MRCGP

The MRCGP is a tripartite examination – AKT, CSA and WPBA

AKT

The guidance from the RCGP is here MRCGP AKT

You cannot sit AKT before ST2 and we would encourage you not to sit the AKT until you have done at least 6 months of General practice.

CSA

The Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA) is one of the three assessments you will undergo in order to obtain your MRCGP. The CSA is sat in ST3. The RCGP website contains a lot of useful information and we would recommend you take some time to read all of it thoroughly: MRCGP CSA

Every practice should have the three RCGP DVDs "A Guide to the CSA" and Rhona Knight's book "Essential nMRCGP CSA Preparation" and "Practice Cases". We would recommend watching all of these and reading the book. This will give you more ideas about the exam and how it is marked.

We feel it is important to practise in small groups using scenarios. The programme directors will help you with this.

As a group you can practise scenarios from the various books available or write your own using this template. Rhona Knight's book guides you on how to write scenarios. There are also CSA casecards and the programme has three sets of MRCGP cases in folders which are handed down from each ST3 cohort.

The three domains used for marking the CSA are here and the grade descriptors are here. When practising you can use this marking sheet. You can also use more effective feedback using this sheet

As a training programme what we do to help is:

Communication Skills Training over ST1 and 2. There is a rolling programme so everyone should go through this twice.
An OSCE at the end of ST1 to assess how you are progressing after your first year. There will be two consultations with simulators.
A session in ST3 entitled "what I did in ST3" run by the recently qualified trainees who performed well in the CSA.
A day at the RCGP in ST3 including a workshop with Nigel Giam
3 mock CSA sessions in ST3 with simulators.
There are also outside courses particularly from the Deanery and RCGP.

Being stressed during the CSA can be a problem. Here are some simple tips to relax. Remember 68% of trainees pass!

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