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Divisional Clinical Examination

Divisional Clinical Examination

Provisional progression to Advanced Training

The 2020 Divisional Clinical Examination (DCE) has been postponed until later in 2020. If you were planning to sit the exam this year, you can apply for provisional Advanced Training (pAT) for either later in 2020 or in 2021 if you meet the requirements.

Find out more about pAT.

The exam assesses your clinical and interpersonal skills and clinical acumen to determine if you’ve reached the standards required to complete Basic Training.

Find out more about previous exam pass rates.

Overview
Apply
Prepare
Exam day
Results

Overview

2020 changes

With the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic still uncertain, we’ve reviewed the current delivery format to reduce public health risks associated with the exam. This includes reducing face-to-face contact with patients and reducing interstate travel for examiners and candidates.

New exam format

A new modular format will be used for the Adult Medicine DCE in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand and the Paediatrics & Child Health DCE in Australia.

The Paediatrics & Child Health DCE in Aotearoa New Zealand will continue with the existing format.

The modular format will:

retain 2 x Long Cases and 4 x Short Cases
separate the Long Cases and Short Cases so they’re not held on the same day
hold Long Cases locally with virtual patient interaction, where the patient is in a different room/location to the candidate and examiners
hold Short Cases at least 3 weeks after the Long Cases in face-to-face exam settings within your state, territory or region, where possible

Note: You must score above a Band 0 in the Long Cases to be eligible to sit the Short Cases.

The 2021 exam will use the same modular approach, subject to evaluation of the model and COVID-19.

Key dates

All dates are subject to how COVID-19 unfolds across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Australia

Applications are closed
Exam format	Location	Date
Modular – Long Cases	All states and territories except Victoria	14 Nov 2020 to 31 Jan 2021
Modular – Long Cases	Victoria	14 Nov 2020 to 31 Mar 2021
Modular – Short Cases	All states and territories except Victoria	16 Feb to 31 Mar 2021
Modular – Short Cases	Victoria	16 Feb to 30 Apr 2021

Aotearoa New Zealand

Applications are closed
Division	Exam format	Date
Paediatrics & Child Health	Traditional	30 Oct to 8 Nov 2020
Adult Medicine	Modular – Long Cases	21 to 29 Nov 2020
Adult Medicine	Modular – Short Cases	26 to 28 Feb 2021

All dates remain dependent on:

permission from hospitals to enter premises, release staff and use facilities for the exam purposes
permission from the Chief Public Health Officer or Chief Medical Officer to allow the exam to proceed
Australian lockdown restrictions and Aotearoa New Zealand alert levels allowing the exam to proceed, including the clinical impact on health services within a state, territory or district

Contingency plans

If the rescheduled 2020 exam can’t go ahead, the following contingency plans will be put in place. The safety of all participants is at the core of these plans.

Modular format

Plan B | We push back the exam to mid-2021. We also move 2021 exam to between September and November 2021.

Plan C (if Short Cases can’t go ahead) | We run local summative assessments instead of Short Cases within your own hospital. They will be a modified Short Case equivalent. Details to be confirmed.

Plan D (if Long and Short Cases can’t go ahead) | We run local summative assessments instead of Long and Short Cases. Details to be confirmed.

Traditional format

Plan B | We run as one cohort in May 2021 or

Plan C | We move to a modular approach. We run virtual Long Cases early/mid 2021 and Short Cases later in 2021.

Plan D | We run as per option C and D for modular.

Our aim

All candidates eligible to sit the 2020 exam will be able to meet their required Basic Training assessments by the end of 2021. If this requires an alternative assessment to the current Long and/or Short Cases, we’ll make this decision by mid-2021.

If one or more hospitals, States or Territories can’t go ahead with an exam on its planned date due to COVID-19, those in unaffected areas can still take their exam.

Fees

Australia: AUD$2972.00
Aotearoa New Zealand: NZD$3417.80

If you have outstanding training fees, you’re ineligible to sit the exam. See College Fees Terms and Conditions (PDF).

Refunds

If you sit the DCE in modular format and score a Band 0 in the Long Cases component, you’re ineligible to sit the Short Cases component. In this case, you’ll receive a 50% refund of your exam fee.

