Introduction to PACES


Introduction to PACES

Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom [MRCP (UK)] MRCP (UK) offers Part 2 Clinical Examination as Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills (PACES) for evaluation of skill and clinical knowledge of doctors going through their training period after completion of MRCP (UK) Part 1 examination. The candidates must have passed MRCP (UK) Part 1 examination within past 7 years for attempting PACES. It is a half-day examination that is organized in clinical setting that might include hospital or clinics. The exam determines seven core clinical skills as:
(1) Physical examination,
(2) Physical signs identification,
(3) Clinical communication,
(4) Differential diagnosis,
(5) Clinical judgment,
(6) Patient concerns management, and
(7) Patient welfare maintenance.
Five different stations are developed in a carousel arrangement under clinical setting at either hospital or clinical skills centre for determination of knowledge regarding several specialties such as respiratory, abdomen, cardiovascular, etc.

Candidates are involved in eight different patient encounters with their evaluation by two independent examiners at each station for their review. So, ten independent examiners are involved in reviewing a candidate. Attainment of 130 score out of 170 in PACES is considered as passing marks of a candidate under marking approach introduced by the MRCP (UK) Clinical Examining Board (CEB). It is necessary to possess minimum total score of assessment along with minimum standard in seven skills.
Source: MRCP (UK). [online] Available from www.mrcpuk.org [Accessed July 2018].

The MRCP (UK) adopts different approaches for upgradation and development of the examination as high-quality examinations that leads to protection of patient through appropriate knowledge and skill of physicians. Robust and evidence-based approaches of the MRCP (UK) for development and delivery of the examinations with superior standard offers eminent assessment conditions that congregate with regulatory standards regarding training of physician specialists in the UK. One of the initiatives regarding this is introduction of PACES Fast Track scheme that provides an additional attempt for PACES examination towards trainees that have applied for a post in third year of speciality training (ST3).

Stay tuned for next blog posts pertaining to the Fast Track scheme of the PACES examination. For further details related to the examination and processes associated with the examination along with aspects for submission of an online application, please visit MRCP (UK) website www.mrcpuk.org.

There are other competitive exams beside MRCP (UK) such as Membership of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG). A course has been developed by Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers for MRCOG Part 1 and MRCOG Part 2 aspirants as “CrackingMRCOG” that assists MRCOG applicants with relevant data. For further information regarding the course, please visit our website www.crackingmrcog.com.

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