A multiple choice question (MCQ) examination in general practice.

THE MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION EXAMINATION has been shown to be a reliable method of measuring a candidate's ability to recognize and recall the facts that are relevant to a doctor's training (Wood 1961, Hubbard and Clemans 1961). Because the answers to multiple choice'questions are predetermined, they can be scored by a computer; this can be programmed to give correlations and tables as required. MCQ examinations can be applied to large numbers of candidates with comparable results and can cover a much wider field of knowledge than the conventional essay question. These advantages make this type of test especially suitable for examinations in general practice. The MCQ examination has been widely used in America for both undergraduate and postgraduate medical examinations; in Britain it is now incorporated in part one of M.R.C.P. (Royal College of Physicians 1967) and in the primary F.R.C.S. (Royal College of Physcians and Surgeons of Glasgow 1969). The Royal College of General Practitioners, impressed by the fallibility of the different forms of assessment of professional competence, convened a Conference on Examination Methods in November 1968. Advantage was taken of the unique opportunity afforded by the audience, composed of general practitioners, many of whom were involved in teaching, as