weighted differently. The EMQs score 3.5 for each correct answer and give you 30% of your total marks. The SBAs score 2.5 each and comprise 12.9% of your marks, whereas the MCQs are worth 1 point each and 57.1% of your total. The reason for this is that there is a lot more reasoning and application of knowledge needed when answering an EMQ so it is worth more. The RCOG recommends that you spend the majority of the time allowed – 60 minutes – on the EMQ and the rest on the SBA part of the paper. You will get a time warning 30 minutes before the end of the examination. In this book there is a complete mock examination – paper 1 and paper 2 – which you could use to practise time management under examination conditions, not forgetting that your answers must be transferred to the computer-marked answer paper before leaving the exam hall on the actual examination day. The rationale for changing the exam was to improve reliability and validity by removing the subjective aspects of assessment in both the written and face-to-face elements of the OSCE. The whole paper is now marked by computer, significantly improving validity by standardisation. The exam is further improved by a standard-setting process whereby ‘more difficult’ exams will have a lower pass mark than ‘easier’ exams, ensuring that the pass mark constantly reflects a competent candidate with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes. In reality the pass mark is somewhere between 60 and 70%, usually towards the upper part of the range. It differs between exams because of the standard setting but if you are scoring over 70% in your revision practice, you are probably doing well enough to pass. The top mark is usually between 85 and 95% and the highest scoring candidate is awarded the DRCOG Prize Medal. Could this be you? 1