I&R (Eng) - What’s the assessment process?
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The General Practice (GP) National Recruitment Office

What’s the assessment process?

The GP Induction and Refresher Scheme includes a number of assessments which help us advise on the best programme for you - tailored to meet your learning needs, experience and personal commitments. These are:

Assessments

  • Mandatory E-learning modules: This is designed to help you understand the current structure and function of the NHS. It includes modules which are required for your Medical Performers List (MPL) application.

  • Observational placements: These are short placements, of up to a week, which allow you to spend time with a GP to learn about their role and work of a NHS GP in todays’ rapidly changing service. The ‘host’ GP will receive a small payment to support the cost of their time (£500).

  • Multiple choice questions (MCQ): This is completed on-line and there are two parts to the assessment:    

    • a clinical problem solving paper
    • a professional dilemma’s paper (also known as a situational judgement paper).

    There are eight sittings a year in venues across the UK and in approved sites worldwide. Which means if you are working overseas you can complete this part of the scheme without moving to England. The schedule of sittings can be found here. Detailed information is available in the MCQ I&R learning needs assessment guidance document.

  • Guidelines on Learning Needs Assessment Attempts

  • Simulated surgery: Depending on the score you get in the MCQ you may be asked to complete a simulated surgery assessment. If English is not your first language this will include contextualised linguistic assessment and formal feedback. Simulated surgeries are held quarterly at the Royal College of General Practitioners’ (RCGP) examination centre in London. The schedule of assessments can be found here.

  • Workplace based assessments (WPBA): You will have regular workplace based assessments during your supervised placement at a GP surgery. These assessments include teamwork, clinical and communication skills based around observed consultations, case based discussions and clinical procedure observations. It also includes 360 degree feedback from patients (patient satisfaction questionnaires, PSQ) and colleagues (multi-source feedback, MSF). Results are recorded in the NHS I&R log book.