Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

Overview of the MLA Clincial and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA)

Unlike the AKT part of the MLA, the Clinical and Professional Assessment (CPSA) will be set locally, by medical schools, but must conform to rigorous standards set by the GMC.

The CPSA is a performance based assessment, the format of which the university can choose (e.g. Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE); Objective Structured Long Examination Record (OSLER); Practical Assessment
of Clinical Examination Skills (PACES)).

The CPSA is usually formed into a circuit of stations, in which students are examined across a variety of clinical materials. Each student is allocated a starting station and then rotates to the next after the pre-determined length of time has elapsed marked by a suitable signal (often ringing of a bell). Each time you rotate to the next station you get 1 or 2 minutes to read the brief for the next task before the bell is rung again and you enters the next station to start the next task. Each station will usually last 8 minutes and students are expected to perform at the level of a foundation doctor.

The examination could include any of the clinical material that you have covered in the preceding years. Stations are carefully selected to sample across the range of the curriculum. The CPSA is designed to ensure a fair and reliable assessment of student ability by ensuring each candidate is exposed to a broad range of stations, and with a range of examiners

Tips and tricks – Preparation

Preparing for the CPSA/OSCE

• Spend time looking into how you revise best. If you are someone who needs cribs sheets and repetition don’t underestimate the time this takes.
• Review current CPSA advice – this is a new way the GMC is assessing medical students fitness to practice and more information is sure to be released as the exam gets closer.
• Buddy up with colleagues who are reliable and you don’t mind looking silly in front of. 
• Get hold of old mark sheets if you can, buy a book and/or go on a course.
• Use the experience of examiners and recently graduated students in your hospital. Ask them to do practice OSCEs. You may need to ask more than once (don’t give in!)
• Think about writing your own OSCEs as you revise. What would you expect to be asked?
• A lot of marks can be obtained from a good opening and closure. Developing a standard ‘patter’ will help you maximise those easy to get marks.

Examination day

This is generic advice, but of course check at your own medical school. Don’t assume it’ll be the same as your previous exams.

You’re likely to need to formally register (acceptable form of ID needed – typically passport or driving licence)

Candidate briefing

• Candidates are placed  outside their first station 
• A bell will ring informing you of the start of your reading time
• Another bell will ring signalling the start of the station
• Depending on the scenario the examiner may ask you to present your findings or say nothing with the ending of the station being signalled by another bell. 
• You will then be directed onto each further station until the exam is complete. 

The CPSA

• Each station will have a description of the scenario and what will be expected.
• The allocation of marks may be displayed as a pie chart – this is helps you plan your time for how long you will spend on each part of the OSCE – history yaking vs examinaion for example.

Tips and tricks – Exam Day

Test Centre

• Plan how you are getting there, ensure that you have plenty of time and the correct identification.  

The CPSA

• If you feel lost, stop, you can always ask for or say you want to look at the candidate briefing.
• Remember there are no sudden death stations. If one doesn’t go well try to put a line under the sand, easier said than done I know!
• Remember that the examiners want you to pass. There are no ‘trick questions’. The absolute aim of the exam is to be a f

Don’t forget