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BMA calls for urgent review of online exam for medical students

BMJ 2021; 372 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n253 (Published 27 January 2021) Cite this as: BMJ 2021;372:n253

Linked Opinion

We need to move towards a student-centred application process for foundation training

  1. Nikki Nabavi
  1. The BMJ

Leaders of the BMA’s students committee have called for an urgent review of how an online exam for final year medical students was run, after complaints that some tests were prematurely terminated unfairly for reasons such as using a blank notepad or going to the toilet.

The situational judgment test is a compulsory exam for entry to the UK Foundation Programme and is designed to test the attributes needed to work as a foundation doctor. It is run by the UK Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO), which this year commissioned a US testing company, Pearson VUE, to coordinate the test.

Students were told that they could sit the exam at Pearson VUE testing centres or virtually from home, with online proctoring. However, many students were unable to get a slot at a testing …

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