Lessons from an IMG who Cracked the SCA Exam

sca exam

Meet Dr Srujan, an International Medical Graduate (IMG) who had no choice but to pass the SCA exam so he could CCT in February.

Watch Dr Srujan’s Case-study​ to learn about his unique preparation and the proven strategies he used to pass the SCA in his first attempt.

Challenges with the SCA exam

Dr Srujan faced several challenges on his journey. He was skeptical of his ability to pass the new exam. He didn’t know how to prepare and what to expect. ​

Being an IMG, Srujan found it particularly difficult to consult without appearing formulaic. This was noticeable when it came to exploring ICE and psychosocial elements. Many GP trainees tend to ask questions out of context under pressure.

The usual suspects are:

Who is at home?

Do you smoke?

From setback to comeback

Unfortunately, Dr Srujan also faced health issues during his preparation and had to take a break. It wasn’t easy but with the right support and guidance. After this setback, Dr Srujan made a comeback. He was fortunate to have an amazing study group and a supportive network.

During the exam, Dr Srujan encountered IT glitches due to a poor connection. Four stations were affected. He was allowed to have three re-runs. He kept his calm and persevered.

Proven strategy

Dr Srujan had to first unlearn the old practices before he could learn new ones. For instance, exploring psychosocial elements in context. He applied proven strategies and worked smart. Dr Srujan focused on his areas of weakness mapped on the twelve clinical experience groups.

He used Consultation Blueprint to organise his preparation and developed a consultation framework that fits his style. After a couple of months, he could see significant changes in his consultation.

Cracking SCA Exam

Dr Srujan passed the first SCA sitting in November. The transformation of this IMG despite the personal challenges he faced is truly inspiring.

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