Responsibilities of the Part 2 MRCOG Question Writer and Course Faculty Task and Finish Group include producing new questions for Events/eLearning courses, reviewing and updating existing questions and acting as course faculty for at least one Part 2 course per year.
The Part 2 MRCOG Question Writing and Course Faculty Task and Finish Group is responsible for ensuring high quality up-to-date questions are used in RCOG Events and eLearning content. The Group will meet regularly throughout the year in person/remotely.
The role will involve both writing new questions and reviewing existing questions to ensure clinical accuracy. Members of this group will also support the MRCOG Part 2 revision courses by acting as course faculty across the four courses held annually.
Attendance at the inaugural training session for the group on Friday 27 September is mandatory.
The Task and Finish group is expected to run for two years and members will be appointed by application.
UK Trainees who have passed their Part 2 MRCOG, Fellows and Members (MRCOG, FRCOG and retired) are eligible to apply for this position. We also welcome applications from SAS/LE doctors who are working at an equivalent level for this role.
Please see the role description, person specifications, task template and other information at the bottom of the page.
For this role we are looking for question writers who have a genuine enthusiasm for ensuring that the Part 2 questions provided within the RCOG revision resources are as clinically accurate and up-to-date as possible for candidates revising for the exams.
In return we are able to offer:
- comprehensive question writing training in a supportive environment
- question writing experience which can be used as evidence for The doctor is effective as a teacher and supervisor of healthcare professionals CiP in the Core Curriculum or to gain CPD points
- experience that will support applications for MRCOG question writing sub-committees
- experience that will support applications for the MRCOG Part 3 examiner role
- experience of acting as faculty on RCOG courses
- engagement with the College and an opportunity to support learners on their journey to MRCOG
How to apply
To apply, please complete the form via the button below. Once completed, you will be asked to share a CV and completed task with us via email to elearning@rcog.org.uk.
Please note that as part of your application you are required to write and submit three SBA questions. See section called ‘Task information’ for further details on this.
Should you have any additional enquiries please email elearning@rcog.org.uk.
Application deadline: Monday 29 July 2024
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Role description
MRCOG Part 2 Question Writer and Course Faculty
- Chair of Part 2 MRCOG Question Writing and Course Faculty Task and Finish Group, RCOG
- Course Conveners, MRCOG Part 2 revision courses
- Vice President for Education, Education Board, RCOG
The group is expected to run for two years, commencing September 2024.
- Attend meetings regularly. If more than two meetings within a 12-month period are missed, you must write to the Chair to explain your absence, and may be removed from the Group at the Chair’s discretion. Attendance at the induction/training meeting in September 2024 is mandatory.
- Produce three new questions a month prior to online meetings and submit them to the Chair in advance of the meeting. Annually, question-writing performance will be reviewed by the Chair, should there be concerns about the number of questions submitted/the quality of the questions the question writer may be removed at the Chair’s discretion.
- Reviewing previously written questions, providing a recommendation of whether they should be removed or updated. Updating as necessary.
- Edit questions in the meeting/remotely or review other members’ questions prior to meetings.
- Blueprinting questions to the MRCOG Part 2 syllabus
- Act as course faculty for at least one Part 2 course per year. This will be a minimum commitment of one day a year and course dates will be provided at least 8 weeks in advance. This activity it intended to enhance question writing experience as faculty need to be able to actively explain answers to candidates on the course.
- Be involved in training sessions for themselves or new question writers as required.
- Recommend books and references for use by the Group in formulating new questions.
The successful candidate will work closely with all other members of the Question Writing and Course Faculty Task and Finish Group and the Chair to ensure that the quality of questions used in RCOG eLearning and Events content are maintained.
There will be a minimum of eight meetings per year, of which members will be expected to attend at least six meetings. The first meeting will be an all-day mandatory in person training session on Friday 27 September which will be held at the RCOG. Follow-up meetings will be held on a small group basis approximately every six weeks. These meetings will be held remotely using Microsoft Teams and will last for one hour.
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 amendments in consultation with the post holder.
The role description will be re-evaluated at the end of the term.
Person specification
Essential
- MRCOG Part 2
- Currently practising in the UK or within three years of retirement
- Registered with a licence to practise with GMC or Irish Medical Council, in good standing
- Generalist with a special interest, or specialist with broad-based generalist background
- Evidence of equal opportunities and diversity training within previous three years
- Knowledge of the RCOG curricula and MRCOG syllabus
Desirable
- Active or previous participation in assessment and writing of relevant types of examination questions
- Involvement in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, specialist training, educational supervision and assessment roles
Essential
- Able to maintain confidentiality and security
- Retired Member/Fellow applicants must be within three years of retirement
- Punctuality and ability to complete tasks by prescribed deadlines
Desirable
- Able to attend all eight meetings a year
Task information
The task template can be downloaded here.
