BSMS > Undergraduate > Our course > Assessments

Assessments

BSMS has an integrated curriculum designed to develop your knowledge, academic and clinical skills, and instil a professional approach throughout the degree; the variety of assessment methods used reflects this.

Individual module assessments vary from short answer and single best answer questions that assess knowledge and understanding, to the practical assessment of communication and clinical skills, and case presentations.

Formal assessments occur throughout the course. Each includes elements that test the integration of your clinical experience with your understanding of the underlying biomedical, clinical and social sciences. These include the reports from your family studies, your patient portfolio and your research project.

A range of other assessments are also conducted during the course, primarily to guide you in your learning. Your personal development portfolio, recording the skills and experience you have gained, will also form part of your assessment, in line with General Medical Council recommendations.

BACKGROUND IMAGE FOR PANEL

Types of assessments

Case-based Discussion

A time-limited oral presentation of a case you have seen on placement to a panel of examiners. The presentation must cover history and examination findings, discussion of differential diagnoses and the management plan. The presentation will include time for questioning / discussion from the examiners.

Case in Depth

A formal structured written report on a case you have seen on placement. The Case in Depth covers the history, examination, investigations undergone and treatment of the patient and focuses on the clinical decision making and evidence base for treatment alongside the ethical and communication issues of the case.

Specialty Sign Off Report

At the end of each placement you will be assessed by your supervisor on the following areas: attendance, involvement with team and team activities and professionalism whilst on placement.

OSCEs (Observed Structured Clinical Examinations)

Practical examinations that test clinical skills. During an OSCE students are observed in a series of ‘stations’; scenarios based on activities that would take place in a clinical setting such as taking a patient’s medical history, examining patients or interpreting scans / test results or even a combination of these activities. Some OSCE stations will use real patients or actors playing patients.

Knowledge Test

A time limited examination which may be multiple choice or short answer questions.

A female student uses an ophthalmic torch to examine another's eyes, looked on by teacher

Year 1 assessments

Module number and method of assessment

101 – Assignment, essay, attendance

102 – Knowledge Test, academic skills (IT and numeracy tests, presentation, essay), attendance

103 – Student Selected Component, attendance

104 – Student Selected Component, attendance

Prof Claire Smith shows students a model of a skeleton in the anatomy lab

Year 2 assessments

Module number and method of assessment

201 – OSCE, assignment, essay, attendance

202 – Student Selected Component, attendance

203 – Student Selected Component, attendance

204 – Poster, attendance

Year 2 Knowledge Test

Year 3 assessments

Module number and method of assessment

301 – Logbook

302 – Essay, attendance

303, 304, 306 – Case based discussions and logbook

308 – Smart Drug, Practical Prescribing, IPE, attendance

Year 3 Knowledge Test

Year 3 OSCE

Year 4 assessments

Module number and method of assessment

402 – Logbooks

403 – Logbook and attendance

404 – Report and presentation

Year 4 Knowledge Test

Year 4 OSCE

A male student tests a female students reflexes, watched by teacher

Year 5 assessments

Module number and method of assessment

504 – Cases in Depth, Specialty Sign Off Report, Immediate Life Support

Portfolio – Professional Diary and Clinical Skills Log

Preparation for Practice - Specialty Sign Off Report, Attendance

Elective – Student and supervisor reports

Year 5 Knowledge Test

Year 5 OSCE

Medical Licensing Assessment

The General Medical Council (GMC) has decided to introduce a Medical Licensing Assessment – the MLA – from 2022 to demonstrate that those who obtain registration with a licence to practise medicine in the UK meet a common threshold for safe practice. Applicants should be aware that to obtain registration with a licence to practise, medical students will need to pass both parts of the MLA, pass university finals and demonstrate their fitness to practise.

The MLA will be in two parts: there will be a knowledge test, which will be set and run by the GMC, and an assessment, delivered by medical schools, that will evaluate students’ clinical and professional skills.