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
Streams
• SBM Scientific basis of Medicine
• CLM Clinical laboratory management
• CLR Communication Learning and
Research
• DIS Doctor in Society
• HCT Hospital and community training
Year One
E
E
X
X
S B M & CLM
S B M & CLM
DIS
DIS
CLR
CLR
E
L
E
C
T
I
V
E
S
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)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
pinocytosis
phagocytosis
exocytosis
primary active transport
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 schemes
Rating scales
Checklists
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
Module
Credits
Total
MCQ
duration of
Examination
SAQ
OSPE
1½
1½
1½
1
1
1½
1½
1½
1½
1½
1½
½
1½
1½
1½
1½
1½
2
1½
1½
1
-
Hours
Foundation
4
1½
6
Respiration
3½
1
3
Blood and
4
1
6
circulation
Alimentation
4
1
6
Excretion and
4
1
7
reproduction
Growth
3
1
4
development
ageing and
nutrition
Nervous control
4
1
8
Endocrine
4
1
7
function,
homeostasis and
metabolism
Locomotion
4
1
7
Infection
4
1
4
Integrated
3
1½
3
Streams
Communication Learning and Research (CLR)
Year / Semester
Credits
Duration
SAQ/Essay
hours
Y1S1
Y1S2
Y2S1
Y2S2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Doctor in Society (DIS) Note: Exams only in the second semester of each year
Year/ Semester
Credit
Duration
SAQ
hours
Y1S2
2
2
2
Y2S2
2
2
2
The curriculum instructs teachers
what to teach;
The exam instructs students
what to learn.
Donald Melnick, 1991
Take home message
• Exams are organized to ensure justice
• A range of measurements are used
• A number of tools are used
Examinations