Wessex Core Psychiatry Course

Health Education England Wessex School of Psychiatry

MODULE HANDBOOK

EXAM

PRACTICE Part A

2017 – 2018

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Wessex Core Psychiatry Course 2017-18

Exam Practice Module Handbook (Part A)

Contents

1. Introduction to Module

Content

Examination technique and practical tips

Module leads/contacts

Role of Facilitators

2. Aims

3. Objectives

4. Timetable

5. The Exams – an overview

6. Resources

IT/Library

Websites, exam forums / courses etc

7. Exam feedback form

Edition 9 07/12/17

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1 Introduction

The Exam Practice module occurs each day of the second half of the Integrated Module Part A course. Although it is an integral part of the Core Psychiatry course, it is not necessarily linked to the topics discussed in the earlier part of the day. Trainees attending the Part A Core Psychiatry course may be preparing for either MRCPsych written paper A or B, but will usually be working primarily towards paper A. Teaching on the exam module in the first year will therefore be aimed mostly at paper A. Content Trainees should pay close attention to the RCPsych syllabus curriculum content (http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/traininpsychiatry/corespecialtytraining/curricula.aspx) and try to make links between their examination preparation and their clinical learning where possible.

It is a common belief (?myth) that examinations require the learning of a large volume of useless facts, but trainees are encouraged to consider that if a bit of context is applied, much of what is learned through the examination process has clinical relevance. It may be of use to discuss with your educational supervisor which particular topics you are learning or revising as part of your exam preparation, so that they can highlight any clinical examples / links as they arise. In addition to covering the curriculum, examination technique is also important.

If you have a specific learning difficulty or other issue that may impact on your ability to do yourself justice in an exam, please discuss this ASAP with your educational supervisor. Process / delivery There will be a facilitator for each session, but trainees will be expected to contribute to their own, and the collective, learning – for example by giving feedback to the exam module lead after an exam. Trainees may wish to share resources but are reminded not do so in a way that breaches copyright.

Tips:

Don’t leave questions unanswered as papers are not negatively marked

Don’t let frustration at an ambiguous question cloud your judgement and thinking – try to move on and keep your mind fresh

Don’t expect to definitively ‘know’ all the answers; anticipate having to apply some logic and problem solving

If you don’t know the answer, don’t get anxious or frustrated; take a deep breath, then think your way calmly through the possible answers – it is often possible to eliminate several wrong answers and then make an educated guess

There may be more than one ‘right’ answer – you are looking for the best on

Do the basics: read the question very carefully, check your answers

Practise under simulated exam conditions to develop a sense of how to pace yourself for the time allowed and to get a sense of if you are someone who should go with your ‘gut’ about a question or go back to it.

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The module aims to present and contextualise some factual information, develop some question-answering technique, and allow trainees to identify potential revision partners / small groups, but it cannot replace the additional individual study that is required to obtain an MRCPsych pass. Whilst the module provides opportunities for trainees to benefit from exam preparation as a group, trainees should also bear in mind what they know about their own individual learning styles and needs – and make sure they plan their preparation accordingly. As such it is not possible to dictate how long each exam requires in specific preparation and study; some trainees will require 6 months, others 4 months, some only 2 etc. Remember, however, it is better to start too early than too late! Plan the practicalities:

Maximising your chances Two written papers plus the CASC with an overall pass rate of around 50% (usually higher for Wessex Trainees!) means the MRCPsych is a tough exam. Some mindsets / strategies are likely to help, others to hinder… Be open-minded to learning new things (that may even turn out to be interesting and useful!). Maximise your learning opportunities at work. For example, learning diagnostic criteria just for the exams is hard, whereas if you get into the habit of referring to ICD-10 and using F codes in your day-to-day practise on discharge summaries, clinic letters etc. then it will sink in far better. Decide if you can use CBDs to target topics also needed for the exams. Keep your eye firmly on the goal – what will an exam pass mean to you? This will help you stay motivated and determined, and hopefully give you the willpower to open the books in the evening!

Organise study leave / cross cover in advance

Organise travel and accommodation in advance, you don’t want to be worrying about this close to an exam, plus travel will often be cheaper if booked early

Think about how to keep nerves at bay in the 24 hours before an exam (especially the CASC) – are you better with other people, or on your own? Do you need to take distractions e.g. magazine? How can you ensure you get a good night’s sleep and have a clear mind on the day?

