Doctors preparing for medical specialty exams often express frustration with viva exams because they feel that they don’t accurately assess their clinical ability. Some feel that clinical exams are a better assessment of their acting skills than their clinical skills. 

These criticisms are not without foundation. By their nature, assessment tools are artificial to some degree and they all have their limitations. This explanation does not make it any easier for a junior doctor trying to demonstrate their actual ability and their worthiness to progress to the next level of training. Unfortunately, the deep sense of injustice that some registrars feel can greatly impair their preparation and performance in oral exams.

For now, vivas are a mandatory hurdle in the training process, so I’ll try to inject some positivity into the outlook. So here goes…

As doctors, we are often performing. In day to day practice we are required to show empathy to our patients and deliver bad news appropriately to patients and their relatives. These skills do not come naturally to all of us and many doctors benefit from some training in these areas. At all other times in our practice, doctors still need to communicate confidently, clearly and effectively to our patients and to our colleagues. Preparing for clinical exams provides doctors with an opportunity to refine these skills. 

Even though clinical exams can be frustrating, the skills required for success closely parallel some of the essential skills doctors need in their everyday practice. Clinical exams are a mandatory hurdle, but they might also be an opportunity to improve your practice.