Throughout the Course

Placement Records

Specialty Directors/Undergraduate Specialty Tutors provide a report on each student at the end of a placement, their purpose is to:

• monitor attendance and performance – information is held in a student’s personal electronic record;
• identify students with specific problems, ensuring that early action may be taken;
• monitoring the quality of education provided.

Although in-course performance does not directly contribute to Final MB, satisfactory completion of all placements is a pre-requisite for examination entry.  Students whose performance in a subject is unsatisfactory may have to gain more experience in the subject or defer sitting a formal or informal assessment. Students are able to view their own placement records on MedEd as soon as they are released by tutors.

Student Performance Report

A summary of the placement record information is produced in the form of a ‘Student Performance Report’ at the end of each year.  Any student with a consistently poor record will be referred for discussion with the CGC Director.

Clinical Supervisor Reports

Colleges require Supervisors to provide termly reports on student progress; the Senior Tutor/Director of Studies refer any serious difficulties to the CGC Director.

College Reports

At the end of University Terms, College Personal Tutors may invite students to complete a self-assessment form and offer them an opportunity to review their term’s supervision reports and progress.

Years 1 and 2

At the end of Clinical Skills 1, 2,3, 4 and 5 each student meets with a CGC Tutor for discussion of the Supervision Reports, portfolio of cases, Performance Report, feedback from hospital and GP tutors and assessment results. The student is made aware of his/her progress.

Students who fail a Second MB examination at the end of year one or year two will resit in September; students resitting year two examinations will be based in Cambridge for their first Year 3 placements where support for revision is provided.

Students who fail Final MB Part I at the end of Year 2, will receive remedial teaching and be reassessed in September/October of that year; if they fail the reassessment they will not be able to continue with the course, unless they are granted permission, exceptionally, to sit the examination for a third time.

Students will be required to repeat Year 2 if they fail:

• the resit Final MB Part I examination in September/October and are granted permission under exceptional circumstances to sit the Final MB Part I for the third time.

A student who fails any resit examination is immediately removed from the Medical Student Register and leaves the course. Where there are mitigating circumstances, the student may apply for a further attempt; while the application is considered, the student remains suspended from the Register.

Year 3  (SCP) and Final MB Part II

Remedial teaching will be provided for students who do not satisfactorily complete one placement.  Students who fail the end of Year 3 (SCP) Assessment (Final MB Part II) will receive remedial tuition and be reassessed in September/October of that year; any student failing the reassessment will not be able to continue with the course.

Students will be required to repeat Year 3 (SCP) if they fail:

• a resit Final MB examination in October and are granted permission under exceptional circumstances to sit Final MB Part II for a third time;
• two or more SCP placement

Each student meets with the Clinical Dean or a Clinical Sub-Dean for a Year 3 Interview, which will usually take place towards the start of Year 4. This involves a discussion which includes a review of their Year 3 placements, Final MB Part II results and feedback on overall progress to date.  Careers advice is also offered and the student has the opportunity raise any concerns or issues they may have.

Year 4  (ACP) and Final MB Part III

Students who do not satisfactorily complete a placement are given, at the discretion of the Clinical Dean, the opportunity to attend remedial teaching during the Year 4 holiday and self-directed study periods.  Any student failing two ACP placements will be required to meet with the Clinical Dean to determine whether he/she will be allowed to continue on the ACP course or be required to resit Year 4 (including the entire Final MB Part III assessment programme, even if the written examinations have been successfully completed).

Towards the end of Year 4, an appointment with the Clinical Dean (or a Clinical Sub-Dean) will be offered to any student who wishes to discuss performance and/or career plans. Students with major difficulties will already have been identified and seen by the Clinical Dean – in exceptional circumstances, a formal warning of withdrawal of permission to sit Final MB may be issued.

Students who fail one or more of the Final MB Part III written components may resit in the Lent Term in Year 4, and before the Final MB Part III Clinical Exams.

Students will be expected to repeat Year 4 (ACP) and resit all Final MB Part III components if they fail:

• a clinical component (SCEE or CE) at the first sitting in April/May;
• a written component resit (if a request for an exceptional third attempt is granted).

Students are permitted two attempts at each Final MB examination; exceptionally, if there are extenuating circumstances, the Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine may give permission for an additional attempt; a programme of revision and clinical placements to maintain their skills is organised.