The RCoA has recently collaborated with the GMC in producing speciality specific questions for this purpose. SBAs are used widely in UK undergraduate medicine, and are also used by the GMC in the assessment of poorly performing doctors. However, times change and it is clear that all of the other major UK postgraduate medical examinations are using alternative genres of MCQ question, namely SBAs, and/or extended matching questions (EMQs). With respect to the MCQ examinations, the College has always relied exclusively on the traditional multiple true-false (MTF) type question with which we are all familiar. In September 2010, single best answer (SBA) questions will be introduced into the Final FRCA MCQ paper., the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) challenged the Royal College of Anaesthetists to 'reconsider the format and marking of its examinations, taking into account contemporary literature and models of best (examining) practice'. In the Final Examination, negative marking was removed from the MCQ in 2008, and the written and oral components were uncoupled, with pass/fail examinations being introduced from the autumn of 2009. The FRCA examinations are undergoing a major review.
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