How to Pass the RACP Written and Clinical Exams

About the EditorsZoë Raos is a gastroenterologist and general physician at North Shore Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand. She is a current RACP Examiner. Cheryl Johnson is a geriatrician at North Shore Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand. She is a current RACP Examiner.

• Preface xvAbout the Authors xviiAcknowledgements xixIllustrations xxiGeneral Disclaimer xxiiiSection 1 The Written Exam 11 Introduction to the Written Exam 3Why Does The RACP Have a Written Exam? 4When is the Best Time to Sit? 5How Long Does It Take to Prepare for the Written Exam? 5Am I Ready to Sit This Exam? 5Decision Made. Sitting the Written 62 Preparation 11One Year Out - What to Do Before You Even Start Studying 113 How to Start Studying for the Written Exam 15How to Manage Your Time 15Dealing with Stress 20Advice from Registrars on Studying and Keeping Sane(ish) 21Evidence‐Based Study - Break It Down! 24Getting Down to Work - How to Start Studying 254 Topics That Need to Be Covered for the Written Exam 29What is My Goal? Why Am I Putting Myself Through This? 29How to Think Like An Examiner for the Written Exam 30Organising Your Study Time - A Plan of Attack 30The FRACP Curriculum 31Topics to Cover 31Money for Jam 32Immunology - Special Mention 33Visual Material in the Exam 345 Study Group 35General Principles That Make Study Groups Effective 35What Do You Do at Study Group? 366 Now We Know How to Study, What Stuff Do We Study From? 39Wallpapering Your Mind 39Comprehensive List of Resources for Wallpapering Your Mind 40Lecture‐Based Resources 40MCQ‐Based Resources 42Textbooks and Online Resources 44Other Useful Textbooks and Resources 46Technological Advances to Help With Your Study 48Journals: A Suggested Approach 49Useful Websites 507 Old FRACP Exam Questions 53Without Us, or You, Breaking the Rules, How Can the Modern Candidate Cope Without FRACP Past and Remembered Papers? 54What is the Point of Doing Old FRACP and Course Questions? 548 Two‐Week Revision Courses 57Dunedin FRACP Written Examination Revision Course 58FRACP Written Exam Prep Course - Melbourne 59Royal Prince Alfred BPT Exam Revision Course - Sydney 59Short Courses Worthy of Consideration 609 Putting It All Together - The Final Three Months 63Practicalities of Getting to the Exam 63What to Study 63Keeping as Calm as Possible 64Leading Up to the Big Day - The Weeks Before 64The Day Before 65On the Day - How to Get Through the Exam 6610 After the Exam 69What to Do If You Pass 69What to Do If You Don’t Pass 69Section 2 The Clinical Exam 7111 Introduction to the FRACP Clinical Exam 73Why Is There a Clinical Exam? 75Getting Your Timing Right: When to Sit the Clinical Exam 7512 The Clinical Exam Marking Schedule 7713 Two Weeks of Ground Work 85Three Key Parts to Passing the Clinical Exam 86How to Get Humble and Ask for Help 87The Kit Bag 88Book Reviews 92Course Reviews 96Personal Appearance - First Impressions Count 98The ‘Infection Control’ Effect 10414 How to Start - Doing Your First Practice Cases 105Know Your Enemies 106A Few Tricks of the Trade 106Practising Cases - Who Can Help You the Most? 106Who Can Help Me Pass This Exam? 107Mock Exams: Well Worth the Humiliation 10915 An Introduction to the Long Case 111What is a Long Case Anyway? 