Final Viva Revision Course

This course will only be of value to those candidates who survive the SAQ/MCQ hurdle and who have been invited for the SOE in London.

Trainees who are not sitting the exam imminently are urged to postpone attending this course on this date.

A Note from the Course Director

Dr David Gray

This is a relatively new course.

The idea behind it is that the MSA has a huge laminated collection of verbatim vivas plus candidate comments, all worthy of notice by anyone approaching the London setting.

These feedbacks are studied and analysed by the candidates in groups, the principle benefit being that one learns very quickly of the range and form of the questions likely to be asked and the manner in which they are asked. Thus enlightened candidates leave the course remarking that they had no idea that they might be asked this or that etc.

It is a good course – although I would say that – but, I offered the Pilot Course last year at no cost to the candidates, all candidates previously of the Primary Courses,  as I did not wish the MSA to disappoint or disillusion and thus lose friends.

At the closing Feedback session, I asked them as to whether it was worth continuing with the course? (Unanimous “Yes”); and as to what would be a reasonable Course Fee? (varied between £400 and £250 with the majority suggesting either £300 or £350).

There were 26 trainees and I invited them to make a token contribution to the charity Lifebox as a measure of their appreciation of the course and the total pledged was over £2300.

In the last course, the first formal course, to break the time a bit, I included a few tutorials on the more esoteric subjects plus the odd trick or two, all of which went down well and I will be doing so again.

I have confidence in the course now and certainly, if I were sitting the exam, I would welcome a place if only to learn what I have to do when I get back home, knowing that I have at least three weeks to do it.  

Caution:

One or two tentative applicants have asked as to whether there is any “Viva Practice”.

There is No Formal Viva Practice on this course although candidates do tend to ‘viva’ each other informally but profitably in the course of the Group Work.

The Course for Viva Practice is the Viva Weekend 16-18 June.

David Gray

May 2012

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Accommodation

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Accommodation  

This course will only be of value to those candidates who survive the SAQ/MCQ hurdle and who have been invited for the SOE in London.

Trainees who are not sitting the exam imminently are urged to postpone attending this course on this date.

Outline Programme (Subject to Variation)

Saturday

14.00               Registration & Reception

14.30               Introduction to Viva Presentation & Techniques

                        Course Protocols & Procedures

15.30               Round # 1      Long Case & Short Cases

18.30               Reflection & Revision - Preparation for Round # 2

20.30               Close

Sunday

08.30               Round # 2      Sciences Vivas 1 & 2

10.30               Reflection & Revision - Preparation for Round # 3

13.00               Round # 3      Long Case & Short Cases

16.00               Reflection & Revision - Preparation for Round # 4

17.30               Round # 4      Sciences Vivas 1 & 2

19.30               Reflection & Revision - Preparation for Round # 5

21.00               Close

Monday         

08.30               Round # 5      Long Case & Short Cases

11.30               Reflection & Revision - Preparation for Round # 6

13.00               Round # 6      Clinical Sciences Vivas 1 & 2

15.00               Course Assessment

                        Reflection & Revision

16.00               Formal Close

                        Those candidates wishing to stay pending train or plane departures are able to review                       Course Material for as long as they wish to do so.

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Final FRCA SAQ  &  Final FCARCSI Essay & SAQ Weekend Course

Learn & Practice 

The Mersey Method of Dealing with the Written Papers of both Colleges

Master Classes in Style & Technique

Time Management & Discipline

Spot Question Exercise

MENU

Master Class on The Mersey Method

Mersey Method Trial & Training

Four 12 Question Papers

under

Examination Conditions

Analysis & Revision

Dear Dr Gray!

 Passed Final FRCA on my first attempt yesterday!.

My previous Exam Record: MRCP Part 1: Passed on 5th Attempt

MRCP Part 2 written: Passed on 2nd Attempt MRCP PACES: Failed 3 times

Primary FRCA: Passed on 4th Attempt (Dublin).

I have attended your SAQ and Final Viva-Weekend.

After the SAQ-Weekend and a Test Run of 4 x 1, 6 x 1+ and 2 x 2 in SAQs, I  thought, that I would have absolutely no chance.

Working an ICU-Rota + having 3 children under 5years + 2 dogs at home, limited revision time even further. Never mind: I stuck to your Merseyside SAQ-Method and it carried me through.  

