MRCOG Part 3 is the final and the most crucial step in getting qualified as a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. This practical assessment focuses on the clinical expertise, problem-solving capabilities and communication skills of the candidates.
The MRCOG Part 3 exam is a bit complex with a case-station based assessment methodology. This is specifically designed to test your practice of clinical procedures, in order to ensure that you are proficient in handling the intense cases in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Patient care is an equally important aspect of this assessment and MRCOG Part 3 requires you to showcase your best patient-care practice during the clinical examination.
MRCOG Part 3 Exam Structure
MRCOG Part 3 is conducted as an objective structured clinical examination. Here are the key components of the examination:
Type of Examination: Clinical Assessment
Pattern of the Examination: Station-Based
Number of Stations: 14
Exam Duration: 12 minutes for each station
Core Assessment Areas: Case analysis, Patient safety, Applied clinical knowledge, Information gathering, Communication skills, Patient care, etc.
MRCOG Part 3 Exam Stations
The MRCOG Part 3 exam comprises14 clinical scenarios, referred to as stations. These are designed to evaluate various aspects of a candidate’s clinical expertise and competencies. Each station will be mimicking a real-case scenario with role players. The clinical scenarios may involve history-investigation, efficient communication, clinical examinations, immediate patient care and the management of obstetric and gynecological cases. A time duration of 12 minutes will be allotted at every station for the candidate to analyse the scenario and complete the assessment. An examiner will be present at every station to evaluate the candidate’s performance in managing the scenario at the specific station.
The Eligibility Criteria
In order to be eligible for the MRCOG Part 3 exam a candidate must complete 4 years of training in Obstetrics and Gynecology, with at least 2 years of this training occurring within the 4 years prior to the candidate’s initial application. Before applying for the MRCOG Part 3 exam, candidates must undergo an Assessment of Training to verify their eligibility for registration. Clearing MRCOG Part 2 is also a mandatory requirement.
The ‘ Number of Attempts’ Challenge
Only candidates who successfully clear the MRCOG Part 2 are allowed to attend the MRCOG Part 3 exam. A candidate can sit for MRCOG Part exam 3 within 7 years from clearing Part 2 and can attempt the exam four times. If the MRCOG Part 3 exam is not attempted within 7 years, the candidate will have to take Part 2 exam again.
The MRCOG Part 3 is indeed a difficult examination. However, acing it in one go is not impossible, if you prepare with the right strategy and proper guidance. Understanding the format of the stations and the evaluation criteria is the first step. Familiarity with the real-case scenarios can give you an upper hand in the examination. Also make sure that you focus on your communication skills, which can help you deal with the patients better.
