Hello fellow medics,

I hope we are all keeping well.

Having had lots of OSCE practice by helping students prepare, being an examiner for the OSCE as well as having many exams myself, a common issue I have come across is: “I know the answer but get anxious and freeze up in the OSCE, meaning I can’t communicate my knowledge”.

Nothing is more frustrating than knowing your stuff, but not being able to confidently articulate it in the OSCE. Meaning you can’t showcase all that knowledge you have accumulated over the tiring years of being in medical school.

Below are some tips to help you shine with confidence and SHOWCASE your knowledge!

1) Take a deep breath

Many of times I have had to tell candidates to literally breathe. This can mean physically: yes, stop and take a deep breath but also mentally take a breath. What I mean by this is, literally stop, take a moment, think, re-evaluate your thoughts and continue. Rather than rambling on in a history, or losing your focus on an examination, STOP, BREATHE and CONTINUE. You will not be penalised for taking a moment to put your self back on track. In fact, this can be seen as maturity, as you are showing you have self awareness of going in the wrong direction in the OSCE.

2) Look and feel the part

Dress to impress. This doesn’t mean just to impress the examiner (we are looking for smart attire and that is about it!) but i mean for yourself. You want to wear what you feel confident in. So don’t decide to wear a new pair of uncomfortable shoes, or a new dress that you do not feel happy and confident in. You don’t want to be re-adjusting your dress or trousers throughout the OSCE as it is both distracting to you, the patient/actor and the examiner.

3) Practice - you need to hear your own voice

Practice Practice Practice! This means with colleagues and friends, but also a great way is practicing speaking out loud to yourself. So in the build up to the OSCE, stand in front of the mirror - and talk to yourself. Get to grips with the wording of certain questions, listen to your voice. Practice in the bathroom. This is great way of hearing how you sound, looking at your body language and learning from your mistakes.

4) Act the part - get in the right mindset

Remember the aim of this exam is to pass and then practice as a doctor. So, ACT LIKE A DOCTOR. Have that confidence and self awareness that you deserve to be in that OSCE and deserve to pass and work in the UK. You have passed all the exams needed and are now ready to be part of the NHS in the UK. You need to essentially show the examiner that you have the skills and attributes that THEY need. So get in the mindset that you are an aspiring doctor who is competent, ethical and willing to learn.

5) Don’t critique yourself

In the OSCE, do not critique yourself. Avoid thoughts of: “What does the examiner think about me?” “Why did I say that? I am not competent”. This is not the mindset to have. It will hinder your confidence, block your thinking processes and make you lose focus on the patient in front of you. Remember the OSCE is your chance to show your positive attributes, so if you make a mistake, you acknowledge it (Humility is key) and move on and continue to show your skills.

6) Failure is not an option!

Let your anxieties about this exam drive your ambition and eagerness to learn more and challenge your ideas. Do not enter the OSCE fearing failure- failure is NOT an option! You have to envisage and prepare to PASS this exam. This sounds tough (it won’t be the end of the world if you have to resit) BUT your aim and mindset on entering the exam on the day is to PASS.

I hope these tips and hints worked. It is all about mindset in the OSCE. The knowledge is there (and if it is not - acquire the knowledge). You have to act like you are the confident, hard working, knowledgeable and SAFE doctor that they want caring for the patients.

Stay happy, focused and safe.

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You are not alone - speak to friends, family members and myself if you need any guidance.