Exam Tips - 4 min read
SCA Exam Day: A Starter Checklist
Prepare your surgery setup, check the technology and work through a practical exam-day checklist.
Confirm with your surgery in advance
It can help to confirm well ahead of the date that the surgery team are aware you will be sitting the SCA there. You may want to agree which room you will use, that the room can be kept quiet for the full exam window, and that reception and clinical colleagues know not to interrupt. Some trainees find it helpful to put a sign on the door and to block the room out in any shared calendar.
Book a quiet, suitable room
Agree a quiet, private room with the surgery team and check it against the current RCGP surgery guide. Plan suitable lighting and a clear workspace, with interruptions and clinical reference materials addressed before the exam. Rehearse in the same room when possible.
Check your technology well before the day
Complete the official device check using the computer and room you will use for the exam. Work through the platform walkthrough and check the current camera, audio, browser and connection requirements. Follow the surgery guide for permitted equipment; Bluetooth headsets are not permitted.
Have a backup plan for technology
Check a secondary device in advance and agree how to reach local IT support. Read the RCGP process for technical problems. Do not assume that switching devices, using a phone or leaving the room during the exam is allowed without following the invigilator’s instructions.
Prepare yourself the day before
Check your booking instructions, permitted items and any agreed reasonable adjustments. Prepare what you need the day before so the morning is less rushed. The RCGP guide prohibits preparation materials, paper and notepads in the examination room; use only the note-taking arrangements it permits.
On the morning of the exam
Try to arrive at the surgery early enough to settle, log in, and check the room before your first station. You may want to use the toilet, get water, and remind reception that you must not be disturbed. A short routine that calms you (a few slow breaths, a brief stretch, a final read of your structure prompt) can help more than last-minute revision.
Between stations and during the exam window
Treat each consultation as a fresh start. Use the reading period deliberately and follow the invigilator’s instructions during breaks. Examination conditions continue until you are told that you may log out.
If something breaks
Follow the official support process if the camera, connection or platform fails. Know how to contact the examination team before the day, and use your phone only as permitted for technical support. Avoid improvising a workaround during examination conditions.
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