Exam competence vs exam game – an introduction
Dec 01, 2024
To illustrate the difference between exam competence and examination technique in practice, consider this question:
Brian Johnson, aged 56 years, presents post skin excision wanting to make a formal complaint about a keloid scar. What non-pharmacological management actions are appropriate? Write four (4) answers.
(Maximum Score = 4 marks)
- Offer apology (1 mark)
- Arrange for Brian to see your colleague (1 mark)
- Discuss option of referral to state Health Complaint Entity (1 mark)
- Discuss option of referral to AHPRA (1 mark)
- Signpost to practice complaints pathway (1 mark)
- Engage in open disclosure (1 mark)
- Arrange for Brian to see practice manager (1 mark)
If you were to answer:
- listen carefully, offer apology and document concerns
- examine keloid scar
- call medical indemnity insurance
- arrange a re-excision
You would score 0.5 marks – despite your answer being medically correct and appropriate.
How can this be so?
Well almost all the above does not feature on the grid – only “offer apology” scores 1 mark. But because you have overcoded twice, your final score would be 0.5 marks.
You can very quickly start to see why brilliant candidates fail.
Don’t worry – at PassGP we go through all of this and so, so much more, including a very thorough crash course of the Medicine that you need to know.
At PassGP, we've got you.