Application Form

Accommodation

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 Final FRCA SAQ  &  Final FCARCSI Essay & SAQ Weekend Course

Learn & Practice 

The Mersey Method of Dealing with the Written Papers of both Colleges

Master Classes in Style & Technique

Time Management & Discipline

Spot Question Exercise

MENU

Master Class on The Mersey Method

Mersey Method Trial & Training

Four 12 Question Papers

under

Examination Conditions

Analysis & Revision

Dear Dr Gray!

 Passed Final FRCA on my first attempt yesterday!.

My previous Exam Record: MRCP Part 1: Passed on 5th Attempt

MRCP Part 2 written: Passed on 2nd Attempt MRCP PACES: Failed 3 times

Primary FRCA: Passed on 4th Attempt (Dublin).

I have attended your SAQ and Final Viva-Weekend.

After the SAQ-Weekend and a Test Run of 4 x 1, 6 x 1+ and 2 x 2 in SAQs, I  thought, that I would have absolutely no chance.

Working an ICU-Rota + having 3 children under 5years + 2 dogs at home, limited revision time even further. Never mind: I stuck to your Merseyside SAQ-Method and it carried me through.  

Application Form

Accommodation

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Final FRCA & Final FCARCSI (Booker) Crammer Course

14.00 Sunday 19th - 24th August 2012

* Course Fee £500 & includes Lunch or Dinner

NB: A number of candidates wrongly assume that the course is at Aintree Hospitals. (See Below)

The course is organised and run by Dr James McKevith, Dr Simon Ridler, Dr Nigel Scawn & Dr Lawrence Wilson, in association with Dr Peter Booker, recently retired Consultant Anaesthetist and long-serving RCA Examiner.

The course opens on the Sunday (14.00) and closes the following Friday (16.00).
The days are long (08.30 - 18.30) and exhausting as no time is wasted.

Because of the intensity of the course, it is considered as unsuitable for other than those who are sitting the Final Examination imminently

The mornings are mainly spent addressing an SAQ paper with subsequent analysis and advice as to Presentation and Content.
While the SAQ paper is being marked, the candidates complete a short MCQ paper which, as with the SAQ paper, is subsequently discussed interactively.
In the afternoons, there is a programme of Lectures or Tutorials on specific topics.

The course is held twice a year, usually in the month before the opening of the RCA (London) Final Examination.

Please Note

The Liverpool Medical Institution is in the City of Liverpool & 5 – 6 miles from Aintree Hospital  

Application Form

Accommodation

Please see special notices below concerning the Waiting List Protocols

The Course List & Waiting List Protocols

Trainees are asked to download & complete the Generic Application Form (See Above) taking particular care to print their  E-MAIL ADDRESS & appropriate TELEPHONE NUMBERS clearly.
You must include an e-mail address & telephone numbers by which you can be easily contacted.

Applications without an e-mail address & contact telephone numbers cannot be considered.

Submit your cheque with the completed Application Form.

The cheque needs to be made out to: MSA & Dated: 01/ 07/12

Important notice concerning confirmation:

You will receive by e-mail an Acknowledgement of your Application but this will NOT be a Receipt.

Receipts are issued with Certificate of Attendance at the close of the courses.

If you have not received an Acknowledgement by e-mail within 14 days of posting your application, you should e-mail:

david.gray@aintree.nhs.uk

The course has a restricted complement of 90 places.

Approximately one month prior to the course opening or as soon as there is a Waiting List if that is earlier, all those with places on the Course List will be asked to confirm their intention to attend the course.

This is because some trainees, particularly if they have applied early, subsequently decide not to sit the exam for whatever reason and therefore wish to surrender their place.

Once it is established who of those with places wish to secure their place, any places which have been surrendered are offered to those on the Waiting List with the request that they confirm that they intend to accept the offered place.

When all places have been filled by this mechanism of transfer, any trainees whose name remains on the Waiting List are advised accordingly so as to afford them the opportunity to seek a course elsewhere.

At the same time, the cheques of those who have confirmed their intention to attend the course are presented for payment on the understanding that there will be no refund should the candidate later withdraw.

Trainees on the Mersey Deanery rotation will only be admitted to the Booker Course once and thus they should only apply for the examination when committed to the examination.

Plus, Mersey Deanery candidates should submit their applications as soon as they have decided to sit the examination as they cannot presume a place on the course if the latter is over-subscribed.

