Creating a novel mock clinical examination for the Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in Malta

Abstract

Clinical medical examinations are difficult. Courses that attempt to instil such clinical examination skills are expensive, and this is even more so for Maltese graduates who must perforce travel by air from the island of Malta to such venues. This year (2012) was a landmark year with a record seven Maltese candidates planning to take the MRCPCH examination, and it was therefore decided to set up a mock clinical exam under true examination conditions in Malta. This was done successfully and this paper describes the modus operandi and the requirements for such a process.