Expected Standards of Candidate Performance in the MRCPCH Clinical Examination
The MRCPCH examination is criterion referenced. The standard is set against the minimum acceptable performance of a newly qualified SpR. The Examinations Committee of the College has set the minimum acceptable score to pass the examination to be a score of 98 over the whole exam (reflecting an average of nine passes and one bare fail over the 10 stations). Putting on the MRCPCH Clinical is a heavy time and resource commitment with respect to hospital staff, host examiners, examiners, patients and candidates.
Examinations Committee has therefore decreed that candidates who substantially under-perform are required to defer application to their next attempt in order to gain more experience and training. Our analysis has shown when these candidates re-attempt the examination at a sitting immediately following a poor performance that their subsequent performance is still well below the standard expected. Candidate places are finite and a waiting list for candidates does operate, it is therefore unfair for any of thiis limited number of places to be assigned to candidates who we know are very unlikely to pass the examination.
Based on the analysis of candidate performance in the Clinical exam Examinations Committee has agreed upon the following rules:
Candidates who score 70 or less (reflecting an average performance grade lower than 'bare fail' in every station) are required to defer from attempting the examination for the following two sittings.
Candidates who scores are between 71 and 80 inclusive (reflecting an average performance grade of no better than bare fail in every station) are required to defer from attempting the examination at the next available sitting.
Any time spent on deferment will be included in the 2-year time limit. It is therefore strongly advised that candidates only apply to take the Clinical exam when they and their sponsor feel they are ready. Candidates who are required to defer application are advised to take this time to consider their FEEDBACK and gain more experience.
Score Action
0 - 70 Fail & defer application for two diets
71 - 80 Fail & defer application for one diet
81 - 97 Fail
98 - 120 Pass
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