This episode of the Primary Care Knowledge Boost (PCKB) podcast focuses on tips for passing the Simulated Consultation Assessment (SCA) exam which is the final exam for GP trainees in the UK. The podcast was recorded following requests from GP trainees.
In this episode, doctors Lisa and Sarah speak to Dr Anne Hawkridge who has been an examiner for the Membership of Royal College of General Practice (MRCGP) since 2007 when Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA) began. She also worked as a GP trainer in Bolton for over 20 years.
Dr Hawkridge is the co-founder of the SCA-SOX (Support On Exams) Programme. She is the co-author of the North West England consultation toolkit which is published in full on the MRCGP SCA preparation website.
Top tips from Dr Hawkridge fit into four themes: GP consulting skills, ensuring knowledge, good exam technique and timing.
The podcast covers what the exam is, what it looks like, how much it costs, when to consider sitting it, how to approach revising for it and what pitfalls to avoid.
Finally, Dr Hawkridge talks through changes in the exam over recent years with lots of ideas to give GP trainees a flavour of how to approach the exam in a way that will maximise their chances of success, as well as gaining the skills to become a good GP.
Listen to the podcast episode at https://pckb.org/e/tips-to-pass-the-sca-for-gp-trainees/
Useful resources
- Interviews from successful North West Deanery trainees: https://www.nwpgmd.nhs.uk/sca-resources. We highly recommends listening to the interviews in full on the North West Deanery SCA resources site here: https://www.nwpgmd.nhs.uk/sca-resources
- Royal College of General Practitioners Simulated Consultation Assessment introduced and explained with the toolkit: https://www.rcgp.org.uk/mrcgp-exams/simulated-consultation-assessment/introduction
- We recommend that you watch the short “How to use the toolkit” video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMHfHJVENfk - Royal College of General Practitioners Red Amber Green (RAG) Rating Tool: https://www.rcgp.org.uk/getmedia/95fa6d76-b02d-41c8-873d-f1ccf576dd4b/sca-consultation-toolkit-rag.pdf
- North West England Deanery website with information and tips on passing the SCA: https://www.nwpgmd.nhs.uk/sca-resources
- The SCA-SOX Programme: https://heeoe.hee.nhs.uk/general_practice/sca-sox-programme
