ABSTRACT
Successful completion of the written and viva voce components of the Intercollegiate MRCS examination allows passage to the MRCS Clinical Examination, which is the final gateway for admission to one of the surgeons’ clubs. The clinical examination differs markedly from the other parts of the MRCS in that it is the surgical art more than the science that is being tested. In the driving test candidates make a definite display of the ‘mirror, signal, manoeuvre’ routine for the examiner, and similarly it is vital to pay attention to basic protocols such as hand washing before and after seeing each patient, ensuring that appropriate patient introductions take place, obtaining verbal consent, etc. Many candidates spend most of their time visiting various clinics, hungry for common and esoteric pathology. Successful candidates are those who possess flair and finesse, deliver safe logical work-ups, and in essence portray themselves as a contender for the role of a consultant’s deputy.