If you withdraw in the lead up to the exam, you may also be eligible for a partial refund of your exam fee.

If we cannot deliver the exam, all affected candidates will receive a full refund.

Find out more about training and examination fees.

Eligibility

To find out if you’re eligible to sit the exam:

refer to the Basic Training handbooks
view the status of your training requirements by logging into the Basic Training Portal

We’ll email you if you’re eligible to apply for the exam.

If you’re not currently in an accredited training position, register your interruption of training with the College to sit the exam.

Location

Australia

Long Cases | Video conference

Held locally within your state or territory.
Exam may take place in your current hospital, a nearby hospital or other facility, such as a RACP office – arrangements are being finalised.

Short Cases | Face-to-face

Held within your state or territory, where possible.
You’re likely to travel to a different city or hospital to avoid settings you’ve trained in.
You may have to travel interstate if your location doesn’t allow you to avoid a previous training setting and border restrictions allow.

Aotearoa New Zealand

Adult Medicine

Long Cases | Video conference

Held locally within your region.
Exam may take place in your current hospital, a nearby hospital or other facility, such as a RACP office – arrangements are being finalised.

Short Cases | Face-to-face

You're required to travel to a different location from where you work to complete your exam.
You won’t be examined in hospitals where you’ve trained.

Paediatrics & Child Health | Face-to-face

You're required to travel to a different location from your local area to complete your exam.
The exam will not take place in a hospital where you’ve trained.

Apply

Requirements

To be eligible to apply for the DCE, you must have passed the Divisional Written Examination in addition to eligibility requirements of your country of residence.

Australia

These requirements must have been completed by 31 January 2020.

You must have:

renewed your registration as a trainee for 2020
completed all necessary training requirements
paid all College training fees

If you have outstanding fees, you won’t be eligible to sit the exam. Contact us to discuss.

Overseas Trained Physicians: Check eligibility requirements with your Overseas Trained Physicians Case Officer before applying.

Aotearoa New Zealand

These requirements must have been completed by 20 December 2019.

You must:

be in an accredited training position or an approved interruption in training
complete all PREP requirements
comply with the requirements in the Progression Through Training Policy (PDF)
have paid all College training fees

If you have outstanding fees, you won’t be eligible to sit the exam. Contact us to discuss.

Overseas Trained Physicians: Check eligibility requirements with your Overseas Trained Physicians Case Officer before applying.

Application process

If you are eligible to apply for the exam, you’ll receive an email in August 2020 with a link to register for the exam.

Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive an onscreen confirmation and an email confirmation within an hour. If you don’t receive an email, check your junk/spam folders or contact us.

Exam allocation

You’ll receive an exam allocation email confirming your successful registration, candidate number and venue. Detailed information regarding the date and location of your Long Cases exam will be sent to you at least 4 weeks prior to the beginning of the exam period.

Allocation confirmation is dependent on your eligibility, fees and training requirements being up-to-date.

Withdrawal

Withdrawals are not counted as exam attempts. Contact us to withdraw up until the start of the exam.

If you withdraw, you may be eligible for a refund. Refund amounts depend on when you withdraw.

Timeline	Refund
Before you receive your exam date	Full refund
More than 4 weeks before your exam date	50% refund
Less than 4 weeks until your exam date	No refund

To request a refund outside of these rules on medical or compassionate grounds, submit an application form (DOC) under the Special Consideration for Assessment Policy (PDF).

If you withdraw, you can re-apply to sit the exam the following year if you meet the eligibility criteria. Application fees will not be rolled over from one year to another.

Special consideration

Submit your special consideration request by the closing date using the Special Consideration for Assessment application form and guide (DOC).

We’ll consider these circumstances before the exam:

permanent and longstanding impairment
temporary impairment with medical grounds
non-medical compassionate grounds or serious disruption
essential commitments (religious, cultural, societal or legal obligations)
probability that you may know patients at the exam location

You’ll receive an email with your exam date and venue. Contact us as soon as possible if you've worked or taken exam preparation at the venue.

Once you’ve started, only technical or other issues occurring during the exam are considered.

