Exam Construct
The Examination is designed to evaluate the competence of the candidates in regard to their knowledge, skills and attitudes in General Practice/Family Medicine. A good understanding of the principles and methods of Family Medicine is essential. Skills in problem solving, communication, practice management, physical examination, and office procedures are to be tested. Commitments of continuous, comprehensive, co-ordinated, patient-centred, and anticipatory care are expected from candidates.
The segments of the Examination are:-
Written Examination
(a) Applied Knowledge Test: 3.5 hours
(b) Key Feature Problems: 3 hours
Clinical Examination
Clinical Competency Examination (CCE): About 4 hours
Different segments test different areas of the candidate’s competence in regard to their knowledge, skills and attitudes in Family Medicine and carry different weighting to the total score of the Examinations as follows:-
SEGMENTS
WEIGHT
Written
Applied Knowledge Test
50
Key Feature Problems
50
Clinical
CCE
100
Clinical Examination - Clinical Competency Examination (CCE)
The Clinical Competency Examination is designed to assess the clinical competence – how the candidate applies his knowledge and clinical reasoning skills when presented with a range of clinical scenarios. Candidates are expected to demonstrate the application of their clinical skills as well as their communication skills, including inter-professional and patient- centred communication and professional attitudes, in the context of each case.
Each CCE consists of nine cases – including four cases in the case discussion format involving the candidate discussing a case with the examiner, and five cases in the clinical encounter format when the candidate interact directly with a role player while the examiners observe and assesses his competency.
Each case lasts 15 minutes with five minutes reading time. During the reading time candidates are provided with a case scenario and instructions.
Each case presents with a number of competencies that are assessed as the case unfolds. Within each of the competencies, multiple criteria describe the performance expected at the level of Fellowship.
Video-taping/Audio-taping
Parts of both the Written and Clinical Segments may be video- or audio-taped and copies retained for the sole purpose of examiner training. Candidates may select not to be taped and must inform the Board of Conjoint Examination in writing not later than two weeks before the Conjoint Examination. Candidates may not demand the Board of Conjoint Examination to tape their performance for the sake of future appeal.
Criteria for a Pass in the Examination
The Board of Conjoint Examination, in the attendance of the College Chief Censor and the visiting examiners from RACGP, has the final decision on the pass or fail of a candidate.
Standard setting is the process by which a ‘standard’ is translated into a ‘passing score’, intended to divide a group of candidates into those who pass, and those who fail. A ‘standard’ is a conceptual boundary between acceptable and non-acceptable performance.
Absolute standard setting procedures will be used to set the pass mark for the Conjoint Examination. The difficulty and importance of the examination questions will be analyzed by groups of expert examiners making judgments about hypothetical borderline candidates’ performance in each question. The questions are scrutinized for face validity, statistical reliability and quality.
Although the overall pass mark may vary from examination to examination, the standards used in determining those pass marks will remain constant and absolute.
Under the present examination format, candidates will be required to pass both the AKT and KFP segments in the Written Examination
before one can proceed to the Clinical Competency Examination. Candidates who failed in
one segment will be required to re-attempt only the failed segment. Successful Written Examination result can be retained for three years (counting from whenever the first segment is passed). If one fails to pass both segments in three years, one has to retake both segments.
The Clinical Examination can only be taken after passing both segments of the Written Examination. If one fails the Clinical Examination, all the clinical stations have to be re-taken.
Feedback Session
As the examination is an educational process, the Chairman of Board of Conjoint Examination and the Chief Examiner will invite candidates to attend feedback sessions usually within two months after the Examination. The feedback is on an individual basis and preference is given to the unsuccessful candidates.
During the feedback session, the Chairman and the Chief Examiner, or their designates, will discuss with the candidate on areas such as the segment pass rates and the areas of weakness. There are usually some suggestions for making improvement. Comments and expectations from the candidate are always welcomed and taken seriously. Most former candidates found these sessions useful.
Examination Prize
A prize in the form of "Dr. Peter CY Lee Best Candidate Award" will be awarded to the candidate who passed the Conjoint Examination at one setting and achieved the highest mark in the Examination.
Feedback from Candidates
Feedback from candidates is an important element of the appraisal of any examination. A questionnaire will be distributed to the candidates following the examination. The information received in these questionnaires has been and will be used for the assessment and improvement of the examination process.