A project to explore how resit candidates overcome their challenges for success  

Progression through UK postgraduate paediatric training is dependent on passing high stakes postgraduate examinations. Multiple examination failures has significant impact on trainees and implications for workforce planning.

Trainees cannot progress to registrar level without passing the Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH) examinations. 

MRCPCH EXAM RESULTS 2011

Research from postgraduate medical trainees shows evidence of real improvement in examination performance up to the 10th attempt¹

There is very limited research on the impact of high stakes exams on failing doctors but studies from other professions indicate that this is a significant  impact²

We  wanted to explore the impact of multiple resits on these candidates and what made the difference when they eventually passed

Paediatrics trainees who had failed the MRCPCH clinical examination at least 3 times and had eventually passed were identified.

5 trainees undertook a structured interview (face to face or telephone) with consent

• In retrospect where do you perceive you were going wrong when you were struggling to pass? 

Perceived reasons for failure included: Poor structure and poor presentation skills

•  What was the impact on you / training / life when you failed multiple times?

 All participants described significant impacts of multiple failures:

• When you did pass was there anything you did differently? 

• What do you think were the key elements that helped you turn your success around?  

Significantly, all the participants identified that reviewing their feedback with a trusted senior and a change of mind set from defensive to RECEPTIVE were key features that helped them to pass

• Do you feel that there is any on going impact on you / did it change your career plans?