Your mark or result won’t be adjusted due to any special circumstances. For more information on application requirements and the possible outcomes, see the Special Consideration for Assessment policy (PDF).

COVID considerations

you’re in COVID-19 quarantine on your exam day
your hospital can’t release you to sit the exam due to COVID-19 clinical commitments

The Special Consideration Application Guide and Form (PDF) applies.

Attempts

If you’re unsuccessful in the postponed 2020 exam, it will not be counted as an official exam attempt. This currently applies only if you sit the postponed 2020 exam on its rescheduled dates, not if you choose to sit the exam later. This applies to Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

See the Progression Through Training Policy (PDF), effective from 1 January 2017, for limits on total training time and number of exam attempts.

You can view your exam attempts to date on the Basic Training Portal.

Prepare

Preparation tips

Regular clinical activities in your own hospital are the best preparation. In most hospitals, the Director of Physician or Paediatric Education (DPE) and other Fellows will assist you by discussing the exam and arranging Long Case and Short Case practice sessions.

We don’t endorse any commercial preparation courses.

Leading up to the exam

Your wellbeing

Look for ways you can better look after yourself in the lead up to your exam. Exercising, eating well and getting enough sleep are important. Some people find meditation or relaxation techniques helpful.

If you’re struggling with exam anxiety, you’re not alone. Contact the RACP Support Program for support, coaching and counselling.

Practice

One of the biggest pieces of advice we receive from trainees who have passed the exam, is the importance of practice.

For some, this means taking opportunities to receive feedback from multiple sources on short and long practice cases.

For others the quality of practice opportunities took precedence over quantity – finding the right patients and consultants, sticking to timings in presentations and asking for constructive feedback on clinical approaches and presentations.

Many trainees felt coaching on how to structure their presentations was critical to their success.

Join a study group

The shared experience of studying with others has helped many trainees feel more motivated, confident and on-track during the crucial preparation period. Many created or joined a group that was supportive, met regularly, shared resource ideas and provided an environment for constructive feedback.

Find a mentor

Trainees with mentors felt the feedback they received was effective and targeted development in key areas. Although these trainees practiced with a variety of consultants, the regular check-ins with a mentor helped to pinpoint improvements and areas for further development.

Some trainees benefit from having their mentor, a supervisor or a senior registrar sit in with them as they gather the history and examination in the long case.

If you’ve previously attempted the exam

Meet with your DPE/mentor

If you’re actively training, meet with your Director of Physician Education (DPE). If you’re on an interruption of training, meet with your mentor to talk through your previous attempts.

Your DPE/mentor is likely to have valuable insights to share about areas you need to focus on and areas to improve.

Use the Improving Performance Action Plan template and plan your study to maximise time spent on these focus areas. For example, once a week you could spend time on each area to make sure you have a thorough understanding of each topic. You could also ask your supervisor or mentor to share trial case studies and cross-reference them with the Basic Training Curriculum.

Get feedback

After an unsuccessful attempt, the Assessment and Selection team invites you to discuss your feedback sheets with a member of the NEP (Australia) or a member of the SEP or supervisor (Aotearoa New Zealand). This information is in your results letter.

Combine strategies

Combine successful strategies from past attempts with new strategies.

Tackle some tough cases in practice sessions – deliberately set up scenarios outside your comfort zone.
Record a few practice presentations and review with a mentor for a different approach to feedback (bearing in mind the importance of confidentiality and gaining appropriate patient consent).
Use your kit regularly to ensure you feel comfortable with these items.
If your DPE/mentor suggests a communication workshop, a presentation skills course or believes that some counselling might assist in managing exam anxiety, seriously consider these ideas.
Use technology to help organise your study. For example, there are several websites and apps available where you can create and share study flashcards.
Talk to your DPE/mentor and fellow trainees for recommendations on textbooks, other resources or general tips. You might like to include their suggestions in your own preparation plan.

Resources

The College Learning Series helps you prepare for Long Cases. It’s an interactive eLearning platform with videos and resources covering clinical topics linked to the curriculum. The Clinical Examination Series is an 8-week series of Long Case presentations. Further DCE resources are in development.

