![]() |
---|
General Practitioners in the UK - Frequently Asked Questions
Have you ever considered working in the UK as a General Practitioner, but been deterred by the lack of support?
We know that relocating for a job is a major life-changing experience, so we decided to guide you through this extensive process, assisting you with a brochure that contains the most frequently asked questions that a General Practitioner may have before the relocation decision.
So, If you have any questions regarding relocating to the UK, your answers might be HERE! We have put together some of the best questions ever asked by General Practitioners we interviewed this year!
1. What is GMC - The General Medical Council?
GMC is a public body that maintains the official register of medical practitioners within the United Kingdom. Its chief responsibility is to protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public by controlling entry to the register, and suspending or removing members when necessary. In order to legally work as a Doctor in the UK, you must complete the registration with GMC.
2. What are the exams we need to take for I&R Scheme?
All the Candidates will need to attend an IELTS or OET Exam in order to successfully register with the General Medical Council.
At the beginning of the I&R Scheme, all the Candidates will also need to attend 2 exams: MCQ Exam (which is split in 2 parts: Clinical Problem Solving and Situational Judgment Test) and Simulated Surgery Exam (this last exam is not mandatory; it depends on the score a candidate obtains at the MCQ Examination).
3. What is MCQ Exam?
There are two parts of the MCQ I&R Scheme Learning Needs Assessment, both are designed to assess some of the essential competencies outlined in the National Person Specification and are based around clinical scenarios: PD (Professional Dilemmas) paper and CPS (Clinical Problem Solving) paper.
The PD paper is a Situational Judgment Test (SJT). This part of the assessment focuses on a candidate's approach to practicing medicine (62 items, 124 min).
In the CPS paper, candidates are presented with clinical scenarios that require them to exercise judgment and problem-solving skills to determine the appropriate diagnosis and management of patients (86 items, 65 min).
4. What score do I need to achieve to pass the MCQ exam?
At the MCQ exam a candidate can obtain the following scores:
-
Band 1 (Very poor level of performance)
-
Band 2 (Poor level of performance)
-
Band 3 (Adequate level of performance)
-
Band 4 (Good level of performance)
-
Band 5 (Excellent level of performance)
If the score obtained is Band 1 or Band 2, the candidate will be advised about their learning needs and it is recommended that a suitable interval is taken before the next attempt.
This period of time it is necessary in order for the candidate to prepare better for the next MCQ attempt.
The MCQ exam is considered passed if you at least Band 3. The candidates that obtain this result will be required to take and pass Simulated Surgery.
If a candidate obtains Band 4 at the MCQ, will be approved for direct entry to 3 months I&R. Band 5 will be approved for direct entry to 1 month I&R.
5. What is Simulated Surgery Exam?
This assessment tests your consulting and communication skills. It is intended to be like everyday surgery in any general practice. They are held in London and are set in a consulting room with actors playing the role of patients who will come in for a 10-minute appointment.