An OSCE is a type of examination often used in health sciences. It is designed to test clinical skill performance and competence in a range of skills. It is a hands-on, real-world approach to learning and assessment.

Objective

The OSCE content and scoring procedures are standardized. Each examination station is designed to focus on an area of clinical competence. A standardized scoring tool is used to record what you do or do not do well.

Structured

Every OSCE candidate experiences the same problem, and is asked to perform the same task, within the same timeframe. You will be exposed to the same level of difficulty, no matter where the examination is taken, and is marked using the same marking scheme.

Clinical

The tasks in each OSCE station represent real-life clinical situations. These assess your ability to apply clinical knowledge and skills when, for example, meeting with a patient, writing an admission or discharge order, conferring with a colleague, etc.

Examination

An OSCE enables a reliable assessment of a candidate’s competence.