For many international medical graduates (IMGs) training to become GPs in the UK, one assessment stands between them and the end of training: the Simulated Consultation Assessment (SCA). In 2023-24, 51.56% of IMGs passed the SCA at their first attempt, compared with 94.28% of UK graduates. It is the same exam and the same standard, […]
Tag: sca
MRCGP SCA Dates 2026-27: Plan First, Then Book
Most GP trainees struggle with a hard question: “Am I actually ready to sit the SCA exam?” Unsure, most do one of two things. They book the nearest sitting and hope the pressure forces them to prepare. Or they delay booking until they “feel ready”, which rarely happens. Both put the date before the plan. […]
How an IMG Passed SCA in her Fifth sitting
If you’ve sat the SCA more than once and failed marginally, this post was written for you. For twenty years, Dr Ali was a surgeon. She knew certainty. She knew protocols. She knew what it felt like to walk into a room, assess a problem and act confidently. Then she moved into general practice and […]
From 61 to 86 in Two Months: An IMG’s SCA Comeback
“Oh my god, I can’t even describe it. It was such a relief. I cried on that day.” That’s Dr Thiha, describing the moment he finally saw a pass on his screen on his third attempt at the MRCGP SCA. Two attempts before that, the story looked very different. 66. Then 61. Worse the second […]
He Failed the MRCGP SCA Twice Then His Computer Crashed Mid-Exam
Dr Ayo is a GP registrar who failed the MRCGP SCA exam twice before passing on his third attempt. His transformation, from failing across all three domains to passing despite a mid-exam computer crash came down to one fundamental shift: stopping a habit called cue-parking. What is the MRCGP SCA exam and why do doctors […]
ICE in the MRCGP SCA: The Mistakes Costing GP Registrars Marks
“I asked about Ideas, Concerns and Expectations. So why did I still lose marks?” I hear this frequently from GP registrars preparing for the MRCGP SCA. It feels confusing. You followed the framework. You asked the questions. You ticked the boxes. Yet the result came back with poor marks in Relating to Others. Here is […]
MRCGP SCA: How an IMG Scored 84 (First Attempt)
A GP trainee’s journey from anxiety and self-doubt to passing the MRCGP SCA exam with a score of 84 on his first sitting. Who is this article for? This is for GP trainees in the UK preparing for the MRCGP SCA (Structured Consultation Assessment). Specifically those who are: Mohammed’s story covers the journey from start […]
“I’m Going to Show Them What Kind of Doctor I Am”
This IMG Overcame Burnout, 2 AKT Failures and Scored 99 in the SCA There is a moment many GP trainees never talk about. The moment after you fail. You log out of FourteenFish.You sit in silence.And then, the next morning, you’re back in clinic: smiling at patients, making safe decisions, doing the job while a […]
12 Tips to Consult in 12 Minutes
How successful SCA candidates manage time Time management is one of the most common issues I see in GP trainees preparing for the SCA. Their consultation loses direction, decisions are delayed and management starts too late. If you often: Then time management is not your main problem.It is a symptom of something deeper. In this […]
Why Asking ICE Isn’t Enough to Pass the MRCGP SCA
(And what examiners are actually looking for) One of the most frustrating experiences for GP trainees preparing for the MRCGP SCA is this: I asked about Ideas, Concerns and Expectations… so why did I still fail? Here’s the short answer: Most GP trainees elicit ICE.But not everyone ask ICE in context and integrate it in […]