Entry into Training Experiences, General Practice, Guidance for Specialty Training

How Dr. Sadaf Malik Entered GP Training

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This post is for people preparing for the General Practice Specialty Training Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment test, also known as GP ST MSRA or GP ST Stage 2. I think my experience is going to help others.

 

Preparation Time = 7 weeks

I started preparing for the exam in mid-July; the exam was due on 06 September.

 

Situational Judgment Test Questions

I subscribed to Emedica and started with Situational Judgment Test (SJT) questions. There were 200 questions in the question bank. I struggled with them. I ending up failing the sections during the practice sessions.

 

GMC Guidelines

I read GMC guideline about different scenarios. But I soon realized that it was practically impossible to read GMC guidelines about everything.

 

Clinical Questions

After SJTs, I went through the clinical questions. Clinical Questions were not a problem. I spent two hours over them and finished them in twenty days.

 

Books

By this time, I had started my first job in the NHS. I was left with less than a month to prepare for the SJTs. I had to find a way to prepare well for the SJTs as they carry a higher weightage than the clinical questions. I had no time to attend any courses since my on-call duties fell on the course days.

I scrolled through Amazon for books that could help me with the extra resources that I needed to be confident in the SJTs. I am glad I came across two books that not only helped me to pass the exam but also score high. These books were:

  1. Situational Judgment Test for the Foundation Years programme by Omar Taha and Mizanul Hoque.
  2. The Ultimate FPAS SJT Guide 300 Practice Questions.

The explanations in these books are so well written that the prioritization among different options in SJTs started to make sense. After completing the first book, I became confident in attempting SJTs. The themes of the questions in the real exam were very similar to the ones tested in these books.

 

Stage 3

I did not take any course for Stage 3. I read a book GP Stage 3 by Richard Hughes and Shivani Tana. It is an excellent book. It helped me achieve 50 marks out of a total of 52. This goes to show how well it can prepare you for the simulations. But do practice the simulations as well.

I hope this helps.

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Useful Links

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is GP Specialty Training?

GP Specialty Training or GP ST is a three-year training programme for becoming a General Practitioner in the UK. It includes 18 months of training at the hospital and 18 months of training at an approved GP practice. You can read more about it here.

2. What is the process of applying for GP ST?

You can read a very helpful article about this on the Emedica website here or you can read about it on the official GP ST website here.

3. What is it like to work as a GP in the UK?

You can read about Dr. Fozia Chaudhary’s experience of working as a GP in the UK by clicking here.

4. What is meant by a portfolio GP?

Any GP who has multiple jobs or performs multiple types of work is a portfolio GP. You can read more about it here in an article written by Dr. Mahibur Rahman.

5. What is meant by GPs with Extended Roles (GPwER) or GPs with Special Interests (GPwSI)?

GPs with Extended Roles or GPwER are GPs with additional experience and training in specific clinical areas. They can take referrals from other doctors and assess or treat patients within their specialist interest.

An appointment with GPwER might be arranged in less time compared to arranging an appointment with a specialist at the hospital. GPwER can also be closer to home for the patients.

The term GPwER includes those previously referred to as GPs with Special Interests or GPwSI. You can read more about GPwER here.

6. What is the difference between a GP partner and a salaried GP?

A GP partner is a part of the business and shares the profits or losses in the business. A salaried GP is not involved in the business and is employed by the practice as a salaried individual.

Published by Dr. Naseer Khan

Dr Naseer Khan works as a GP trainee in Kettering. He has been guiding medical students and doctors since 2014. His aim is to make the UK journey as easy as possible for everyone else.

One thought on “How Dr. Sadaf Malik Entered GP Training”

  1. I have applied for my Tier 2 visa last week, my job contract is for 12 month, hence my visa will expire in jine 2020. I have a plan to apply for Gp training for aug 2020. So i have 2 query
    1. If someone get offer in round 1, when do they issue CoS? Because my visa will exlire in june, so do they issue a CoS by june with which Incan apply for my new visa. Or to prevent any compkication I shoukd ask my HR in january/february to extend my contract, then I should apply for visa extension and later on if i get a offer, i would again apply for new visa?
    2. After 3 year if a gp trainee pass and become gp ,then do they get Tier 2 visa easily to compelte the ILR duration?

    Reply

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