The RACP Support Program provides members with access to confidential counselling, coaching and support for workplace and personal issues. Anxiety about the exam is understandable and debriefing is helpful. All RACP members get 4 free sessions a year.

Our DCE training resources include webinars and presentations on preparing for the exam. Our list of resources includes learning tools and guides. Look over our event listings for lectures, courses and video conferences.

Note: This is not intended as formal advice and is provided as general information only.

Exam format

The exam, undertaken in a modular or traditional format, involves real patient situations in 2 x Long Cases and 4 x Short Cases.

Long Case | 95 minutes

Virtual Long Cases follow the same schedule as traditional face-to-face Long Cases.

Modular	Traditional
60 minutes
Long Case review with the patient. You’ll receive the patient’s height, weight, blood pressure, medication list, physical findings and urinalysis results if relevant at the start of the exam.	Long Case review with the patient. You’ll receive medication lists and urinalysis results if relevant. Check the items to include in your examination case.
10 minutes
Prepare your discussion points.
25 minutes
Discuss the patient with the examiners. Excessively Long Case presentations aren’t advisable and may be interrupted by an examiner. One or more examiners will attend via video conference.	Discuss the patient with the examiners. Excessively Long Case presentations aren’t advisable and may be interrupted by an examiner.

Short Case | 17 minutes

Under the modular format, trainees are required to score above a Band 0 on their Long Cases to be eligible to sit the Short Cases component.

Short Cases (modular format) will be scheduled a minimum of 3 weeks after Long Cases. For more information, see key dates.

Modular	Traditional
2 minutes
Before entering the Short Case room, you’ll have 2 minutes to read an introduction to the case (the ‘stem’), including the patient’s name, relevant body system and sometimes, the dominant clinical problem.
15 minutes
Each examination lasts 15 minutes. You may be asked to comment on diagnostic tests, for example x-rays, ECGs, and/or nominate appropriate investigations. Check the items to include in your examination case
10 minutes
There’s a break of up to 10 minutes between Short Cases in each cycle.

Case selection

While a broad range of cases are selected for the exam, it’s possible you may be asked to examine similar systems on multiple patients.

Examiners

Long Case patient review

You’ll be examined by a team of at least 2 examiners on each Long Case. They’ll determine your score. Usually, one will lead the discussion. A third examiner may be present as an observer.

Before each cycle, examiners will:

take the patient’s history
examine the patient (traditional format only)
identify relevant issues for discussion

This review is done without patient notes or prepared histories. This allows examiners to accurately appraise a patient’s ability to give a history and signs.

Short Case patient review

Each patient is assessed by the examiners without patient notes or prepared histories.

You’ll see at least 4 different teams of examiners.

Conduct

Adolescent patients

It’s inappropriate for you to request patients’ parents or guardians to leave the room to interview adolescent patients privately.

Neurological examinations

Clean disposable pins should be used for neurological examinations (for both Long and Short Cases). Dispose of pins appropriately.

Pre-exam contact at exam sites

In the past, some trainees have approached hospitals to obtain exam information.

These actions are seen as attempting to gain an advantage and may lead to disqualification from the exam and/or affect your progression through training.

Specific instances include attendance at practice cases or exams at your allocated hospital and attempts to:

gain information on possible cases from staff organising the exam at your allocated hospital
inspect rooms or departments possibly involved in the exam at your allocated hospital
find out who the examiners will be
contact potential examiners and seek guidance on improving performance
contact examiners after the exam except through the standard feedback procedures for failed candidates

Refer to the Academic Integrity in Training Policy (PDF).

Exam day

Long Cases | Modular format

Timetables for the modular exam format will be provided soon. We’re building in additional time to minimise the impact of any video conferencing issues on the day.

Approximately a week before the exam, you’ll get a meeting invite with the timetable for your 2 Long Cases and the video conference details. The College will book all video conferences on the standardised video conferencing platform. Details will be provided soon.

Your local sitting hospital will book you an interview room with video conferencing capacity such as a computer, laptop or tablet with camera and microphone.They’ll also advise you where to go on exam day. Some hospitals will use external facilities, such as local medical schools/universities. If you don’t know where to attend your exam, contact us or your DPE. You must sit the exam in the specified location and cannot sit it from home.

