Exam day
Exam day safety
Your safety is a priority during all exam activities, as it is in clinical practice. If at any time you feel unsafe, you should stop and seek assistance immediately. Doing so will not adversely affect your assessment. Support is available from examiners and RACP staff throughout the examination.
In line with the Review of Paediatric Clinical Examination in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, additional measures are being introduced to further strengthen safety for candidates, examiners, patients and their families/whānau/carers. These changes aim to ensure a safe, supportive and respectful environment for everyone involved in the examination.
To learn more, refer to the Review of Paediatric Clinical Examination in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
No changes can be made to exam session allocations after allocation letters have been distributed.
To protect exam confidentiality, morning candidates are held on-site until afternoon candidates arrive, which may be up to 30 minutes. You should factor this time into your travel arrangements. You may not access your mobile phone or any other communication device during this time. The Chief Examiner will advise when you may leave.
Bring
- printed or digital copy of your candidate allocation letter confirming your name, candidate number, session time and venue
- current valid photo ID with your full name and signature, for example, a passport or driver licence. A digital valid photo ID is acceptable; a picture of your photo ID is not acceptable
- blue or black ballpoint pens (no pencils, gel or felt-tip pens)
- 1 x stethoscope
- 1 x basic analogue watch
- water in a clear plastic bottle (optional)
Tip: Dress appropriately. Consider the weather conditions, the venue and your comfort while examining patients. You don’t need to wear a suit, but you should look professional. Consider wearing layers to adjust to the room temperature.
On sign-in, you receive an ID badge and candidate ID stickers.
Not permitted during the exam
- written material
- calculators
- electronic devices (including smart watches and communication devices)
- food or beverages (except water)
- all other belongings (for example, bags)
Clinical assessment equipment is provided at each station. You cannot bring your own equipment or aids into the assessment area unless you were granted special consideration before the exam.
During the exam, all electronic devices such as mobile phones and smart watches must be switched off and placed in your bag. Your bag is securely stored on-site. If you’re found with one of these devices on you during the exam, an incident report will be completed, you’ll be automatically disqualified and immediately escorted out of the venue.
Completing the exam
You'll rotate through the 10 clinical stations in order. Your timetable and the exam invigilators guide you from station to station.
You're seated outside your first station 5 minutes before the exam starts.
The clinical scenario is printed on the Candidate Information Sheet, attached to your seat by a lanyard. After the announcement “You may now begin reading”, you have 4 minutes to read it and familiarise yourself with the scenario. You can't make notes during this time. The same information is available inside the station.
When the bell rings, leave the Candidate Information Sheet outside, enter the room and hand your candidate ID stickers to the examiners. You have 10 minutes to complete the station.
At the 7-minute mark, you'll hear an alert (e.g., whistle) to warn you that there are 3 minutes remaining.
When the bell rings again, the station time is over. Leave all papers and materials in the room except your candidate ID stickers. Leave the room, move to the seat in front of the next station and begin reading immediately.
There are no further announcements; the bells and whistles indicate all subsequent times. RACP staff will demonstrate the bell and whistle sounds before the exam so you know what to expect.
Time management
You're responsible for managing your time within the station. Examiners don't prompt you or tell you when to move on.
The Candidate Information Sheet provided during reading time outlines the station elements and provides a guide for the expected duration of the tasks. (see examples below).
The whistle sounds at the 7-minute mark, indicating that 3 minutes remain in the station.
Each station is structured so that this alert aligns with the expected completion of a key task, such as:
- a physical examination
- history taking
- answering a set number of questions
You may choose to move on to the next element of the station at the 7-minute alert, or you may move on when you're ready or have completed this component. However, this may lead to insufficient time to complete all elements of the station.
Candidate information sheet examples
Live stations
"It's recommended that you complete the physical examination/history taking by the 7-minute alert in order to complete the 2 questions. You're responsible for managing your time; the examiners will not prompt you or tell you when to move on."
Static station
"It's recommended that you complete 3 questions by the 7-minute alert in order to complete the remaining 2 questions. You're responsible for managing your time; the examiners will not prompt you or tell you when to move on."
The 7-minute alert is designed to provide a standardised approach and allow you to manage your own progress through the station without interruption. It's recommended that you follow the time management guidelines to maximise your opportunity to complete the stations.
Completing a station early
If you complete a station in under 10 minutes, an examiner asks if you have anything to add.
You may use this time to add to, or revise, any allowable response. The Candidate Information Sheet specifies if you aren’t permitted to return to a component or question once it is complete.
If you change a response in a revision of your answers, your revised response is considered final regardless of which answer is correct.
If you have nothing further to add, you can leave and sit outside the same station until the bell rings for you to move on.
You can’t re-enter a station once you’ve left.
General exam protocol
- When introducing yourself to the examiners and role players, you can use your own name or another of your choosing. Your name choice doesn’t affect your marks.
- The clinical scenario provides the setting for the station. A copy is also available inside the station on request.
- Role players and patients are matched as closely as possible to the description in the clinical scenario. However, occasionally they may be a different age or look different to the description. Focus on the information in the scenario and assume the role player or patient is as described.
- Unless specified, you can ask for any questions or information to be repeated. Information is repeated verbatim and not rephrased or otherwise modified.
- Take your candidate ID stickers with you when leaving the station.
Rest stations
There are at least 2 rest stations for you to regroup and use the bathroom (escorted by an invigilator). Otherwise, you must remain in the station for the full duration.
Mindfulness activities are available in the rest stations to engage in if desired.
Starting the exam at a rest station is avoided wherever possible.
Hand hygiene
To maintain health and safety standards, you must wash or sanitise your hands before and after each station.
Alcohol-based hand sanitiser gel is provided inside each station.
Inappropriate exams
You're expected to ask for the role player or patient's consent to examine them and to ask them to let you know if they experience any pain or discomfort.
If you perform an inappropriate physical examination and the role player or patient is at risk of being hurt, the examiners warn you to modify your technique. If you continue to conduct an inappropriate exam, examiners stop you and move on to the next question.
The examiners can give the physical examination component of the station a zero score. All other questions are marked on their own merit.
Leaving the exam
After the exam is finished and before you depart, the Chief Examiner conducts a debrief and notes any technical or procedural issues.
Personal belongings are returned, and you’re allowed to leave when advised.
Note: to protect exam confidentiality, morning candidates are held on-site until all afternoon candidates arrive. This may be for up to 30 minutes. You're not permitted to access your mobile phones or any communication device during this time. The Chief Examiner advises when you can leave.
Issues on exam day
If you experience issues leading up to the exam or on exam day that prevent you from attending, contact us. This may include illness, natural disasters or personal/family issues.
If you arrive up to 30 minutes late, you can attempt the exam, but you won’t be allowed additional time.
If you arrive more than 30 minutes late, you won’t be permitted to enter the exam.
Variation in the exam day procedure is advised in the Chief Examiner’s pre-exam brief. If circumstances require a procedure change during the exam, clear instructions will be provided.
Note: Hospitals aren't soundproof, and as such, sound transmission may occur through walls and doors. Every effort is made to reduce any impact, and exam staff monitor noise levels and respond accordingly to any issues.
Conduct
Exam materials and content are confidential. You must sign a confidentiality agreement before the exam.
The following is considered academic misconduct:
- removing exam materials from the venue
- wilfully damaging or interfering with a station or equipment
- reproducing or distributing the contents of exam material
- discussing your performance or details of the exam with the role players, patients, observers or examiners during or after the exam
For more information, see the Academic Integrity in Training Policy.