OSCE's at UMB
OSCE's at UMB
Department website:
Department of Medical Simulation ›
OSCE is the abbreviation of Objective Structured Clinical Examination, which is a modern type of examination often used often used for assessment in health care disciplines.
At UMB, it takes place in the 6th year, and consists of multiple stations where students rotate and perform specific tasks or solve cases, while being assessed by professionals throughout. Expect a mix of tasks on mannequins, catheterisation/intubation training kits, and live actors.
Due to the everchanging nature of the exam (e.g. new stations, different conditions, etc), please refer to the official page.
The following description comes from 2024 (Class of 2024):
The department provided everything we needed—topics, exam structure, and expectations—all online. There were 25 key topics to study, and going over those, along with 6th-year notes, videos, and any go-to med resources, was enough prep.
The exam itself was 60 minutes, with 10 minutes per station, plus an extra hour for briefing and feedback. We rotated through stations individually, so even though we were scheduled as a group, each of us was alone in each room. Once time was up, we moved straight to the next room without breaks.
Rooms were numbered with a set path to follow. When you entered, you said your name and ID, got an audible confirmation, and then checked the printed task description. It outlined your role, the scenario, and available tools. If you got stuck, you could always refer back to the printout. It all related to those 25 topics—nothing new or unexpected.
Each room had a timer, so you always knew how much time was left. A bell signaled when the 10 minutes were over. If you finished early, you stayed in the room until the bell, then moved immediately to the next room, as the next student would be right behind you.
To pass, you needed to succeed in 5 out of 6 stations. We got our results right after the exam, and while retakes were an option, they were rarely needed.
Overall, it was a great experience—well-organized and efficient. The assistants were super helpful, and it was a solid chance to learn, both from the cases and about ourselves under exam conditions.
Pre-OSCE (not guaranteed to happen)
To prepare for the OSCE exam, our teachers developed pre-OSCE elective classes for our year. These took place at CSM in January, and all students were welcome to join. The pre-OSCE was structured just like the real exam, featuring similar stations and topics while allowing us to practice without any grading. The assistants were incredibly encouraging, creating a pressure-free atmosphere. Everyone found these sessions useful, informative, and even fun!
This page is edited by
Matthias Koch
Class of 2025