On exam day, you must provide ID on arrival.

Patients, candidates and examiners will interact via video conference even when in the same location. Only examiners and provisional examiners can be in the same room, with social distancing.

You’ll be allocated patients from a ‘host hospital’ in another state, territory or region. They may be at the hospital, an external venue or in their home.

At the start of the exam, you’ll get patient information including:

physical examination findings
medication list
height/weight
blood pressure
urinalysis if available

You’re not expected to undertake a physical examination via video conference.

An examination assistant or ‘bulldog’ will not be in the room with you and your exam will not be recorded.

An invigilator or local exam assistant will be on site to support you and record incidents. A helpdesk will be available to call with technical issues. We’re working on back up procedures for technical issues that can’t be resolved.

Short Cases | Modular format

Timetables for the modular Short Cases will be provided soon.

Example timetable | Traditional format | Aotearoa New Zealand Paediatrics & Child Health

Arrive by 9am	First cycle	Second cycle
Morning	1 x Long Case + 2 x Short Cases	2 x Short Cases + 1 x Long Case
Morning	9:20am to 11:50am	9:35am to 12:20pm
Afternoon	2 x Short Cases + 1 x Long Case	1 x Long Case + 2 x Short Cases
Afternoon	2:15pm to 5pm	2pm to 4:30pm

Most hospitals provide light refreshments. You're responsible for your own lunches unless the examining centre is remote, in which case lunch is provided.

Items on the day

Personal items

Tip: Dress in smart professional attire but don't invest in a new suit. Your clothes should be appropriate, comfortable and allow you to easily examine your patient.

Printed or digital copy of your candidate allocation email
Current photo ID with your full name and signature (for example, passport or driver licence) – digital IDs are not accepted
Your own stationery (for example, blank manila folders, blank cards, paper, pens/pencils)
Your own equipment (traditional exam and modular short case only)

Long Case items

Equipment for your examination case

Blank paper/cards and pencils/pen
BMI charts
Standard growth chart (PCH only)
Tablet or laptop may be considered in some circumstances to support video conferencing
A headphone set (optional)

Not permitted

Tip: Recording devices, including mobile phones, lead to automatic disqualification. Unauthorised materials may also lead to disqualification.

Pre-printed/written templates or reminders, textbooks, notes, MIMS, drug compendia
References
Pro forma sheets
iPads/tablets*
Smartwatches
Mobile phones
Other written or electronic data-storing/sharing/recording devices

*iPads/tablets may be provided by the examination site or in some circumstances, you may be allowed to bring your own for video conferencing.

Your examination case may be checked. If you have an unacceptable item, declare it to the organisers. They’ll keep it until the exam is finished.

Short Case items

Equipment for your examination case

Blank paper/cards and pencils/pen
BMI charts
Stethoscope (must not be electronically augmented unless you’ve obtained permission for medical reasons)
Standard handheld ophthalmoscope (not a Panoptic ophthalmoscope)
Otoscope (standard and MacroView)
Red-topped hat pin or equivalent, for visual field testing
Standard auroscope
Pocket torch
Tape measure and/or ruler
Tendon hammer
Single-use spatulas
Tuning forks (128 and 256 Hz)
Cotton wool
Single-use neurological examination pins for testing sensation
Printed picture for higher centres testing
Props such as a jar, key and shirtsleeve with button for hand function testing
Handheld visual acuity chart(s) (PCH only)
Standard growth chart (PCH only)
Toys for distraction and testing of development (PCH only)

The equipment allowed is standardised to ensure clinical signs you elicit match those obtained by the examiners.

Not permitted

Tip: Recording devices, including mobile phones, lead to automatic disqualification. Unauthorised materials may also lead to disqualification.

Pre-printed/written templates or reminders, textbooks, notes, MIMS, drug compendia
References
Pro forma sheets
iPads/tablets
Smartwatches
Mobile phones
Other written or electronic data-storing/sharing/recording devices

Your examination case may be checked. If you have an unacceptable item, declare it to the organisers. They’ll keep it until the exam is finished.

