Here is a summary post of my key tips for the exam. If you need more detail on any of the tips - sign up to my exclusive membership where I have more detailed posts and podcast episodes explaining them!
Have a solid introduction that you use for each station and could recite in your sleep. This is so you can give the best first impression
Empathy is key! Put your empathetic statements in right at the beginning and make sure that you always respond to cues requiring empathy
Always start with open questions to introduce the topic then move to closed questions later in the station to get the key details
Aline your agenda with the patients agenda. You must acknowledge what the patient wants and why they are there. See if there is a way that your task links with what they want so that it looks like you want the same thing! E.g. I can see you are really keen to go home, I just need to ask you some questions first so that I can be sure that that will be safe for you to do.
Make it flow! it should sound like a conversation, not an interrogation.
Depth and range. You need to cover all areas in the history but also make sure you go into enough detail. If pushed, range will mean you hit more domains so better to ask a bit about everything than just cover one domain really well.
Learn buzzwords: MDT, carers assessment, OT/Social workers, weighing up the risk and benefit
Be systematic - its much easier for both you and the examiner marking you if you have a clear structure to the station
You do not have to summarise / end the station nicely, contrary to popular belief! You will get more marks for asking more questions and being mid sentence at the end than for summarising and ending it nicely but missing key information or questions.
Don’t waste time complaining. Is the exam fair? Is it realistic? Does it mean you're a good psychiatrist if you pass? It doesn't really matter because you've decided (or need) to take it anyway so complaining about the exam is not going to help you pass it and thinking negatively about it won't either. Try to be positive. The psychological aspect of the exam is important and confidence is key.
If you follow my advice and sign up to the exclusive content for members, I will help you to pass and you might even enjoy it!