GPST / GPVTS SELECTION PROCESS

GPST Stage 1 (Form) & Stage 2 (MCQs, EMQs, SJTs)

Stage 1 - Online application form

The first step in getting into a GPST / GPVTS training programme is to complete the application form. The form consist mainly of employment-related information where they are mostly concerned about the degrees that you obtained and your career to date. (i.e. no assessment is made at this stage of any of your clinical or interpersonal skills). The GPST / GPVTS application form is merely a way to determine whether you satisfy the basic eligibility criteria, i.e. that:

• You hold a recognised primary medical qualification.
• You are registered with the GMC or are eligible for registration (passed PLAB)
• You have the required level of competence i.e. you completed FY2 or completed PRHO + 1st year SHO
• You own a valid driving licence or can demonstrate that you can fulfil the requirements of the post (e.g. providing emergency care, home visits, etc)

GPST Stage 2: Two written papers (2 x 90 minutes)

This is the first real selection process that you will be subjected to. Stage 2 of the GPST / GPVTS selection process consists of two papers lasting 90 minutes each, which are designed to test your level of clinical competence as well as your interpersonal and lateral thinking capacities.

Paper 1: Clinical Problem Solving

This paper consists of approximately 100 clinical questions or scenarios, which you must answer within 90 minutes (so this makes on average is less than 1 minute to read and answer each question). The questions come in a variety of formats. In 2006, they were of a True/False nature, but over the past few recruitment sessions they were set as of MCQs (Best of Five) and EMQs. The syllabus for this paper is not very well defined but the questions are set at the level of a FY2 doctor's knowledge. Questions may be asked on any topic, including:

Questions asked in the GPST Stage 2 clinical paper consist of an actual patient-based scenario in which you may be asked to give a diagnosis based on the data given, indicate first line management, which investigations you would consider doing, how you would prescribe or what factors could have caused a particular condition or led to given symptoms. None of the questions are not negatively marked so you do not lose points for providing a wrong answer. Consequently, you should make sure that you answer every single one.

Examples of MCQ & EMQ with sample answer

Paper 2: Situational Judgement Test / Professional Dilemmas

Whilst Paper 1 (Clinical problem solving) is designed to test your basic clinical knowledge, Paper 2 (SJT, Professional dilemmas) of GPST Stage 2 is set to test the manner in which you deal with others in scenarios. Because this paper focuses on your interpersonal skills, most scenarios are not clinically-based. In fact, some of the scenarios are not even work-related.

The GPST Stage 2 SJT / Professional Dilemmas paper tests the skills set out in the person specification. This includes: empathy & sensitivity, communication skills, conceptual thinking and problem solving, coping with pressure, organisation and planning, managing others and team involvement, professional integrity, learning and professional development.

The paper lasts 90 minutes and typically contains 50 separate scenarios (hence you have just under 2 minutes to read the scenario, take on board the question and answer it). There are generally 2 types of questions:

• Type 1: Ranking five options
  You are given a scenario which highlights a particular problem or dilemma. The questions sets out five possible actions that you may envisage taking. Your task is to rank these options from the most suitable to the least suitable.
   
• Type 2: Selecting multiple appropriate actions
  You are given a scenario which highlights a particular problem or dilemma. The question sets out a large number of options (typically seven). Out of the list, you must pick the three actions that you deem most suitable. There is no need to rank them in any particular order.

The marking of this paper is slightly unusual because there are situations where there may be more than one appropriate ranking. In a given situation, one person may react different to another person without either of them being totally wrong. To allow for this, the examiners will identified an "ideal" answer which will get maximum marks; but they will also have identified a number of other answers which, although not as ideal as the "ideal" answer, would constitute good answers. If you provide one of these alternate good answers, you may still score partial marks.

There are therefore three different types of answers:

• The ideal or "benchmark" answer i.e. the answer that the examiners view as that which matches most closely their requirements. This will attract the maximum mark.
   
• Secondary answers i.e. any answer which, although it does not match the ideal answer, is close enough and cannot be considered completely wrong (bearing in mind that there are situations that can be handled in many different ways). This will attract partial marks if the examiners feel generous. There is therefore a degree of flexibility.
   
• Wrong answers i.e. any answer which clearly demonstrates that the candidate does not react sensibly to a given situation (such as ignoring an obviously critical issue).

Example of a GPST Stage 2 SJT question with sample answer