Traditional exam format items

Equipment for your examination case

Blank paper/cards and pencils/pen
BMI charts
Stethoscope (must not be electronically augmented unless you’ve obtained permission for medical reasons)
Standard handheld ophthalmoscope (not a Panoptic ophthalmoscope)
Otoscope (standard and MacroView)
Red-topped hat pin or equivalent, for visual field testing
Standard auroscope
Pocket torch
Tape measure and/or ruler
Tendon hammer
Single-use spatulas
Tuning forks (128 and 256 Hz)
Cotton wool
Single-use neurological examination pins for testing sensation
Printed picture for higher centres testing
Props such as a jar, key and shirtsleeve with button for hand function testing
Handheld visual acuity chart(s) (PCH only)
Standard growth chart (PCH only)
Toys for distraction and testing of development (PCH only)

The equipment allowed is standardised to ensure clinical signs you elicit match those obtained by the examiners.

Not permitted

Tip: Recording devices, including mobile phones, lead to automatic disqualification. Unauthorised materials may also lead to disqualification.

Pre-printed/written templates or reminders, textbooks, notes, MIMS, drug compendia
References
Pro forma sheets
iPads/tablets
Smartwatches
Mobile phones
Other written or electronic data-storing/sharing/recording devices

Your examination case may be checked. If you have an unacceptable item, declare it to the organisers. They’ll keep it until the exam is finished.

Hand hygiene

Hand hygiene is key for preventing healthcare-associated infection. To maintain health and safety standards, you must perform it correctly. Hand sanitiser is provided outside or inside the patients’ rooms.

Handshaking with examiners is discouraged in the interests of time and infection control, as you would need to sanitise your hands again.

It’s also essential under the Australian Health Service Safety and Quality Accreditation Scheme. See the World Health Organization’s Hand Hygiene: Why, How & When? (PDF).

Duration of the hand hygiene process

Handrub: 20 to 30 seconds
Handwash (if visibly soiled): 30 to 40 seconds

Moments for performing hand hygiene

On entering the examination room
Before touching a patient
After touching a patient
After touching patient surroundings
After body fluid exposure risk – this risk rarely occurs in exams but if it does, you must use infection control appropriate for the exposure, including hand hygiene
After performing a procedure (unlikely to apply in exams)
On leaving the room

Note: Your examination hospital infection control policies may be different to your training site. If additional procedures beyond universal standards are required, you’ll be advised.

Examination assistants (Australia only)

They will

escort you to the relevant rooms during the exam
supply candidate identification stickers to each examination team
sit in during the presentations of Short Cases
assist with issues before or during the exam

They should not

be asked to be involved in the exam in any way
communicate with you when you’re with the examiners
assist you with timekeeping during segments, such as giving you a 5-minute warning

You must not ask them

to assist you with timekeeping
for feedback on your performance
for any details about the patients before or after the exam

Patient records and video recordings

All patient records, including your own notes about patients, are confidential. You cannot reproduce or distribute them. After the exam, you must leave patient notes with the organisers for destruction. Refer to the Academic Integrity in Training Policy (PDF).

Video conferences with patients will not be recorded.

Results

Results emails

Contact us if you don’t receive the emails. The Reconsideration Review and Appeals Process (PDF) doesn’t apply to the outcome or results. We’re unable to discuss results over the phone or by email.

Modular format

For the Long Case component, you’ll receive a results email with your Band score within a few weeks of your exam.

To be eligible for Short Cases, you need to score above a Band 0 in the Long Cases. If you do, we’ll email you to confirm your expected training location for the Short Cases so you can be allocated to an appropriate site.

Your Band score for the Long Case cannot be carried forward to a following DCE if you don’t pass or complete the current exam. You’ll have to resit both Long and Short Cases at the next sitting.

A second results email will be sent confirming the outcome of your Short Cases component and your overall DCE result.

Feedback

You’ll receive a formal results email within 4 weeks of the results email.

Examiners complete feedback sheets after each case to help candidates learn from the exam.

Feedback sheets are confidential exam material and/or patient information. All specific personal patient information is removed and case summaries are not provided. The sheets cannot be reproduced or distributed. Do not discuss this information outside of your feedback meeting. See the Academic Integrity in Training Policy (PDF).

