Types of Examinations

Dr. Kosala Marambe

Medical Education Unit

Examinations

Examinations

Examinations

Examinations

Examinations - Why?

• To find out whether the students have acquired

knowledge

the set competencies

the desirable attitudes

Evaluation/Assessments ?

• Making a value judgment

• Measurement

• Feedback

• Certification

• Ranking

• Motivate learners

• Direct learning in a desirable direction

• SBM Scientific basis of Medicine

• CLM Clinical laboratory management

• CLR Communication Learning and Research

• DIS Doctor in Society

• HCT Hospital and community training

Streams

Year One

E

X S B M & CLMS B M & CLM

E

X

DIS DIS

C L R

E

L

E

C

T

I

V

E

S

C L R

Types of tests

• Formative

To give feedback to students

To get feedback on how students are progressing

• Summative (semester exams)

Performance is assessed for certification

Formative assessment

• Is generally carried out throughout a course or project

• Formative assessment, also referred to as "educative assessment," is used to aid learning

• In an educational setting, formative assessment might be a teacher (or peer) or the learner, providing feedback on a student's work, and would not necessarily be used for grading purposes

• Formative assessments are diagnostic

Formative ?

• When the cook tastes the soup

Summative ?

• When the guests taste the soup

Continuous assessments

• held during the semester

• percentage taken for the end semester examination

• Could be written tests, practical, assignments, case discussions, student presentations

Summative examinations

• Semester examinations

• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)

• True false and best answer

• Time per each question 3 minutes

True/False MCQ

Facilitated diffusion(a) requires ATP as an energy source(b) saturates at high solute

concentrations(c) requires energy by coupling with

an ion gradient(d) transports against the solute

concentration gradient(e) involves a carrier protein

Best Answer MCQ

Hormones are transported out of the cell by

(a) pinocytosis

(b) phagocytosis

(c) exocytosis

(d) primary active transport

(e) secondary active transport

Written Paper

• Short answer questions (Listing kind of thing)

• Structured Essay questions (15 minutes)

• Essay questions (20 to 30 minutes)

Practical exams

• Objective structured practical examinations (OSPE)

• Data interpretation stations

• Identify structures - Spots

• Role play situations (to test communication)

• Viva voce

Example of an OSPE

• Task - Examine the specimen of urine provided for proteins.

• Check list

1. Does he take a urine sample to 2/3 level in the test tube?

2. Does he boil upper 1/3 of the column?3. Does he add 2% acetic acid drop by drop?4. Does he compare change in the top layer

with the bottom layer of urine?

OSCE and OSPE

• Similarly, OSCEs and OSPEs can be made for any subject. At the end of the examination, the scores obtained in the procedure stations are totaled to give the candidate score.

• Scores at individual stations can also be released to give the candidate a meaningful feedback.

In summary

• The main features of OSCE/OSPE is that both the process and the product are tested giving importance to individual competencies.

• The examination covers a broad range of clinical skills much wider than a conventional examination.

• The scoring is objective, since standards of competence are preset and agreed check lists are used for scoring. Where questions are asked in response stations, these are always objective.

Viva voce

• A panel of examiners (2 or 3)

• Ask questions from the examinee

• Duration varies ( 5-10 mts)

Research report

• Assessed using

Marking schemesRating scalesChecklists

Examinations

• Examinations drive learning

• Examiners are not “monsters”

Format for Examination Years 1 and 2 (Semesters 1 and 2)

Scientific Basis of Medicine (SBM) Modules

Total duration of

Examination

MCQ SAQ OSPE

Module Credits

Hours

Foundation 6 4 1½ 1½ 1 Respiration 3 3½ 1 1½ 1 Blood and circulation

6 4 1 1½ 1½

Alimentation 6 4 1 1½ 1½ Excretion and reproduction

7 4 1 1½ 1½

Growth development ageing and nutrition

4 3 1 1½ ½

Nervous control 8 4 1 1½ 1½ Endocrine function, homeostasis and metabolism

7 4 1 1½ 1½

Locomotion 7 4 1 1½ 1½ Infection 4 4 1 2 1 Integrated 3 3 1½ 1½ - Streams Communication Learning and Research (CLR)

Duration SAQ/Essay Year / Semester Credits hours

Y1S1 2 2 2 Y1S2 2 2 2 Y2S1 2 2 2 Y2S2 2 2 2 Doctor in Society (DIS) Note: Exams only in the second semester of each year

Duration SAQ Year/ Semester Credit

hours Y1S2 2 2 2 Y2S2 2 2 2

The curriculum instructs teachers what to teach;

Donald Melnick, 1991

The exam instructs students

what to learn.

Take home message

• Exams are organized to ensure justice

• A range of measurements are used

• A number of tools are used

Examinations