111Point to Prove in the Long Case 113Aspects of a Long Case 113Practising for Long Cases 116How Many Long Cases Should You Do? 117Practicalities of Practising 118What to Do If There Aren’t Enough Patients to See 119Key Long Cases 119Taking Orderly Notes for Your Long Case 121Role of the Study Group for the Long Case 12216 Mastering and Presenting your Long Case 125A Suggested Style for Long Case Presentation 125Organising Your Presentation 126Verbal Signposts 127Presenting a Case Well - Speech and Drama 101 127Presentation Template That Worked for Us 128The Grilling 138The Aftermath 138Sentences That Save Time and Sound Slick 13917 Special Points for Paediatric Cases 141Specific Points About the Paediatric Long Case 141The Developmental Case 144The Adolescent Long Case 14918 Secret Long Case Species 153The Chronic Disease Long Case 153The Single Problem Long Case 154The Diagnostic Dilemma Long Case 154The Disaster Long Case 15519 Top Long Case Tips from Candidates and Examiners 161Long Case Advice from Candidates 161Long Case Advice from Examiners 16420 Suggested Approach to a Māori Patient in the Long Case 16721 Long Case Examples 171Long Case 1 - Multiple Medical Problem Management 171Long Case 2 - Complicated Diabetes Case 178Long Case 3 - Diagnostic Long Case 185Long Case 4 - Adolescent Single Problem Long Case with Transition of Care 19322 Past Exam Long Cases 20323 An Introduction to the Short Case 217Marking Schedule for the Short Case 217Points to Prove in the Short Case 21824 How to Put On a Show 223Part 1: Examination Routine - How to Practise 223Part 2: Presenting a Short Case 230Part 3: The Short Case Discussion (Grilling) 23325 Short Case Advice from Registrars 23926 Past Exam Short Cases 24327 Putting It All Together for the Clinical Exam - One Month Out 257What is Your Presentation Style? 257General Advice About Style 258Personalities That Fail the Clinical Exam 25928 The Lead‐Up to the Exam 265The Week Before 265The Day Before 266The Morning of the Exam - Staying Calm 266Getting Through Exam Day - Tips From Registrars 267Final Advice From Examiners 268Section 3 The F‐words - Freedom, Failure, Feedback, Family, Finding Patients and Fellowship 27129 The Post‐Exam World 273Wow! I Passed! 273Oh. I’ve Failed 274The Official Feedback Session 27430 How to Fail - The Outsider’s Guide to the FRACP Exam 275Chapter Author: Dr Roderick Ryan, General Physician, Box Hill 275‘I Failed the FRACP Exam - What Shall I Do?’ 276Tips for Coping with Failure in the Written Exam 277Tips for Coping with Failure in the Clinical Exam 278Seven Key Clinical Exam Skills that Must be Mastered by Those Who Have Failed 279 Snakes and Ladders 28131 Paying It Forward - How to Provide Feedback for Practice Cases 283The Feedback Loop 284Feedback for Clinical Exams 28432 Studying for the Exams with a Family on Board 291Chapter Author: Dr Robert Wakuluk, Advanced Trainee, Auckland 29133 Organising the Clinical Exam 295First Principles 295Organising the People and the Space 296Case Selection Formula 297Types of Cases You Need to Find 298Where Are Cases Found? 299Short Case Patients 301Long Case Patients 301Back‐Up Patients 301The Envelopes 302‘Mind‐Map’ and Other Spreadsheets 303The Day Before 304On the Day 304What Examiners Tell the Patients 30434 Preparing for Your Medical Interview 307Chapter Author: Dr Nalin Wickramasuriya, Consultant Paediatrician 308Trap Number 1 - Giving a Straight Answer to a Straight Question 309The Three Goals of an Interview 309Rapport 309Trap Number 2 - The Short Case/Viva Complex 312Trap Number 3 - Preparing for the Interview Like an Exam 312Trap Number 4 - Talking Posh on the Day of the Interview 314Trap Number 5 - Not Planning Your Response When the Interviewer Asks You a Question 31535 Career Planning 317I Passed. What Advanced Training Programme Should I Apply For? 317Pearls of Wisdom 318Career Path Planning 319Get a Mentor 32036 OK, We’ll Stop Talking Now! 321Helping the Next Lot 322Index 323