Fellow/Member Representative | MRCOG Part 1 Clinical Assessment Sub-Committee

MRCOG Part 1 Clinical Assessment Sub-Committee Fellow/Member Representative 

• The Chair of the MRCOG Part 1 Clinical Assessment Sub-Committee, RCOG
• The Chair of the Examination and Assessment Committee, RCOG
• Education Board, RCOG
• President and Council, RCOG

Three years, commencing May 2024

1. Attend committee meetings regularly. If two meetings in succession are missed, the sub-committee member must write to the sub-committee Chair to explain their absence, and may be dropped from the sub-committee at the Chair’s discretion.
2. Produce new questions prior to the meeting and submit them to the Chair in advance of the meeting. Annually, question-writing performance will be reviewed by the sub-committee Chair, should there be concerns about the number of questions submitted to the item bank the member may be dropped from the Sub-committee at the Chair’s discretion.
3. Review the performance of questions following the examinations.
4. Reviewing past questions and setting questions within Exam Developer.
   Edit questions in committee or review other members’ questions prior to meetings.
5. Be aware of the standard setting processes and be involved if required.
6. Be involved in the blueprinting of the examination and its sub-sections.
7. Be involved in training sessions for themselves or new examiners, as required.
8. Recommend books and references for use by the Sub-committee in formulating new questions.

The successful candidate will work closely with all other members of the sub-committee and the sub-committee Chair to ensure that the quality of the performance of the MRCOG Part 1 exam is maintained.

There will be four committee meetings per year, of which members will be expected to attend at least three meetings. Members will be asked to assist in reviewing the current bank of MRCOG Part 1 questions.

This role reflects the present requirements of the post. As duties and responsibilities change and develop the role description will be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the post holder.

The role description will be re-evaluated at the end of the term.  

Membership will be allocated by geographical location and special interest in order to maintain an appropriate balance for the committee.

Essential

• FRCOG/MRCOG* 
• Registered with a licence to practise with GMC or Irish Medical Council, in good standing
• Included on the GMC Specialist register and CCT holder
• Substantive consultant or SAS doctor in obstetrics and/or gynaecology in UK NHS Practice for at least three years
• Generalist with a special interest, or specialist with broad-based generalist background
• Involvement in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, specialist training, educational supervision and assessment roles
• Demonstration of involvement in personal CPD

Desirable

• Active or previous participation in assessment and writing of relevant types of examination questions
• Enthusiasm for and understanding of basic sciences and their application to the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology

*N.B. Certain members of the MRCOG Part 1 Sub-Committee may be academic scientists rather than practising consultants with FRCOG/MRCOG.

Essential 

• Able to maintain confidentiality and security
• Retired Fellow/Member applicants must be within three years of retirement

Desirable

• Current or previous MRCOG examiner
• Previous membership of an RCOG Examination Sub-Committee
• Punctuality and ability to complete tasks by prescribed deadlines
• Ability to attend all meetings, the dates of which should be published one year in advance

The 2019 RCOG CPD Guide can be found here.

Committee Chair/Member/Course Convenors and Organisers

If within your committee role or work as course convenor or organiser you gain knowledge which enhances patient care or leadership and technical skills (including for example, giving presentations, teaching sessions or mock examining) credits can be claimed as an ‘Experiential Learning Event’.

Reflection is required to claim credits for an Experiential Learning Event. 2 CPD credits are claimable following reflection. In addition 1 or 2 credits are claimable for an action following the learning (1 credit for a simple action, 2 credits for a complex action). To claim credits for an action, the individual needs to demonstrate how they have applied their learning to their practice, the service they provide and/or the potential impact of the learning.

Writing the single best answer (SBA) questions and setting the papers for the MRCOG Part 1 examination, which is held twice yearly.

• Developing a bank of SBA questions suitable for the MRCOG Part 1 examination
• Assist the Examination Department with draft SBA papers six months prior to the MRCOG Part 1 examination
• Reviewing the performance of examination questions and the analysis of results
• Reviewing past questions and working with the new exam question banking system – Exam Developer
• Maintaining the question bank and writing new questions
• Undertaking other MRCOG Part 1 examination matters, as required by the Examination and Assessment Committee
• Providing updates, on committee related issues, to the Examination and Assessment Committee

• Chair, selected by competitive interview, according to the approved role description
• Twelve members selected according to the approved role description
• Chair of the Examination and Assessment Committee, ex officio

Four per year – members are required to attend at least three meetings. 

The Part 1 MRCOG Sub-Committee reports to the Examination and Assessment Committee.

Rachel Williams