title: A Modified Contrasting Groups Method Used for Setting the Passmark in a Small Scale Standardised Patient Examination.
abstract: The 'Simulated Surgery' is an alternative consulting skills component of the Membership examination of the Royal College of General Practitioners, which is the professional certifying examination for GP registrars (family medicine residents) in the UK. It consists of a 20 station OSCE and is taken by a small cohort of candidates (10--30) who are unable to provide a videotape of their patient interviews for assessment. The passmark for this examination has been set by a modified contrasting groups method, in which all the examiners make pass/fail judgements on all the candidates' performance by reviewing their whole-test grades. A consistent passmark was obtained for two different cohorts and this method should allow a constant passing standard to be maintained under changing circumstances in the future.
authors.affiliation: Royal College of General Practitioners, 14 Princes Gate, Hyde Park, London, SW7 1PU.
authors.forename: Peter J.
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Burrows
authors.forename: Liz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bingham
authors.forename: Carlos A.
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Brailovsky