What happens in a CCE case?

You’re given a link and connected to examiners through a video-conferencing platform. Cases are presented on screen, with examiners sharing control to enable you to scroll through the information.

You may also take notes, and case information is available throughout the case.

You have five minutes to read case information and instructions on your screen. The allotted exam time of 15 minutes begins immediately after, and the examiner will manage the timing and advise you when you can start.
Each case contains a number of questions relevant to the case. If you don’t answer the question asked or don’t address a particular aspect of the question, examiners may ask a prompting question.

Examiners may also ask probing questions to find out more information if the response lacked details or to clarify what was said. For example, ‘You mentioned you would check for XYZ – can you please explain how you would do that?’

Clinical encounters involve you interacting with a role-player while an examiner observes and grades your performance. The clinical encounters are run face to face in an exam venue. You move through a series of rooms, completing each case. You should communicate directly with the role-player, rather than the examiner, as per the case instructions. When communicating with the role-player, you should avoid common errors such as:

• inappropriate language and use of jargon
• lack of empathy and a formulaic approach
• a paternalistic, instructional approach
• awkward peer-to-peer communication.

Communication with the role-player should be appropriate for the person and their needs. It’s important that you demonstrate active listening and respond to the cues given by the role-player.