Take adequate clothing – exams often involve standing waiting outside the venue for half an hour before the start, or sitting in cold large halls

Make sure you know what you’re allowed to take with you into exams

Make sure you understand the exam format and know what to expect in terms of the answer sheet, having a candidate number etc

Make sure you have enough energy and fluid on board – written exams are 3 hours long.

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Module leads / contacts Part A Exam Module Lead Dr Naomi Hampton, ST4 General Adult Psychiatry nhampton@nhs.net

CASC preparation Dr Raghavendra Ramachandra raghavendra.ramachandra@southernhealth.nhs.uk Tel 023 8047 5588 / 023 8087 8040

Postgraduate Medical Education Coordinator Sue Wilkins Sue.Wilkins@southernhealth.nhs.uk Tel 023 8047 5292 Role of the Facilitators

The facilitators will prepare some teaching material as well as some question practice, but trainees will also be given tasks to complete to actively participate in their learning. In the case of the Part A exam module, trainees are asked to look at the relevant TrOn modules beforehand in order to maximise their learning in the session. It will not be possible to cover all of the exam syllabus in this module. Higher trainees (ST4 - 6) and Core trainees who have passed the relevant exam will be encouraged to become involved, as will college examiners and educational supervisors. It is the responsibility of the module lead to ensure that a teaching programme is developed for each term. Individual facilitators have responsibilities to attend as arranged, and to ensure that teaching sessions run to time. It is the trainees’ responsibility to attend on time, to treat facilitators and colleagues with respect, and contribute to making sessions constructive and interactive. Their contribution to evaluating the module bi-annually is also expected and greatly appreciated.

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2 Aims

The aims of the module are in line with the overall aims of the Wessex Core Psychiatry Course, most importantly:

To use your exam preparation as part of your overall education and training in order to become a well-rounded and competent psychiatrist.

Specifically, the module aims to:

Highlight the College’s core training and exam curriculums and encourage you to base your learning on these

To practise and improve your exam technique such that you best present your knowledge and abilities in the MRCPsych exams

Provide some background / context to help you make links between your exam learning and clinical practice

Allow you to benefit from some examination practice in a group setting

To facilitate and motivate you to study for the MRCPsych exams in a well-prepared, effective manner

3 Objectives

In attending this course, you should have opportunities to:

Work constructively and effectively in a group

Research the MRCPsych exam regulations, structure and syllabus to optimise your exam technique and preparation

Take the initiative to discuss your exam learning needs with your educational supervisor, including how to consolidate exam learning in clinical practice, and how to use WPBAs to contribute to CASC preparation

Provide feedback after each exam for the benefit of all trainees on the course

Make use of senior trainees, recently qualified consultants, college examiners and others with exam experience to provide expert advice

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4 Course Outline & Timetable Material for this course will largely be based around the TrOn (Trainees Online) modules provided free of charge to Psychiatry trainees. You will benefit more from the session if you have been able to look at the TrOn module beforehand, however you will still be able to participate if you have not done so. This course will focus on Sections 1-5 of the Royal College’s examinations syllabus (see below for details of this) which are those tested in Paper A. However we have omitted Section (4) Clinical Psychopharmacology, as separate teaching has been arranged on this topic. However, unfortunately no TroN modules have been developed yet for Section 5 and there are only a few available for Section 2. To try to plug the gaps, we will run a half sessions on Section 5 Classification & Assessment. However it is important to note that this course does not attempt to cover the entire syllabus. Rather we will focus on key topics that commonly appear in the exam and can cause difficulty for trainees.

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Part A Exam Preparation Module

Date & Facilitators (STC)

