How should you organise an exam workshop?

Abstract

For several years members of the University Department of Psychiatry and post-membership trainees have organised an informal exam workshop for the final part of the Membership examination of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. This is in addition to existing postgraduate courses in the Region. The workshop concentrates on examination technique rather than on teaching the basic knowledge required. Trainees from within the Mersey Region due to sit the June or November sittings of the final MRCPsych are invited to attend by formal and informal means and the workshop is currently held on a weekly basis over six weeks. According to guidelines laid down by the College, the majority of trainees have access to postgraduate training at a university department of psychiatry; usually by day-release courses. However, these vary widely in their immediate relevance to the Membership examination; and the amount of experience in examination technique. Consequently, several residential pre-examination training courses and workshops that give this experience have flourished.