Exam Guides - 2 min read
About the SCA Exam
An overview of the Simulated Consultation Assessment, focusing on the skills it tests and what GP trainees should prioritise during MRCGP preparation.
What this page is about
Some GP trainees still come across the older CSA name and wonder how it relates to the current SCA. This is a short orientation note rather than an authoritative source; the up-to-date format details should always be confirmed on the RCGP website.
Format differences
Both exams aim to test consultation behaviour, but the SCA uses a simulated consultation model that GP trainees often sit from their own surgery rather than at a regional centre. The broad emphasis on data gathering, clinical management, and relating to others has largely been preserved.
What this means for preparation
Most CSA-era preparation principles still apply: candidates may want to think about structured opening, focused data gathering, hedged safety-netting, shared decisions, and time control. Familiarity with the current SCA format and platform tends to reduce avoidable exam-day friction.
Where to check the current detail
For the official exam description, marking domains, and feedback statements, trainees can consult the RCGP MRCGP SCA pages. Local supervisor input and deanery guidance often add useful context that a generic guide cannot.
How trainees often use this
Trainees often find it helpful to read the current RCGP overview once, note any wording or format changes from older CSA-era material, and then return their attention to consultation rehearsal rather than to comparing the two exams in detail.
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