Introduction

Exam format:

Medical finals in Oxford comprise a written and clinical component. Information on the clinical OSCE is limited. This section of the site attempts to provide some data on the likely cases and follow up questions you may encounter in the finals OSCE.

This site is arranged in a similar manner to the OSCE. The data and questions / comments for each station may be found by following the appropriately named link in the right hand navigation box of this page.

Important notice: Please note that this section is not endorsed in any way by the respective Medical School - it is produced for students based upon the feedback of other students, and is only a guide to help you ensure that you cover the important topics that frequently arise in exams. It is rather similar to the frequency data found in some popular MRCP textbooks.

General advice:

These are our personal tips from our experience of taking the exam. We took finals back in 2005, so bear in mind that the format of the exam may well change year-on-year. However, the more general tips are applicable to all clinical exams.

• Stay calm...the exam will be over before you know it!
• If you don’t understand a question ask for clarification.
• Make sure you know which speciality/subject station you’re at.
• If you’re not sure about exactly what you’ve been asked to do, just check with the examiners.
• If the examiners are try to give you a hint, then take it!
• You can be asked medical questions by the surgeon and the other way round - don't make assumptions based upon the background of the examiner, particularly if you have met them before.
• The cases we had were all from the ‘expected’ list of conditions that come up in exams. If I wasn’t getting to the diagnosis fast enough, the examiners often helped. Generally, it was easier and friendlier than I had thought it would be
• The patients were lovely (the lady I took a history from told me her diagnosis half way through the history), as were the examiners - which was good, as I was incredibly scared! There are rarely any trick questions and the examiners always try to help you if you do get stuck. It all goes incredibly quickly! Just try to relax and make sure you can do a slick and speedy examination.
• Do not panic. The examiners can phrase the questions badly – this might be the reason why you have no idea what they are asking you! The cases and questions are predictable – use a 'Short Cases' book to prepare for them. If you are not sure of the diagnosis then say so. They will usually try and help to lead you to the right answer – they will not fail you for not knowing everything! Some of the stations may seem ridiculous and not core – just have a go and do your best! How you approach the patient and the examination is far more important
• Be clear in your mind of signs and take time to be sure. They will guide you through stuff. Although you will not always get every diagnosis, that is not what they are after so relax! You need to examine as if you have done it before and be able to talk about the signs that you find. It doesn’t matter if you have no idea – think on your feet and say sensible things
• In the cardiovascular station, Stick to your guns and listen carefully to each murmur and sort out what it is before you report back. I hurried a little and didn’t listen enough to the systolic murmur as the diastolic was so exciting!
• The data interpretation station usually involves common material. My s-rays were from the 4th-year OSCE that we had, and included things like Small Bowel Obstruction and Abdominal Aortic Aneurisms (AAAs)