Why Do People Fail Clinical Exams Such As the CCE, STAMPS & OSCE Exams?

In the 2024.2 CCE sitting, 100% of our subscribers passed the CCE exam. These doctors not only worked extremely hard, but they mastered the exam technique required to pass.

The PassGP Clinical Exam Bank is intended to provide you with a thorough understanding of common high yield cases, and how they are specifically marked, so that you can learn thorough examination technique.

Each case is written in the exact same format as how it is presented in the actual examination, and each marking grid presented is what would have scored. There will be instances where some of the marking grids look brief - this is deliberate, as it will help you to focus on what is important in the eyes of a clinical examiner. 

So where do people go wrong?

In our experience, people who don't pass the CCE often are exceptionally talented doctors, who fail without apparent reason. They are practising for many years independently and are loved by their patients and colleagues alike.

So why do they fail? In our extensive experience, they fail for one of three reasons:

• They lack the basic structure required for the CCE, STAMPS and OSCE exams.
• They try to say too much in the wrong areas (particularly high complexity Medicine)
• They then say too little in the areas which are scored strongly (psychosocial, family, preventative and societal context)
• They then run out of time, having not proven to the examiner their knowledge of all aspects of these areas.

The basic structure required to pass the clinical exam is remarkably similar across all exams - whether it is the CCE Exam, or a basic entry level exam such as the AMC Clinical Exam. 

Being able to compare the answers between what is expected from an advanced exam like the CCE Clinical Exam versus a basic exam like the AMC Clinical Exam is an extremely important learning experience. You quickly get to appreciate the differences in complexity, where extra detail is required, and perhaps most importantly, where extra detail is not required, so that you still finish on time. 

All Clinical Exam Banks are available on the PassGP Mobile App, so you can study wherever you are.