Exam Tips - 5 min read
SCA Exam Day: A Starter Checklist
A starter checklist for the SCA exam day, including surgery setup, technology checks, and ways to settle yourself on the day. The SCA is sat at your own GP surgery, so most preparation is local.
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
Consider booking a room that is private, has good lighting, a stable chair, and a desk large enough for your laptop, notes, and a glass of water. You may want to think about background noise (corridors, busy reception, neighbouring rooms) and whether the door can be closed properly. Where possible, try a practice run in that room at the same time of day to see what the environment feels like.
Check your technology well before the day
It can help to check your surgery computer, webcam, microphone, speakers or headset, and supported browser several days in advance, not on the morning of the exam. Consider testing screen sharing, the assessment platform if you have access, and any RCGP-required equipment checks. You may also want to confirm that the surgery's broadband is stable at the time of day you will be sitting, and think about what you would do if Wi-Fi drops (e.g., a wired connection or tethering).
Have a backup plan for technology
You may find it helpful to have a backup laptop ready, charged, and logged in to the same accounts in case the primary device fails. Consider where the nearest IT support is, who in the surgery can let you into another room, and the phone number to call if you need to report a technical problem during the exam window. Try to write these contacts down on paper so you are not searching for them under pressure.
Prepare yourself the day before
It can help to rest properly the night before rather than cramming. Some trainees find it useful to pack their bag the evening before with ID, water, a snack, glasses if needed, and any documents the surgery has asked for. Light revision of consultation structure and safety-netting phrases tends to be more useful than trying to learn new clinical content at the last minute.
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
Consider treating each station as a fresh consultation rather than carrying frustration from the previous one. You may find it helpful to use any short breaks to reset posture, take a sip of water, and reread the next station prompt deliberately. If something goes wrong technically, try to stay calm and follow the documented process rather than improvising.
If something breaks
It is worth knowing in advance what to do if your computer freezes, the camera fails, or the platform disconnects. Consider noting down the RCGP support contact, your surgery IT contact, and a brief script for explaining the issue. Having a backup device already powered on can save valuable time.
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