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Primary OSCE Weekend

OSCE/Orals Course

Master Classes, Tutorials & Mock Examinations

Communication Skills with Model Patients

History Taking with Model Patients

Clinical Skills OSCE Practice

Critical Incidents Master Class

Viva Technique Master Class

Viva Practice +++

The OSCE Experience

The Simulation OSCE Station

Resuscitation Master Class
Machine Check & Equipment Master Class

Anatomy & Regional Block OSCEs

Statistics

Formal Oral Examinations

Formal OSCE Examination

Notice - The Waiting List Protocol

In the event of the course being over-subscribed, it becomes necessary to establish the Definitive Course List (DCL) as early as possible so as to afford unsuccessful applicants the opportunity to look for a course elsewhere.

Many would-be candidates apply for the course well ahead of time such that, by the time of the closing date of application for respective examination, they change their mind for whatever reason.

Some of these trainees do not let us know that they will not be attending the OSCE/Orals course with the result there is a danger of us denying places to applicants whose names are on the waiting list plus we could be left with unfilled places which seriously disturbs the dynamics of the course which are strictly structured to exactly 48 candidates.

Consequently, as soon as we have 48 applicants, we contact those applicants asking them to confirm they wish to reserve their place with the caveat that, should they confirm, their cheques will be presented for clearance. If their cheque is pre-dated, they will be asked to submit a second cheque for immediate clearance, the original cheque being destroyed.

Once we have identified those wishing to withdraw from the course, we trawl through any waiting list asking the applicants to confirm their wish for a place and, where necessary, to submit a second cheque as outlined above.

When all the places are confirmed, the Three Observer Places are offered to any remaining on the waiting list

The Observers

The Observers attend the course on the understanding that, should any of the 48 listed candidates be late or fail to attend, they will (in order) be allocated the vacant slot. Should the replaced candidate eventually turn-up, he or she will lose the place and remain as an Observer, the course fee being refunded.

Observers enjoy full exposure to the course, the only difference being that they are not examined formally on the Closing Day Mock OSCEs & Vivas although they are permitted to ‘observe’ at these sessions.

Observers do not pay any course fee.

To date, every Observer we have had has greatly appreciated the opportunity and, as far as we know from feedback, only 1 out of a possible 12 has failed to pass the exam.

When all places are filled, those applicants remaining on the waiting list are advised accordingly as soon as possible thus allowing them the chance to apply elsewhere.

Accommodation:

Please see Return to Accommodation but note the Websites which might be accommodating for Whiston.

            http://www.information-britain.co.uk/showPlace.cfm?Place_ID=8917

            http://www.premierinn.com/en/hotel/LIVSHI/liverpool-rainhill

            http://www.iknow-northwest.co.uk/accommodation/6369-premier_inn_-_liverpool_roby-huyton.htm

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10th - 15th November 2012

Course Fee: £300

Cheque payable to: MSA

Course Code: Final Viva Revision 1112

5 days of intense revision:

Basic Sciences

Clinical Sciences

Short Cases

Long Cases

Plus

Master classes

ECGs

X-Rays

Data interpretation

This course is NOT a course in Viva presentation & practice.  It is a course to prepare candidates for likely subjects.

Application Form

Accommodation

Application Form

Accommodation

Director’s Notes

• This course will only be of value to those candidates who survive the SAQ/MCQ hurdle and who have been invited for the SOE in London.
• Candidates will be asked to show their RCA Candidate Number.
• The cheques of those Applicants who apply but who subsequently fail the written paper will not be presented for payment but will be destroyed.
• Mersey Deanery Trainees wishing to attend these courses are asked to contact Dr Gray immediately after having received their RCA Candidate Number.

Outline Programme

FRIDAY

14.00              Registration & Reception

14.30              Introduction to Viva Presentation & Techniques

                        Course Protocols & Procedures

15.30              Round # 1

                        Long Case & Short Cases

18.30              Reflection & Revision

                        Preparation for Round # 2

20.30              Close

SATURDAY

08.30              Round # 2

                        Clinical Sciences Vivas 1 & 2

10.30              Reflection & Revision

                        Preparation for Round # 3

13.00              Round # 3

                        Long Case & Short Cases

16.00              Reflection & Revision

                        Preparation for Round # 4

17.30              Round # 4

                        Clinical Sciences Vivas 1 & 2

19.30              Reflection & Revision

                        Preparation for Round # 5

21.00              Close

SUNDAY      

08.30              Round # 5

                        Long Case & Short Cases

11.30              Reflection & Revision

                        Preparation for Round # 6

13.00              Round # 6

                        Clinical Sciences Vivas 1 & 2

15.00              Reflection & Revision

16.00              Close

* Candidates wishing to leave early may do so following the Course Assessment

Those wishing to stay on to review Course Material may do so until 16.00.