EXIT EXAMINATION GUIDELINES

Examination Format
1. The FAMS Exit examination shall comprise a structured oral and/or clinical and/or written section(s). The logbook shall be reviewed as part of the assessment of training.

Board of Examiners
2. The Board of Examiners shall consist of at least :

i) two local specialists from the relevant Panel of Examiners approved by the Joint Committee on Specialist Training (JCST); and

ii) one external specialist from abroad, whenever possible (foreign specialists on short-term attachment may be invited).

(In the event that no external examiner is available, the position will be replaced by a third local ‘independent’ examiner)

3. JCST shall appoint a Panel of Examiners for each specialty. The local Examiner shall :

i) be a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore in good standing;

ii) have registered as a Specialist with the Singapore Medical Council;

iii) be in active practice in the specialty or related specialties/subspecialties and have clinical or other relevant experience in the specialty/subspecialty for at least five years as a full-time or visiting Consultant at a recognised teaching institution;

iv) be involved in graduate teaching, academic activities and CME; and

v) have relevant experience in training and conducting examination in the specialty at the graduate level, and for those without experience in conducting examinations, be willing to observe the examination in the first instance and participate in any examiners training courses.

vi) not examine a candidate from their own department/hospital (except in multi-station examination in which case there must be an ‘independent co-examiner’).

4. JCST shall appoint the Chief Examiner for each examination upon STC’s recommendation.

5. JCST will invite eligible Fellows to apply for appointment. Besides participating in exit examinations, Examiners are required to contribute questions, advice on assessment methods, and participate in Examiner workshops and other related meetings

6. The External Examiner shall possess :

i) relevant experience in training and conducting examinations in the specialty at the graduate level in a recognised graduate institution including any of the Royal Colleges and Specialty Boards; and

ii) at least ten years' post advanced-training experience in the specialty at the consultant (or equivalent) level.

Schedule of Examinations

7. Trainees should be examined not ealier than 3 months before end of training; and not later than 3 months after end of training. Examinations shall be offered at least once yearly or more frequently if the need (eg for re-examination) arises. Examinations must be scheduled within the same time period(s) of the year as illustrated below:

i) Exit examinations shall normally be scheduled during Apr-May for trainees completing training in April; and during Oct-Nov for trainees completing training in Oct of that year.

ii) Other than above, Exit examinations may be scheduled during the MMed courses/examinations periods or as and when determined by any joint exit examination arrangements.

Components of Examination

8. The examination shall consist of an oral and/or clinical and/or written section; and may cover all or part of the following :

i) discussion on a prescribed number of structured clinical cases and other relevant management scenarios including ethics;

ii) review of clinical and other relevant activities (eg research, CME) as presented in the logbook and various progress reports;

iii) a patient-based clinical; and

iv) a written section (eg case write-ups; MCQs; SAQs; etc)

9. Research or publication is encouraged, but shall not be a mandatory requirement for assessment. Where there are joint examinations with an overseas College, the examination format will be mutually agreed upon.

Re-examination

10. Unsuccessful candidates shall be required to repeat the entire examination or parts of the examination as determined by the Board of Examiners or STC. Any additional training requirements must be completed prior to the re-examination.

11. For repeating the entire examination, the candidate shall be re-examined 6 months after the last attempt, or at the next exit2 exam for the subsequent cohort of trainees completing their training.

12. For repeating only parts of the examination, the candidate may be re-examined at an appropriate time to be determined by STC.

Overall Outcome

13. The Board of Examiners will determine the result as follows:

i) that the Board is satisfied that the trainee has fulfilled the training requirements and passed the exit examinations, and is recommended for the award of FAMS and is eligible to apply for for specialist registration by SAB; or

ii) that the Board finds that the trainee has displayed significant weaknesses in the areas to be specified clearly, and recommends:

(a) that the candidate produce proof of rectification of the above to the Specialist Training Committee within six months from the examination, failing which he is required to attend another examination; or

a. that the candidate be scheduled for another examination, either in parts or in its entirety.

14. The JCST secretariat will record and submit a Board of Examiners report to JCST, and will formally issue the examination result to the trainee.

15. Any disagreements should be referred to JCST for final adjudication.

8 May 04