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Clinical skills play a crucial role in the MRCPCH exams, especially in the clinical exam, which is the final part of the journey. Unlike the written parts (FOP/TAS, AKP), the Clinical part is purely practical, and it tests how well you can apply your knowledge in real-life situations.

Therefore, you must have thorough knowledge of paediatric conditions, strong communication skills, and confidence to tackle the stations and thus clear the exam in one go. Here, we will guide you through simple and effective ways to build the clinical skills required to succeed in the final part of the MRCPCH exam.

Strategies to build clinical skills

Strengthen your basics

First of all, revise the core paediatric concepts. Be thorough with common conditions, normal growth and development and emergency management. This approach will give you confidence when dealing with any clinical scenario.

Practise clinical examination

Reading alone cannot help in mastering clinical skills. Spend time in hospitals, attend training sessions, and practise examining children under supervision. Be gentle, patient and child-friendly, as cooperation is more important than speed.

Develop communication skills

A large part of the MRCPCH Clinical involves interacting with parents and children. You need to explain diagnoses, procedures, and treatment plans in simple, clear language. Practising role-plays with colleagues or mentors can improve your ability to explain and listen effectively.

Structured clinical reasoning

Practice explaining your thoughts step-by-step. Because examiners do not just look for the final answer. They want to see how you reach a diagnosis and plan.

Take mock exams

Mock exams are a great way to learn the exam pattern and practise time management. They also give you valuable feedback from trainers, which will help you identify areas to improve before the real exam.

Apart from all these strategies, seek advice from MRCPCH-qualified doctors, who can provide you valuable insights about examiner expectations and exam patterns. And the exam can be stressful. Build confidence through repeated practice and try to stay calm under pressure.

We hope this information was helpful for you. If you need to know more about the MRCPCH Clinical exam or need assistance with exam preparation, feel free to contact the StudyMRCPCH team. We offer expert-led short and long-term MRCPCH courses that hold an impressive pass rate of 93%. Besides, we offer two-day live circuit courses which replicate the real exam scenarios with expert examiners and role players.

You can even explore our premium study materials, curated by our team of mentors, for completely free through the StudyMEDIC LMS 3.0 before enrolling in the course.

Connect with our team today to know more about our courses.

Authored By: Sarath