Surviving the journey through the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) examinations requires grit, courage and hard work. The second edition of How To Pass the RACP Written and Clinical Exams is fully updated to help candidates – and those who teach them – dig deep to maximise their chances of success.
This insider’s guide takes the candidate through the whole process, from preparing for the Written Exam, through to presenting short and long cases in the Clinical Exam. The authors’ experiences are combined with tips from recent candidates, wisdom from RACP examiners and advice from specialist contributors. Additional chapters for post-exam registrars and supervisors include career planning, providing feedback, preparing for interviews, and organising the Clinical Exam.
As well as comprehensive guidance for adult medicine candidates, this new edition includes ‘Paeds Points’ for paediatrics trainees.
Containing a wealth of information, pearls of wisdom, real-life examples and practical advice, this light-hearted insider’s guide makes the path through the grueling RACP exams far easier.
Preface xv About the Authors xvii Acknowledgements xix Illustrations xxi General Disclaimer xxiii Section 1 The Written Exam 1 1 Introduction to the Written Exam 3 Why Does The RACP Have a Written Exam? 4 When is the Best Time to Sit? 5 How Long Does It Take to Prepare for the Written Exam? 5 Am I Ready to Sit This Exam? 5 Decision Made. Sitting the Written 6 2 Preparation 11 One Year Out - What to Do Before You Even Start Studying 11 3 How to Start Studying for the Written Exam 15 How to Manage Your Time 15 Dealing with Stress 20 Advice from Registrars on Studying and Keeping Sane(ish) 21 Evidence‐Based Study - Break It Down! 24 Getting Down to Work - How to Start Studying 25 4 Topics That Need to Be Covered for the Written Exam 29 What is My Goal? Why Am I Putting Myself Through This? 29 How to Think Like An Examiner for the Written Exam 30 Organising Your Study Time - A Plan of Attack 30 The FRACP Curriculum 31 Topics to Cover 31 Money for Jam 32 Immunology - Special Mention 33 Visual Material in the Exam 34 5 Study Group 35 General Principles That Make Study Groups Effective 35 What Do You Do at Study Group? 36 6 Now We Know How to Study, What Stuff Do We Study From? 39 Wallpapering Your Mind 39 Comprehensive List of Resources for Wallpapering Your Mind 40 Lecture‐Based Resources 40 MCQ‐Based Resources 42 Textbooks and Online Resources 44 Other Useful Textbooks and Resources 46 Technological Advances to Help With Your Study 48 Journals: A Suggested Approach 49 Useful Websites 50 7 Old FRACP Exam Questions 53 Without Us, or You, Breaking the Rules, How Can the Modern Candidate Cope Without FRACP Past and Remembered Papers? 54 What is the Point of Doing Old FRACP and Course Questions? 54 8 Two‐Week Revision Courses 57 Dunedin FRACP Written Examination Revision Course 58 FRACP Written Exam Prep Course - Melbourne 59 Royal Prince Alfred BPT Exam Revision Course - Sydney 59 Short Courses Worthy of Consideration 60 9 Putting It All Together - The Final Three Months 63 Practicalities of Getting to the Exam 63 What to Study 63 Keeping as Calm as Possible 64 Leading Up to the Big Day - The Weeks Before 64 The Day Before 65 On the Day - How to Get Through the Exam 66 10 After the Exam 69 What to Do If You Pass 69 What to Do If You Don’t Pass 69 Section 2 The Clinical Exam 71 11 Introduction to the FRACP Clinical Exam 73 Why Is There a Clinical Exam? 75 Getting Your Timing Right: When to Sit the Clinical Exam 75 12 The Clinical Exam Marking Schedule 77 13 Two Weeks of Ground Work 85 Three Key Parts to Passing the Clinical Exam 86 How to Get Humble and Ask for Help 87 The Kit Bag 88 Book Reviews 92 Course Reviews 96 Personal Appearance - First Impressions Count 98 The ‘Infection Control’ Effect 104 14 How to Start - Doing Your First Practice Cases 105 Know Your Enemies 106 A Few Tricks of the Trade 106 Practising Cases - Who Can Help You the Most? 106 Who Can Help Me Pass This Exam? 107 Mock Exams: Well Worth the Humiliation 109 15 An Introduction to the Long Case 111 What is a Long Case Anyway? 