TRON MODULE Syllabus Section Facilitators

25 January 2018 1245 – 1430

Learning Theory 1. Behavioural Science & Socio-Cultural Psychology

Wrettham Naomi

Development of Temperament

2. Human Development

1 March 2018 1500 – 1645

Intergroup Behaviour 1. Behavioural Science & Socio-Cultural Psychology

Sylvie Anna

The Functional Anatomy of the Brain

3. Basic Neurosciences

15 March 2018 1500 – 1645

A social history of Mental Health Institutions

1. Behavioural Science & Socio-Cultural Psychology

Naomi Anna

The Major Neurochemical Pathways

3. Basic Neurosciences

29 March 2018 1500 – 1645

Thought 1. Behavioural Science & Socio-Cultural Psychology

Sylvie Wrettham

N/A 5. Classification & Assessment in Psychiatry

26 April 2018 1500 – 1645

Normal Ageing

2. Human Development

Sylvie Naomi

Clinical Genetics

3. Basic Neurosciences

10 May 2018 1500 – 1645

Development of Language

2. Human Development

Wrettham Anna

Neurotransmitters

3. Basic Neurosciences

24 May 2108 1500 – 1645

Neuroreceptors

3. Basic Neurosciences Wrettham Anna

Development of Social Competence & Morals

2. Human Development

14 June 2018 1500 – 1645

EXAM PREPARATION Sylvie Naomi

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5 The Exams

MRCPsych Paper A - The Scientific and theoretical basis of Psychiatry

Paper A will be three hours long, containing 200 marks. The paper will comprise of approximately two-thirds MCQs and one-third EMIs. For an interim period, Paper A will be held in two halves of 90 minutes and 100 marks each. Each half will maintain the two-thirds/one-third MCQ/EMI split.

Paper A will cover the following sections of the syllabus:

1) Behavioural Science and Sociocultural Psychiatry

2) Human Development

3) Basic Neurosciences

4) Clinical Psychopharmacology

5) Classification and Assessment in Psychiatry

Pass marks and rates vary from sitting to sitting - see the Examinations section of the RCPsych website for the latest information.

MRCPsych Paper B - Critical review and the clinical topics in Psychiatry

Paper B will be three hours long, containing 200 marks. The paper will comprise of approximately two-thirds MCQs and one-third EMIs.

The critical review component will make up one-third of the paper, with the remaining two-thirds covering clinical topics (of which approximately 30% will be General Adult Psychiatry).

Paper B will cover the following sections of the syllabus:

6) Organisation and Delivery of Psychiatric Services

7) General Adult Psychiatry

8) Old Age Psychiatry

9) Psychotherapy

10) Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

11) Substance Misuse/Addictions

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12) Forensic Psychiatry

13) Psychiatry of Learning Disability

14) Critical Review

Pass marks and rates vary from sitting to sitting, see the Examinations section of the RCPsych website for the latest information.

CASC

CASC circuit 1 (am) 4 pairs of linked stations (8 stations in total) Each station: 90 seconds preparation, 10 minutes in the station

CASC circuit 2 (pm) 8 stand alone stations Each station: 90 seconds preparation, 7 minutes in the station

Marking is complicated – you must pass at least 12 stations but if you achieve a ‘severe fail’ in 2 or more stations you may fail overall even if you do pass 12. Whether you pass an individual station or not is linked to how everyone does. If you are on the borderline (they benchmark to even out harsh and generous examiners) it can go either way (borderline fail to a pass and borderline pass to a fail). (This means you will never know how you did until the results come in!)

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6 Resources Library and IT facilities You will have access to Library facilities in your own local area and you will be able to use the library at the Tom Rudd Unit, Moorgreen on course days. There is a large projector screen plus laptops with internet access in the Education Room for use on course days. Teaching material may be made available to you after sessions, but please be mindful of intellectual property and do not reproduce without permission / acknowledging its source.

Useful Websites Please refer to the Royal College’s website to check examination regulations/eligibility, content and calendar. You can also register with the RCPsych for free access to their online CPD modules (TrOn – Trainees Online), which covers many curriculum and exam topics.

Royal College information about each Paper http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/traininpsychiatry/examinations/examinationstab.aspx OP69. SPECIALIST TRAINING IN PSYCHIATRY: A Comprehensive guide to training and assessment in the UK for trainees and local educational providers http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/files/pdfversion/OP69.pdf TrOn http://tron.rcpsych.ac.uk/

Exam resources, forums and courses (some are free, but many require subscription /

payment) www.trickcyclists.co.uk (free) www.superego-cafe.com www.mrcpsychmentor.com www.birminghamcourseonline.co.uk www.manchestercourse.com www.cambridgecourse.com www.spmmpsychiatrycourse.com www.xamcram.com This is not an exhaustive list – if trainees have others to contribute, please do so via the exam module lead. Thank you.

Edition 9 07/12/17

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Feedback for Core Psychiatry Course: Exam Module 2017-2018

Name (optional)

Date Part A / Part B (please circle)

Which paper(s) are you currently studying for?

Please comment on the usefulness or relevance of the exam module to your learning needs

Which aspects of the teaching did you find particularly helpful?

Which aspects did not work so well?

Any suggestions for future development?

Please rate your overall level of satisfaction with the exam module (please circle)

5 (high) 4 3 2 1 (low)