Not sure where to start? Don't worry, we've all been there. Here are some resources to help you prepare for the exam.
First, have a read through this excellent guide written by some Wessex deanery trainees, which gives you most of the information you need to know.
The RCPCH website provides some essential information about the examination, including example scenarios and marking sheets.
The key thing is to practise, practise, practise. Get a study buddy, hone your examination skills by practising on your kids/teddy bear, and take advantage of deanery MRCPH teaching.
Most deaneries run MRCPCH mock exam courses for their own trainees (which you can sometimes gatecrash *cough* KSS *cough* East of England *cough* if they have extra space), and these are often the most cost- effective ones to go for. You may very well find that one course is not enough, and this will come down to how much time and money you are willing to spend- with courses, the sky is the limit.
First, have a read through this excellent guide written by some Wessex deanery trainees, which gives you most of the information you need to know.
The RCPCH website provides some essential information about the examination, including example scenarios and marking sheets.
The key thing is to practise, practise, practise. Get a study buddy, hone your examination skills by practising on your kids/teddy bear, and take advantage of deanery MRCPH teaching.
Most deaneries run MRCPCH mock exam courses for their own trainees (which you can sometimes gatecrash *cough* KSS *cough* East of England *cough* if they have extra space), and these are often the most cost- effective ones to go for. You may very well find that one course is not enough, and this will come down to how much time and money you are willing to spend- with courses, the sky is the limit.
Books to Read
The Wessex guide gives a list of recommended texts. Personally, these are the books I have found the most useful-
The Wessex guide gives a list of recommended texts. Personally, these are the books I have found the most useful-
The fourth edition is out 10th December 2015, so probably get that instead. Link here:
The above are really the two essential books when preparing for your clinical. But if you want more:
Useful for the accompanying DVD. While somewhat amateurly shot, the videos provide a basic structure to how you should approach the various stations. The video on the developmental station is especially useful.
A good book to work through closer to the exam date, once you have your exam technique down pat.
Other Books
These are some books that other people have recommended, and which seem to be highly regarded-
While aimed for candidates taking the Australian exams, it has provisions for MRCPCH candidates too. Contains plenty of background knowledge on clinical conditions and examination technique. One to get early in your preparation, and not the week before.
The Wessex trainees' opinion of the book- "You cannot do MRCPCH without this book!"
I borrowed the book from my local hospital library and never touched it. Of course, your mileage may vary, and it seems like a useful book to have even beyond the MRCPCH exam.
I borrowed the book from my local hospital library and never touched it. Of course, your mileage may vary, and it seems like a useful book to have even beyond the MRCPCH exam.
The Video Station
The video station is difficult to prepare for, in the sense that it is hard to anticipate what questions will be asked. The glass-half-full way to think about it is that you don't really have to put in extra work to prepare for this station.
The general idea is that the videos will be about things that would be impossible to include in the exam scenario- e.g. neonate with NEC, child with meningitis, neonatal seizures etc. Some videos show you clinical signs being shown or elicited- e.g. Koplik spots, ankle clonus etc.
Time management is important, as you may run out of time if you keep hitting replay on the videos. Video quality- think early Youtube videos, or good old VHS, and you won't be disappointed.
A good resource is the MRCPCH 2009 website, which has videos and practice questions. Answers for the stations can be obtained if you email the site owner.
