Applied basic surgical sciences for the IMRCS OSCE course

Abstract

The Intercollegiate Basic Surgical Examinations Committee (representing the three royal colleges of surgeons in the United Kingdom) has recently made a very significant change to the format of the intercollegiate membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (IMRCS) examination. Parts 1 and 2 (applied basic sciences and clinical problem solving), which comprised the written component of the old format, have now been replaced by part A, which is made up of two papers—applied basic sciences and clinical surgery—to be done at the same sitting. The candidate is required to pass both papers individually and at the same sitting. Part 3 of the old format (comprising three separate components: oral examination followed by the clinicals and communication skills) has been replaced by the new part B objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Although part 3 of the old MRCS examination is still available for those who have passed their written components under the old system, it is being phased out and will cease altogether in the autumn of 2010. In conforming to the altered format of the new examination, candidates will need to adopt a different approach when studying and preparing for the part B OSCE exams from that which might have been appropriate to the old part …