MRCS (ENT)
MRCS (ENT) Exam Structure & Setting
The MRCS (ENT) examination consists of two parts; the MRCS Part A (MCQ) and the MRCS (ENT) OSCE. Though it is divided into two parts, the MRCS (ENT) is a single examination, and passing the MRCS Part A alone does not carry any diploma status.
Topics may be examined in either MRCS Part A or the MRCS (ENT) OSCE or both parts of the examination. The examinations are held three times a year. The MRCS Part A is a five hour MCQ examination consisting of a three-hour paper (Applied Basic Science) followed by a two-hour paper (Principles of Surgery in General), taken on the same day. The Applied Basic Science paper will consist of 180questions and the Principles of Surgery in General will consist of 120 questions. There is a break between the two papers. Candidates may sit this examination in various centres both in the UK and abroad.
The MRCS (ENT) OSCE is an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), lasting approximately three-and-a-half hours. This examination is held in one of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons. The examination is held at one College on each occasion, and this location rotates between the four Colleges, i.e. the examination is held in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow or Dublin.
MRCS (ENT) Part A
The MRCS Part A is a five-hour MCQ examination consisting of a three-hour paper (Applied Basic Science) followed by a two-hour paper (Principles of Surgery in General), taken on the same day.
The Applied Basic Science paper will consist of 180 questions and the Principles of Surgery in General will consist of 120 questions. There is a break between the two papers. Candidates may sit this examination in various centres both in the UK and abroad.
MRCS (ENT) OSCE
The MRCS (ENT) OSCE consists of a “circuit” of up to 28 “Active Stations” and sometimes some “Preparation Stations” and “Rest Stations”. The 28 Active Stations are of two types:·
- There are approximately five “clinical stations”. These are designed to assess clinical skills, clinical examination, clinical history-taking and communication skills. These stations are manned by both a patient (or an actor playing the part of a patient) and an examiner. Each candidate’s performance is observed and marked directly by the examiner. ·
- There are a further approximately 23 stations where candidates are presented with questions to be answered on a written question/answer sheet. These stations allow assessment of anatomy and physiology, pathology/histology, audiometry, otology, rhinology, laryngology, neck conditions,written communication skills, radiology, instruments and paediatric ENT surgery. Candidates are each provided with a cardboard folder to hold their completed question/answer sheets. The folder is labeled with the appropriate candidate number. Candidates keep their folder throughout the examination, carrying it on to the next station, and accumulating completed question/answer sheets as they progress around the circuit.
Some stations require the presence of a “Preparation Station” just before the active station. This Preparation Station provides instructions for the next station, so that the candidate is fully aware of the task which he/she will be asked to complete at the next station
The examination is also likely to include a variable number of “Rest Stations”. During
the rest stations, candidates may review their answer sheets from previous stations if
they wish to do so.
Standard Setting
The pass mark for the MRCS (ENT) OSCE examination is determined by the
examiners attending the examination, and includes a modified Angoff process.
Station Duration
The candidates have 7minutes at each station to complete the task or the questions posed. After 7 minutes each candidate moves on to the next station. The examination will normally last approximately 3 hours 20 minutes.
(Adapted from https://rcpsg.ac.uk/)
Pass DOHNS® / MRCS (ENT) OSCE
Pass DOHNS® aims to provide an affordable platform for candidates preparing for MRCS ENT Part 2. It consists of detailed step-by-step guides towards MRCS (ENT) OSCE /Manned stations. This includes Breaking Bad news stations, explanation stations, Consent taking stations, Physical examination stations, history stations and written communication stations. Stations provided in the guide are common past year questions, and example of marking schemes are available for candidates.
Please click the link below to find out more about the course.