Successful results

If you’re successful, you’ll receive copies of your feedback sheets by email.

Unsuccessful results

Australia

If you’re unsuccessful, you’ll be invited to review your feedback sheets and discuss your performance with a member of the National Examining Panel (NEP).

They’ll use the feedback sheets and their experience with the exam to help you recognise your strengths and weaknesses and advise you how to improve your performance in a future exam.

You should schedule your feedback session with your allocated NEP member shortly after you receive your results because candidate feedback is not retained indefinitely. You may want to invite your DPE and/or supervisor to join the meeting.

You’ll also get details for NEP members to contact for this feedback.

Aotearoa New Zealand

If you’re unsuccessful, you must schedule a feedback session with a supervisor or senior examiner. You can invite a support person to attend.

You’ll get your feedback sheets and discuss your experience to help you recognise your strengths and weaknesses and advise you how to improve your performance in a future exam.

Criteria for assessment of performance

Examiners assess if you display the required skills in the time allowed, based on criteria for assessment of performance. The exam is criteria referenced. You’re assessed based on the criteria rather than compared to other candidate scores.

The video below outlines the purpose and format of the exam, the purpose of Long and Short Cases and the criteria for assessment of performance.

We have made minor updates to the criteria to reflect that patients will not be physically examined during Virtual Long Cases.

Divisional Adult Medicine Criteria for assessment of performance (PDF)
Divisional Paediatrics & Child Health Criteria for assessment of performance (PDF)

Long Case

The Long Case tests clinical examination skills with an emphasis on these domains:

accuracy of history
accuracy of the clinical examinations (traditional format only)
synthesis and prioritisation of clinical problems
understanding the impact of the illness on the patient and family
development and discussion of an appropriate management plan

Short case

The Short Case tests clinical examination skills with an emphasis on these domains:

interaction with the patient and/or family
technique and accuracy of physical examination
interpretation and synthesis of physical findings
investigations/management

Note: These criteria help you understand how examiners judge your performance. They don’t support a particular method of history-taking and examination.

Marking

Each case is marked out of 6 points.

All cases are different and some assessment domains will be more important than others for a given case. Examiners take this and your overall performance into account. They provide independent marks and discuss to reach a final consensus score for each case.

This video outlines the process for combining case scores using the banded model approach.

Short and Long Case scores will be combined to determine your overall outcome using the Score Combination Grid (PDF).

The score combination approach ensures the outcomes are consistent with the overall purpose of the assessment, based on analysis of previous candidate performances.

It draws on expertise of experienced examiners. It’s been carefully analysed and shown to result in more valid outcomes while preserving standards consistent with the previous scoring system.

Changes to virtual Long Cases marking

We’re making minor updates to the criteria for assessment of performance and the Clinical Examination section of the CLEAR scoring rubric to reflect patients not being physically examined.

All other elements of the marking scheme remain. You’ll still be assessed on the expected standard for progressing into AT, not on how you perform in comparison to others.

Advanced Training

If you pass the exam, you may be eligible for entry into Advanced Training.

Provisional Advanced Training

Due to the postponement of the 2020 DCE, a provisional Advanced Training (pAT) progression pathway is available to help you continue your training

If you undertake the modular Long Cases exam and do not score above a Band 0, you’re not eligible to sit the Short Cases component and cannot pass the DCE. As a result, you cannot proceed into pAT in the 2021 clinical year.

Employment implications will need to be discussed with your current/future employer. Health departments are aware of this scenario and are working through options.

If you are already in a provisional Advanced Training position and do not pass the DCE, any training provisionally approved as ’conditional upon passing the DCE‘ will not be accepted as AT.

For more information, refer to the pAT guidelines.

Divisional Clinical Examination

Provisional progression to Advanced Training

Overview

2020 changes

New exam format

Key dates

Australia

Aotearoa New Zealand

Contingency plans

Modular format

Traditional format

Our aim

Fees

Refunds

Eligibility

Location

Australia

Aotearoa New Zealand

Adult Medicine

Paediatrics & Child Health | Face-to-face

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