MRCGP SCA Consultation Skills Course
Timetable and rotations
Saturday 12 September 2026 · Royal Society of Medicine, Wigmore Room
The day
| Time | Session | Stations |
|---|---|---|
| 08:30–09:00 | Registration and coffee | |
| 09:00–09:40 | Welcome · Starter Station A (exemplary demonstration) · Starter Station B (flawed demonstration) · the room grades both · briefing | Starter A, Starter B |
| 09:40–11:00 | Circuit 1 — undifferentiated presentations, urgent and unscheduled care (6 × 13 min) | Stations 1–6 |
| 11:00–11:20 | Coffee | |
| 11:20–12:45 | Circuit 2 — long-term conditions, multimorbidity, prescribing, investigations and results (6 × 14 min) | Stations 7–12 |
| 12:45–13:15 | Lunch | |
| 13:15–15:15 | Circuit 3 — mental health, health disadvantage and vulnerabilities, the professional dilemma (6 × 20 min) | Stations 13–18 |
| 15:15–15:35 | Break | |
| 15:35–16:10 | Mock SCA 1 — full 12-minute exam frame, formally marked, feedback | Mock 1 |
| 16:10–16:45 | Mock SCA 2 — full 12-minute exam frame, formally marked, feedback | Mock 2 |
| 16:45–17:00 | Plenary · action plans · close |
How a circuit runs
- Six tutor tables per circuit; each tutor stays at their table and plays one case all circuit.
- Delegates work in groups of three (A–F). Every group visits all six stations of the circuit, moving on the bell.
- At each station one delegate consults; one marks in real time as Examiner-Observer; one keeps the timing checkpoints as Observer. Roles rotate every station, so each delegate consults twice per circuit.
- Station length: Circuit 1 — 13 minutes (1 read · 10 consult · 2 verdict). Circuit 2 — 14 minutes (1 · 10 · 3). Circuit 3 — 20 minutes (2 · 10 · 8).
- The verdict is three domain grades, a global rating and one feedback statement, spoken by the tutor. Write it into your reflection form for that station before the next bell or at the break.
Rotation grid — which station first
Each group starts at the station shown and moves to the next number (6 returns to 1). With five groups, one station rests each slot.
| Group | Circuit 1 start | Circuit 2 start | Circuit 3 start |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Station 1 | Station 7 | Station 13 |
| B | Station 2 | Station 8 | Station 14 |
| C | Station 3 | Station 9 | Station 15 |
| D | Station 4 | Station 10 | Station 16 |
| E | Station 5 | Station 11 | Station 17 |
| F | Station 6 | Station 12 | Station 18 |
Roles within your group
| Station in circuit | Candidate | Examiner-Observer | Observer (timing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st and 4th | Delegate 1 | Delegate 2 | Delegate 3 |
| 2nd and 5th | Delegate 2 | Delegate 3 | Delegate 1 |
| 3rd and 6th | Delegate 3 | Delegate 1 | Delegate 2 |
Your reflection form
Open the station reflection form (each station page also has a pre-filled button)
Mock SCA (15:35–16:45)
- Two volunteer candidates, one case each, the full exam frame: three minutes' reading, twelve minutes consulting.
- The room marks silently on the generic mark scheme; the examining tutor gives formal grades, global rating, statements and feedback; the room's vote is compared.
- Mock 1: 15:35–16:10. Mock 2: 16:10–16:45. Plenary and close 16:45–17:00.
Editorial stamp · MRCGP SCA Consultation Skills Course · Station pages v1.0 · 11 September 2026 · Prof Rajesh Varma, Course Director · MD Acumen. Formative training material; not a prediction of exam performance. Not for onward distribution.