111 Point to Prove in the Long Case 113 Aspects of a Long Case 113 Practising for Long Cases 116 How Many Long Cases Should You Do? 117 Practicalities of Practising 118 What to Do If There Aren’t Enough Patients to See 119 Key Long Cases 119 Taking Orderly Notes for Your Long Case 121 Role of the Study Group for the Long Case 122 16 Mastering and Presenting your Long Case 125 A Suggested Style for Long Case Presentation 125 Organising Your Presentation 126 Verbal Signposts 127 Presenting a Case Well - Speech and Drama 101 127 Presentation Template That Worked for Us 128 The Grilling 138 The Aftermath 138 Sentences That Save Time and Sound Slick 139 17 Special Points for Paediatric Cases 141 Specific Points About the Paediatric Long Case 141 The Developmental Case 144 The Adolescent Long Case 149 18 Secret Long Case Species 153 The Chronic Disease Long Case 153 The Single Problem Long Case 154 The Diagnostic Dilemma Long Case 154 The Disaster Long Case 155 19 Top Long Case Tips from Candidates and Examiners 161 Long Case Advice from Candidates 161 Long Case Advice from Examiners 164 20 Suggested Approach to a Māori Patient in the Long Case 167 21 Long Case Examples 171 Long Case 1 - Multiple Medical Problem Management 171 Long Case 2 - Complicated Diabetes Case 178 Long Case 3 - Diagnostic Long Case 185 Long Case 4 - Adolescent Single Problem Long Case with Transition of Care 193 22 Past Exam Long Cases 203 23 An Introduction to the Short Case 217 Marking Schedule for the Short Case 217 Points to Prove in the Short Case 218 24 How to Put On a Show 223 Part 1: Examination Routine - How to Practise 223 Part 2: Presenting a Short Case 230 Part 3: The Short Case Discussion (Grilling) 233 25 Short Case Advice from Registrars 239 26 Past Exam Short Cases 243 27 Putting It All Together for the Clinical Exam - One Month Out 257 What is Your Presentation Style? 257 General Advice About Style 258 Personalities That Fail the Clinical Exam 259 28 The Lead‐Up to the Exam 265 The Week Before 265 The Day Before 266 The Morning of the Exam - Staying Calm 266 Getting Through Exam Day - Tips From Registrars 267 Final Advice From Examiners 268 Section 3 The F‐words - Freedom, Failure, Feedback, Family, Finding Patients and Fellowship 271 29 The Post‐Exam World 273 Wow! I Passed! 273 Oh. I’ve Failed 274 The Official Feedback Session 274 30 How to Fail - The Outsider’s Guide to the FRACP Exam 275 Chapter Author: Dr Roderick Ryan, General Physician, Box Hill 275 ‘I Failed the FRACP Exam - What Shall I Do?’ 276 Tips for Coping with Failure in the Written Exam 277 Tips for Coping with Failure in the Clinical Exam 278 Seven Key Clinical Exam Skills that Must be Mastered by Those Who Have Failed 279 Snakes and Ladders 281 31 Paying It Forward - How to Provide Feedback for Practice Cases 283 The Feedback Loop 284 Feedback for Clinical Exams 284 32 Studying for the Exams with a Family on Board 291 Chapter Author: Dr Robert Wakuluk, Advanced Trainee, Auckland 291 33 Organising the Clinical Exam 295 First Principles 295 Organising the People and the Space 296 Case Selection Formula 297 Types of Cases You Need to Find 298 Where Are Cases Found? 299 Short Case Patients 301 Long Case Patients 301 Back‐Up Patients 301 The Envelopes 302 ‘Mind‐Map’ and Other Spreadsheets 303 The Day Before 304 On the Day 304 What Examiners Tell the Patients 304 34 Preparing for Your Medical Interview 307 Chapter Author: Dr Nalin Wickramasuriya, Consultant Paediatrician 308 Trap Number 1 - Giving a Straight Answer to a Straight Question 309 The Three Goals of an Interview 309 Rapport 309 Trap Number 2 - The Short Case/Viva Complex 312 Trap Number 3 - Preparing for the Interview Like an Exam 312 Trap Number 4 - Talking Posh on the Day of the Interview 314 Trap Number 5 - Not Planning Your Response When the Interviewer Asks You a Question 315 35 Career Planning 317 I Passed. What Advanced Training Programme Should I Apply For? 317 Pearls of Wisdom 318 Career Path Planning 319 Get a Mentor 320 36 OK, We’ll Stop Talking Now! 321 Helping the Next Lot 322 Index 323
About the Editors Zoë Raos is a gastroenterologist and general physician at North Shore Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand. She is a current RACP Examiner. Cheryl Johnson is a geriatrician at North Shore Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand. She is a current RACP Examiner.