To ensure that we are able to choose dedicated question writers with enthusiasm and the correct skillset we are using a question writing task to help judge the applicants in a fair and transparent way.
The task is to write three SBAs on three different exam topics using the provided SBA template. You can use any element of the syllabus that you are familiar with for this task.
A guidance video on how to write a good SBA question is available on the RCOG Learning platform. Please email elearning@rcog.org.uk for access to the video and ensure you have watched the video before writing your questions.
Examples of SBA questions can also be found here:
Please email elearning@rcog.org.uk if you have any further questions relating to this task.
N.B. Please note that by submitting these questions as part of your application you agree that they may be used for future training opportunities or in RCOG educational resources.
CPD information
The RCOG CPD Framework 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’.
Free selection of CPD credits is available for all participants. Reflection is required to claim credits for an Experiential Learning Event. 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.
Suggested number of CPD credits for the following activities:
1 credit per hour in the national/international category for giving teaching sessions or leading a workshop on a course
5 credits in the national/international category for giving a formal presentation on a course
1 credit per hour in the national/international category for mock examining
A maximum of 25 credits in each five-year cycle applies for all presentations/teachings sessions given at national/international courses or conferences, and for formal and mock examining.
Terms of reference
Authority
The MRCOG Part 2 Question Writing and Course Faculty Group Task and Finish Group will commence in September 2024 and meet every six weeks. The Group is expected to run for two years.
This Task and Finish Group is established by and reports to the Education Board.
Purpose
The Task and Finish Group exists to support the generation of high quality up-to-date revision questions to support candidates sitting the MRCOG Part 2. They will also act as course faculty for the Part 2 courses run by the College, supporting delegates attending these courses and assisting with teaching on the day.
Key tasks for the Task and Finish Group include:
- generating new Part 2 questions for RCOG Events/eLearning courses
- reviewing and updating existing Part 2 questions to ensure clinical accuracy of all practice questions offered by the RCOG in its revision materials
- ensuring the question bank is blue printed to the syllabus
- acting as course faculty to support the Part 2 courses run by the College
In line with regulations and other governing documents, and legal and regulatory requirements.
No delegated financial authority.
Mr Sean Hughes, FRCOG
- eLearning Manager
- Events Coordinator
- 20 members all who must have passed their MRCOG Part 2, including UK Trainees, Fellows and Members (MRCOG, FRCOG and retired), and SAS/LE doctors who are working at an equivalent level.
The Education Team will provide secretarial support for the group but RCOG staff are not required to attend question writing meetings.
The eLearning Manager or their nominee shall act as the secretary of the MRCOG Part 2 Question Writing and Course Faculty Task and Finish Group and will provide support with organising meetings, sending out questions to review prior to meetings, and booking rooms/catering when the group is meeting face-to-face.
The secretary shall keep a record of the names of those present and in attendance and the number of successful questions submitted by each group member, following updates from the Chair.
An update will be provided at each Education Board meeting outlining the number of question writing meetings held, the number of questions produced and the percentage of the group aims that have been achieved.
All administration related to the Task and Finish Group to be:
- stored according to the Education department filing structure and guidance
- accessible for editing by the group
- treated as confidential (not to be shared outside the agreed circulation list) unless directed by the Chair
The Chair may nominate a group member to lead the meeting in their absence. A minimum of four members or appropriate representatives to be present at each meeting.
The MRCOG Part 2 Question Writing and Course Faculty Task and Finish Group shall meet every six weeks, with flexibility. Members will be expected to attend at least six meetings a year.
Members are required to produce three questions per month for discussion at meetings.
Members are required to participate in a feedback exercise on questions written by other members of the Task and Finish Group to ensure that high quality questions are produced.
Members are required to act as course faculty for at least one Part 2 course per year.
The notice of each meeting is set up in the meeting schedule with location/time/date already agreed in advance.
The MRCOG Part 2 Question Writing and Course Faculty Task and Finish Group will report to Education Board on the number of meetings held, the total number of questions produced and the percentage of group aims that have been achieved.
The MRCOG Part 2 Question Writing and Course Faculty Task and Finish Group shall annually, review its terms of reference to ensure it is operating at maximum effectiveness and recommend any changes it considers necessary to Education Board.
The outputs of the group will be evaluated using:
- feedback from exam candidates
- usage rates and feedback from RCOG Learning resources
- feedback from courses
Volunteering with the RCOG is a rich and rewarding experience which offers a range of professional and personal benefits:
- Professional recognition
- Build networks and friendships
- Career development
- Make meaningful change
- Wellbeing