ArticleBJPsych bulletin2022
Transforming MRCPsych theory examinations: digitisation and very short answer questions (VSAQs).
Article in BJPsych bulletin, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Trial
- Online-Based and Technology-Assisted Psychiatric Education for Trainees: Scoping Review.JMIR medical education · 2025Article
- The virtual Clinical Assessment of Skills and Competence: the impact and challenges of a digitised final examination.BJPsych bulletin · 2023Article
- Functional near-infrared spectroscopy of medical students answering various item types.Frontiers in psychology · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Many examinations are now delivered online using digital formats, the migration to which has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The MRCPsych theory examinations have been delivered in this way since Autumn 2020. The multiple choice question formats currently in use are highly reliable, but other formats enabled by the digital platform, such as very short answer questions (VSAQs), may promote deeper learning. Trainees often ask for a focus on core knowledge, and the absence of cueing with VSAQs could help achieve this. This paper describes the background and evidence base for VSAQs, and how they might be introduced. Any new question formats would be thoroughly piloted before appearing in the examinations and are likely to have a phased introduction alongside existing formats.
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