Overcoding – and why it is the arch evil of all things success

Let’s be clear – overcoding is the absolute arch evil of all things success. There is arguably no quicker way to be assured of a KFP fail, than by overcoding.

Thankfully, this is one piece of examination technique which is very easy to learn from the outset.

So, what is overcoding?

Before we answer this, it is worth going back to academic theory. The whole point of the KFP is that it is supposed to be able to test clinical reasoning – how a candidate takes the key features (or clues) of a question and applies it to solve an abstract question.

The theory goes that if a candidate knows their stuff, then their answers will be specific to the question asked. And if they don’t know their stuff, they will then write down as much information as possible in the hope that something lands.

Overcoding is simply giving more answers than the question asks for.

And this is bad – every single extra answer attracts a negative mark of approximately 0.25%, per extra answer given.

You can quickly see how overcoding kills off exam success.

Not convinced? Check out this example:

James Bashford, aged 52 years old, presents with a six-week history of new onset lower back pain and left lower leg weakness. On examination, you note the presence of numbness over his left big toe and an inability to flex it. What is the single most likely initial diagnosis? (Maximum score = 2 marks)

Answers permitted:

• Lumbar disc prolapse (2 marks)
• Radiculopathy (1 mark)
• Pathological fracture (1 mark)
• Malignancy (1 mark)

What if you wrote this:

• Lumbar disc prolapse, radiculopathy and muscle strain, as well as ligament injury

Well:

• Lumbar disc prolapse = 2 marks
• Radiculopathy = negative 0.25 marks (you still lose marks even though this answer features on the answers permitted)
• Muscle strain = negative 0.25 marks
• Ligament injury = negative 0.25 marks

Your final mark would reduce from 2 marks down to 1.25 marks.

In short – don’t do it! If you are using words like “and”, “with” and “as well as”, then you are probably overcoding. It is never a good idea.

Thankfully, at PassGP our answer grids are beautifully prepared to show you how to properly answer questions like this.