The membership of the Royal college of Emergency Medicine (MRCEM) is a highly regarded for doctors who wish to specialize in emergency medicine. The exam conducted by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine and the exam comprises three components: MRCEM PRIMARY the single Best Answer (SBA) paper, the intermediate SBA paper, and the objective structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) these are the components.
1) MRCEM PRIMARY
The Single Best Answer (SBA) paper is a three-hour long exam consisting of 180 questions. The questions are designed to assess the candidate’s knowledge of emergency medicine and cover a wide range of topics such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, and clinical skills. The pass mark for the exam is determined by the Royal college of Emergency Medicine. The exam split in to two sections.
Section A: Anatomy, physiology and pathology
• 60 multiple choice questions
• 1 mark for each correct answer
• No negative marketing for incorrect answers
Section B: critical care, pharmacology, microbiology, and Administration
• 120 multiple choice questions
• 1 mark for each correct answer
• 0.25 marks deducted for each incorrect answer
The exam designed to test a candidate’s knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of emergency medicine. Candidates can take the MRCEM primary exam a maximum of four times. If a candidate fails the exam on their fourth attempt, they are not permitted to take the exam again.
2) MRCEM intermediate SBA
The MRCEM Intermediate SBA exam (Single Best Answer) consists of 180 multiple choice questions with a single correct answer. The exam is divided into two papers, each of which is three hours long.
Paper A covers topics in basic sciences, including anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, and pathology. Paper B covers clinical topics, including emergency medicine, trauma, toxicology, and critical care.
Each question in the exam is worth one mark, and there is no negative marking for incorrect answers. Candidates are given four answer choices for each question, and they must choose the most appropriate answer.
The pass mark for the exam is 69 out of 180 (38%). The results are usually released within four to six weeks of the exam date.
3) MRCEM OSCE
The MRCEM OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) is a practical exam that assesses the candidate’s clinical skills, knowledge, and communication skills in the field of emergency medicine.
The MRCEM OSCE consists of 18 stations, each lasting for 7 minutes.
• The total time for the exam is 126 minutes (2 hours and 6 minutes), including a 6-minute break after station 9.
• The stations are designed to test the candidate’s clinical and communication skills, including history taking, physical examination, practical procedures, communication and breaking bad news, data interpretation, and management planning.
• Each station is scored out of 20, and the total score is calculated by adding the scores of all 18 stations.
• The marking system is based on a global rating scale, where the examiners assess the candidate’s performance on each station based on a set of predefined criteria.
• Each station is usually marked by two examiners, including one clinician and one non-clinician.
• After the exam, candidates receive detailed feedback on their performance from the examiners.
• The pass mark for MRCEM OSCE is determined by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) and may vary from one exam to another.
• Candidates who fail the exam are allowed to retake it up to three times, with a minimum gap of six months between each attempt.
MRCEM OSCE is a challenging but fair assessment of the candidate’s clinical skills and communication abilities in the field of emergency medicine.
Finally, MRCEM exam is a rigorous and challenging exam that requires candidates to have a deep understanding of emergency medicine and the ability to apply their knowledge to practical situations.
