Getting recognition as proficient medical practitioners is a dream for every physician or surgeon. For all fields of medical science, such recognition means peer accolades, patient appreciation and most of all, the feeling of self satisfaction. But these achievements do not come easy as treating patients is challenging enough to be taken lightly. Hence, the studies, which go behind the making of a competent doctor have to be of the highest possible standard. To help achieve such levels of competencies and expertise in diagnosing and treating patients, the Membership of Royal College of Physicians and other specialities is being sought by doctors. MRCP degrees are obtained from UK under the National Health Service rules, for which the candidates are needed to pass the CASC or Clinical Assessment of Skills and Competencies. This is an exam that is conducted by the Royal College in UK, in different parts of the world, which a few years back was possible to appear only in UK. The toughness and tenacity of the exam is reflected from the low pass percentage, which shows that the candidates have to be highly skilled and competent in their respective specialities. In order to achieve success in the CASC exam, candidates have to therefore, be prepared with all their expertise and ability. For this purpose, the best way is to take up the CASC mock exam, so that they are accustomed to the high level of expertise sought in the CASC examination. To be able to secure success in their attempts, candidates can go through the CASC training schedules and be conversant with the pattern of examination and strengthen their skills through 3 important factors. • Foremost, in the attempt to clear the CASC exam is the mindset. There has to be a positive mindset, even before the application form for the exam is submitted. In spite of previous failures, people shouldn’t get a negative opinion. Instead, there should be the belief that the negatives can be strengthened by experiential learning. And then efforts should be given to overcome the shortcomings through CASC training and courses. • If people are aiming to appear for the CASC examination at a particular time, they will have to prepare as early as possible. Since the candidates appearing in the CASC are already practising, in most cases, it is in their practices that they need to bring in a disciplined approach. History taking and examination of the patients can be learnt by regularly imbibing the techniques in the daily practise. This can be further improvised by working in consultation with experts who have the experience of being examiners in such tests. Their direct inputs will be valuable in changing any negative formats in treatment profile. Incorporating these changes at the earliest possible time is required. • Attending CASC courses can be a great way to improvise on the defects. In most of these short term training programs, candidates are required to take up cases according to their choice. Apart from practising with real patients, role play method of learning can be a great way to rectify any mistakes. CASC mock exam is highly beneficial in such situations because there are video replays of the different sessions in various stations. It helps in quickly learning any weak points in any particular situation, which will greatly improve the chance of successfully passing the CASC examination. Pass percentage in the final CASC exam is quite less than people expect. Patient examination process and the number of cases to evaluate are quite long and multiple. Therefore, to overcome the hurdle of CASC and secure the qualifications from the Royal College of London, candidates will have to strive across few particular points, so that they are not only confident but also meticulous in their approach.
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