No Single Best Answer

MCQs – Single Best Answer

The FRCS (Tr & Orth) examination has three components: MCQs, Vivas and Clinical Examination. The Vivas are further divided into five sections comprising Basic Science, Adult Pathology, Hands, Children’s Orthopaedics and Trauma. The Clinical Examination section is divided into upperand lower-limb cases. The aim of this section in the Journal is to focus specifically on the trainees preparing for...

When No Answer Might Be the Best Answer

MCQs and EMQs – Single Best Answer

The FRCS (Tr & Orth) examination has three components: MCQs, Vivas and Clinical Examination. The Vivas are further divided into five sections comprising Basic Science, Adult Pathology, Hands, Children’s Orthopaedics and Trauma. The Clinical Examination section is divided into upperand lower-limb cases. The aim of this section in the Journal is to focus specifically on the trainees preparing for...

MCQs – Adult Pathology – Single Best Answer

A 68-year-old woman presents with a history of pain in the region of her thumb. This is her radiograph (Fig. 1). 1. Describe the radiograph. What is the diagnosis? Answer: The radiograph of the wrist shows evidence of decreased joint space and subchondral sclerosis of the joints between the scaphoid, the trapezium and the trapezoid. The diagnosis is arthritis of the scapho-trapezio-trapezoid (S...

Validity of very short answer versus single best answer questions for undergraduate assessment

BACKGROUND Single Best Answer (SBA) questions are widely used in undergraduate and postgraduate medical examinations. Selection of the correct answer in SBA questions may be subject to cueing and therefore might not test the student's knowledge. In contrast to this artificial construct, doctors are ultimately required to perform in a real-life setting that does not offer a list of choices. This...