All about MRCEM OSCE exam – 2024 critical updates

Table of contents

Once you have cleared your MRCEM primary and SBA, you will need to clear MRCEM OSCE exam to be awarded an MRCEM degree. These rules apply from Aug 2021 onwards.

What is OSCE

OSCE stands for Objective Structure Clinical Examination. You will be tested on your clinical skills while you examine a patient in front of an examiner (Live or remotely via video conference). It is somewhat similar to the STEP 2 CS of USMLE exam. Apart from clinical knowledge, it’ll also assess your communication skills.

It consists of 16 station in total. Each station will have 8 minutes of time. You will get 1 minute before each station to read the case scenario.

OSCE assesses the common competences and clinical competences required for managing adult and pediatric emergencies. Pediatric expectation – Managing a seriously ill and injured child or common childhood emergencies.

Domain based scoring

Effective Nov 2022, the RCEM has received GMC approval to change the scoring from Checklist based sheet to domain-based scoring which was being used in FRCEM OSCE already. Also, from now on, instead of 18 stations of 7 minutes each, we’ll be having 16 stations of 8 minutes each with 1 minute to read the scenario as usual. You’ll also have 4 rest stations. Read more on scoring below in the same article.

Domains tested in MRCEM OSCE

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Domain – ComponentsSLO1SLO2SLO3SLO4SLO5SLO6SLO7SLO9
1 – Professional values and behaviours
2 – Professional skills
2A – practical skills
NANA
2B – communication and interpersonal skillsNA
2C – dealing with complexity and uncertaintyNA
2D – clinical skills (history taking, diagnosis and medical management; consent; humane interventions; prescribing medicines safely; using medical devices safely; infection control and communicable disease)NANA
3 – Professional knowledge
3A – professional requirements
NANANA
3B – national legislationNANANA
3C – the health service and healthcare systems in the four countriesNANANA
4 – Capabilities in health promotion and illness preventionNANANANA
5 – Capabilities in leadership and team-workingNANA
6 – Capabilities in patient safety and quality improvement
6A – patient safety
NANANA
6B – quality improvementNANANANANANANA
7 – Capabilities in safeguarding vulnerable groupsNANANANANA
8 – Capabilities in education and trainingNANANANANANANA

Though the above table is like a broader view, the actual simplified list of domains on scoring sheet could be one or more from the following. Each station question will have a pie chart to let you know which of these domains will be tested and percentage of marks it carries.

Domains tested in MRCEM OSCE

  • Clinical reasoning / Decision making
  • Communication skills (Including conflict)
  • History taking / Information gathering
  • Clinical examination skills
  • Practical / pinnacle skills
  • Teaching skills
  • Organization / Prioritization

Eligibility for MRCEM OSCE

You must fulfill all the following criteria to be eligible to appear for an OSCE exam.

  1. Registration – Must have valid / current Medical registration approved by GMC.
  2. Foundation year – Completed the UK foundation programme or equivalent. (FY1 is house surgeonship / internship. FY2 is next year of training post)
  3. Primary – Passed the FRCEM Primary or MRCEM Part A after 1st August 2012 or MRCEM Primary SBA (2021).
  4. Intermediate – Passed the FRCEM Intermediate SAQ or MRCEM Part B after 1st August 2012 or MRCEM Intermediate SBA (2021).
  5. Experience – Must have 24 months experience post FY1 (FY-1 is 12 months. + Out of next 24 moths, minimum 6 months of Emergency medicine is a must.)
    (There was an error which said 24M including FY1 which was corrected on 5th July 2021 based on this page from RCEM)

An English knowledge of Level 7.0 (IELTS) is expected to understand and communicate well with your patients if you were to work at UK.

2024 MRCEM OSCE exam schedule

ExaminationExam DatesCentresApplication DatesResults Date
MRCEM OSCE03 – 14 Jun 2024London18 – 25 Mar 202424 Jul 2024
MRCEM OSCE8-12 Jul 2024Hyderabad15-19 Apr 202421 Aug 2024
MRCEM OSCE9-13 Sep 2024Malaysia28 May – 4 Jun 202422 Oct 2024
MRCEM OSCE02 – 13 Dec 2024London28 Aug – 04 Sep 202429 Jan 2025
Updated 21 May 2024 – Please check official RCEM page for accurate info. If it says Pearson Vue, it’ll be conducted in UK and internationally.

Exam fee

As on 21 May 2024, the RCEM page lists the MRCEM OSCE fee as…

  • £488 at UK / £735 India / £850 (Malaysia)

Overseas (Out of UK) examination centres used to charge a local fee but now it’s part of total fee you are paying.

Number of attempts

You have a maximum of 6 attempts to clear the MRCEM OSCE. Attempts prior to August 2016 will not be counted

In exceptional circumstances, candidates may apply to the Dean for approval for an additional examination attempt. The Dean’s decision is final.

A pass in the MRCEM OSCE (after 1 August 2012) will remain current till further notification. If they decide to void the validity, they will provide 24 months of notice.

Oversubscription?

If the number of candidates applying for OSCE exceeds the number of available slots, the following criteria will decide who gets to attempt the exam. Ranking order :

  1. Candidates in a GMC approved UK ST3 training post
  2. Candidates in year 3 of approved Irish training programme
  3. Candidates holding an employment contract with the NHS (which covers the examination date)
  4. Candidates who were not allocated a place at the most recent sitting (on a first come, first served basis, if required)
  5. All other candidates on a first come, first served basis

Scoring

Borderline regression method is used to measure your performance.

The scoring is marked as below as per the type of domain being tested. Examiner selects one of the below item based on your performance.

Well below minimum competenceBelow minimum level of competenceMinimum level of competence shownAbove minimum level of competenceWell above level of competence
Very poor level of knowledge / skills displayedBelow minimum level of knowledge / skills displayedMinimum level of knowledge / skills displayedAbove minimum level of knowledge / skills displayedWell above minimum level of knowledge / skills displayed
Frequent minor errorsInfrequent minor errors onlyMinor errors identified and rectifiedSingle Minor error identified and rectifiedNo errors
Task not completedTask completed to poor standardTask satisfactorily completedTask completed to good standardTask completed to high standard

Each examiner will also have a “global score” given on a scale of 4 options.
Examiner selections will be scored numerically on a scale of 10 marks/station, totaling 160 marks.

  • Clear Pass
  • Borderline pass
  • Borderline fail
  • Clear Fail
MRCEM OSCE
Image courtesy : Maxinity

Passing at least one out of two resuscitation stations is mandatory. No matter how good you score in other stations, if you don’t clear at least one “Resuscitation station”, you will be failed.

This rule is no longer applicable.

Stations

The 16 stations have been specified by RCEM. These are mapped to the RCEM curriculum of 2021. Please check the list of domains tested in each in the beginning of this article.

Station numberStation typeSpecialty Learning Outcome
1 – 3Complex stable patientSLO-1
4 – 5Answer questionsSLO-2
6 – 7ResusSLO-3
8 – 9Injured patientSLO-4
10PEMSLO-5
11 – 12Procedural skillsSLO-6
13 – 14Complex challenging situationsSLO-7
15 – 16Supervise & teachSLO-9
Division of stations for MRCEM OSCE

Results

The college will publish results on Candidate’s dashboard of RCEM website on the scheduled day (Approx 6wks from exam day) by 5pm UK time.

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Last Updated on September 8, 2024 by Admin