Assessment and examinations

Assessment

Workplace based assessments connect teaching, learning and assessment in the teaching cycle. They provide formative feedback in a constructive environment to help trainees develop and progress through their training programme by helping them set their development plan and take ownership of their learning objectives giving the resources to improve self-evaluation, self-assessment, reflection and goal setting skills.

Workplace based assessments are designed to show progress, so should be used to reveal areas that need to be worked on, so should be spread  throughout the year and through all posts.

For further information on the type of workplace based assessments that need to be completed during training, visit the Assessment Tools page.

MRCPCH and DCH Examinations

The College offers two types of examinations; Membership Examinations (MRCPCH) and the Diploma in Child Health (DCH).

MRCPCH pass rates can be viewed online.

The examinations currently consist of the Part 1 written paper, the Part 2 written paper and the Clinical Examination. The Part 1 examination is devised of two separate papers; Parts 1a and 1b. The Part 2 examination is one examination split across two papers. The final element of the MRCPCH examinations is the MRCPCH Clinical Examination. The MRCPCH Clinical Examination is a practical examination that is split across 10 clinical stations. Ordinary Membership of the College is achieved by successfully completing all examination elements of the MRCPCH. Trainees are expected to complete the Membership Examinations before the end of ST3 and before beginning Level 2 training.

Presently the natural progression for trainees through the Membership Examinations is that the Part 1 paper must be passed before the Part 2 paper can be sat. It is only after the Part 2 paper has been passed that the trainee can progress to the Clinical Examination. There are three sittings of each type of membership examination a year.

From 2013 the MRCPCH Examinations will be changing, as a result of a comprehensive review. Along with the launch of new syllabi, the written examination papers will be known as Foundation of Practice, Theory and Science and Applied Knowledge in Practice; these have formally been the Part 1a, Part 1b and Part 2 respectively. In addition, the written papers will be able to be taken in the trainee’s order of preference and simultaneously if they wish, but the MRCPCH Clinical Examination will still only be able to be taken once all written elements have been successfully passed.

Before applying for any written examination please read and download MRCPCH Written Examination Changes 2013 here.

The MRCPCH consists of four sections:

1. MRCPCH Foundation of Practice
2. MRCPCH Theory and Science
3. MRCPCH Part 2 - Applied Knowledge in Practice
4.  MRCPCH Clinical

The Diploma in Child Health (DCH) is designed to give recognition of competence in the care of children to General Practitioner vocational trainees, Staff Grades in paediatrics and other specialists allied to paediatrics. 

The DCH Examination consists of the MRCPCH Part 1a written examination and a specially designed DCH Clinical Examination. The Part 1a written examination must be passed before candidates can sit the DCH Clinical Examination. From 2013 candidates must pass the Foundation of Practice written examination before sitting the DCH Clinical Examination. 

For full details on the examinations please click here.