RCGP Insider's Guide to the CSA for the MRCGP

The RCGP Insider's Guide to the CSA for the MRCGP gives candidates a unique understanding of the CSA (clinical skills assessment) component of the MRCGP exam to become a qualified GP. The CSA exam is a test of the candidate's consultation skills, which is often perceived to be a difficult-to-pass, high-stakes exam.

The insider authors range from a GP who sat the CSA, to a CSA examiner and case writer, and to researchers who have looked thoroughly at the exam. For the first time, ideas on communication based on evidence from the exam itself are presented, rather than an idealised view of what commentators think should happen.

The book provides practical tips on what to expect on the day of the exam and busts some of the myths about the CSA. It also gives useful advice on conducting the CSA cases, not only showing how candidates typically structure the ten-minute consultation but also describing occasions when flexibility is needed.

Drawing on many hours of CSA video, the book's recommendations are based directly on findings from real candidate performances. In particular, the authors look at the skills and strategies used by successful candidates. Transcripts of real candidate talk are presented, giving readers an accurate feel of the exam.

The book includes two entire practice circuits with cases carefully selected to represent a normal CSA exam. Paperwork demonstrates typical case notes that a candidate will be given, the marking criteria used by the examiners, and the directions role-players receive before performing as patients. This means the reader can also try out the role of a CSA examiner - a real insider's perspective of what the examiners will be looking for! A hundred short ideas for additional cases are also given for readers to develop further practice cases.

Dr Alexandra Rolfe is a GP and clinical education fellow from Edinburgh. She completed her MRCGP in 2012 with a score of over 100 in the CSA. She works as a salaried GP in a suburb of Edinburgh as well as working as a clinical education fellow at the University of Edinburgh. Her work includes improving prescribing in undergraduate students, medical education assessments and inter-professional education. Until recently she was deputy editor of InnovAiT. Dr Sarah Atkins is a post-doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham, within the Centre for Research in Applied Linguistics. Her research investigates language and professional communication, primarily in healthcare settings, with an emphasis on applying findings into practice. Prof. Kamila Hawthorne is an academic GP from Cardiff. She has been a GP for 26 years, and is a partner in an NHS practice in inner-city Cardiff and Associate Dean and Director for Community Learning at the School of Medicine, Cardiff University. She has been an MRCGP examiner since 1997, and was involved in the design and delivery of the CSA from its inception in 2007. She is now Chair of the Curriculum and Assessment Development Committee of the RCGP and Vice Chair of the Specialty Advisory Committee of the RCGP. Prof. Celia Roberts is Professor Emerita in Sociolinguistics at King's College London. Her research is in the areas of language and communication in institutions with particular reference to multilingual societies.