Examinations and assessments are important for you to find out how you are progressing through the Programme and necessary for the Programme to make sure that you have reached the required level of competence and are safe to move on the next stage of your education and training. However, we do not want to make the examinations so complicated and arduous that you spend all your time revising for them rather than concentrating on learning how to be a good doctor; or revising only to ‘pass and forget’ the information.
We want examinations that reliably measure your knowledge and ability, and are fair in judging whether you should pass. All this has been taken into account in deciding on the examination system for the MBChB. We have based the assessments on the best evidence available from research.
Assessment for the MBChB Programme is by a combination of written and practical examinations, taking place (in general) at the end of each semester or year. In addition, the Years 3-5 assessments include passing your clinical placements and completing workplace-based assessments. Reviews of your professional and personal development are conducted throughout the five years of the programme.
The examinations are designed to test skills and knowledge that you will have acquired throughout the Programme. The Programme reserves the right to change any assessment method and marking approach but will give students full information on such changes.
If you need any advice about examinations, you should contact the Programme Assessment Office (see Contacts).
Formative versus Summative Assessments
A summative assessment is one that you must pass to either carry on to the next stage, or complete the Programme. Summative assessments are also called ‘high stakes’ assessments for this reason.
A formative assessment is one that gives you feedback on how you are progressing and what you need to work on. We aim for all our summative examinations to have a formative element as well, (hence the breakdown of marks in the Progress Test and Clinical Competency Assessment).
Student Identity Card, Calculators and Dictionaries
You must bring your University Student Identity Card to all examinations, including all CCAs. Failure to do so may result in you not being allowed to sit the examination. No other form of identification will suffice, including hospital identification. You are not permitted to bring in calculators into the assessments – if this is needed in a CCA it will be provided. For Semester Tests and Y5 AKT, there is an in-built calculator within the Exam-Write software. You cannot bring a dictionary or any other resources into the examinations. Please see University Guidance for further details.
Possession and Use of Smart Devices, Mobile Phones/Radio Transmitters/Receivers
There is a strict policy on the possession of electronic equipment, including smart devices, mobile phones, radio transmitters/receivers during examinations. No medical student is allowed to have such a device in their possession during examinations. To do so may lead to a charge of trying to cheat. Merely switching the device off is not acceptable. Do not bring any of the above to examinations. The penalty for having such a device during an examination may be a mark of zero.
Examination Information / Timetables / Results
Assessment timetables and results release dates will be published on 1Med at the beginning of the academic year. You must ensure that you are available to undertake any assessment requirements including potential resit examinations. Please ensure you check your University email account, 1Med and announcements daily for updates and further information on assessments and results. Individual results will be sent to your University email account on the results release date.
Assessment Prizes
There are a number of prizes available for excellent performance in various examinations and assessments in each year of the Programme. Specific details can be found on 1Med, and students are informed individually in writing if they have been awarded a prize.
Responsibility for Assessment
The MBChB Programme Assessment Committee has overall responsibility for MBChB examinations and assessments. Members include the Academic Lead for Assessment, Years 1 and 2 Lead for Assessment, Years 3, 4 and 5 Leads, the Academic Leads of the groups responsible for each major assessment (Years 1-5 Clinical Competency Assessments (CCAs), Semester Tests, Progress Test; PEPs), and Teaching Leads Years 1-5.
Each assessment is the responsibility of one of these multidisciplinary groups, which sets the examination, ensures the quality of the process and evaluates the results.