Scoring
OverviewHow to interpret my MCCQE Part II final score
Sample OSCE cases and score sheets
How OSCE stations are scored
The Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part II (MCCQE Part II) is scored independently of the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part I (MCCQE Part I); the scores are not combined for the purpose of awarding the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC). The candidate must pass both the MCCQE Part I and Part II.
Objectivity is achieved through the use of standardized administration guidelines, the training of physician examiners and of standardized patients, and the use of predetermined station-specific scoring instruments for objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) stations. Physician examiners observe candidates and score the station checklist on the basis of satisfactory completion of items for the station. In almost all stations, the examiner also scores selected rating scale items related to the candidate’s interactions with the patient. For example, the examiner may be rating the candidate on “Questioning Skills” and/or “Organization of Physical Examination” and/or “Rapport with Person”. Each station is worth the same as every other station and a candidate’s final score is the average of his or her station scores.
A candidate must achieve an overall score as determined by the Central Examination Committee. These cut points may vary from year to year and from examination to examination, depending on the difficulty and content of that particular examination.
How to interpret my MCCQE Part II final score
The Medical Council of Canada (MCC) reports scores in a standard-score format. A candidate’s pass/fail result is based on where his or her standard score falls in relation to the established pass/fail score. A candidate’s performance is judged in relation to the pass score for the examination and not judged on how well other individuals have performed.
The MCC reports scores for the MCCQE Part II on a standard score scale that ranges from 50 to 950. The pass score may vary and is set for each administration of the examination.
Candidates are also provided additional supplemental feedback on their examination performance.
Sample OSCE cases and score sheets
- A 10-minute history-taking and physical examination station
- A 10-minute management station
- A 10-minute history-taking station
- A history-taking couplet station
- A physical examination couplet station
- Patient interaction rating scale items
The OSCE stations are scored using a checklist of tasks entitled an examiner’s checklist (see sample OSCE cases for details). In almost all stations, the examiner also scores selected rating scale items related to the candidate’s interactions with the patient.
In the case of couplet stations where the candidate is required to answer written questions, the candidate is also scored based on his or her answers in the encounter probe. Physicians score candidates' answers following the examination. For examples of the encounter probe questions and the correct answers, view the encounter probe for the history-taking station or the physical examination station.
Candidates are expected to demonstrate appropriate, ethical and professional behaviour. When filling out the examiner checklist, physician examiners are asked whether the candidate’s performance was unsatisfactory and to specify the reason(s) for the unsatisfactory performance. Physician examiners must also answer the question: did this candidate demonstrate a lapse in professional behaviour? If answering “yes”, the physician examiner must then elaborate on the observed lapse.