First BM Parts I and II

Differences from 2021/22 to 2023/24

First Examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine

  • 1. The First Examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine shall be under the supervision of the Medical Sciences Board.

  • 2. No candidate shall be admitted to the First Examination unless hethey or she hashave been through the standard selection procedures for the standard medical course (including sitting the Biomedicalprescribed Admissionsadmissions Test—BMATtest), has met the published entry requirements for admission to the standard medical course, and his or hertheir name has been entered on the University Register of Medical Students.

    3. A candidate shall be deemed to have passed the First Examination for the degree of Bachelor of Medicine if they have satisfied the examiners in all the subjects of Parts I and II.

  • 4. The examiners may award a Distinction to candidates of special merit in the First BM overall, provided that all assessment units for Part I and Part II have been offered in their entirety and passed in one sitting at the first scheduled opportunity for each Part which shall be the candidate’s first attempt, except in one of the following exceptional circumstances: 
    •  • The candidate has been given permission by the Education Committee of Council to split the assessment over more than one examination session.
    •  
    • • The candidate has been excused by the Proctors from taking one or more assessment units at the first scheduled opportunity, in accordance with Part 14 of the Regulations for the Conduct of University Examinations.
    •  

Part I of the First Examination

1. The subjectsassessment units of Part I of the First Examination shall be:

  • 1. Organisation of the Body

  • 2. Physiology and Pharmacology

  • 3. Biochemistry and Medical Genetics

  • 4. Population Health 1: Medical Sociology

  • 5. Learning from Patients 1
  •  
  • 6. Practical Work
  •  
  • 7. Medical Statistics

2. The syllabus of each subject shall be as prescribed from time to time by the Medical Sciences Board.

3. Subjects 1, 2, and 3 shall each be examined in two assessment units: Part A and Part B. Subject 4 forms a single assessment unit. The Patient and Doctor Year 1 course forms a single assessment unit. The content and assessment format of the assessment units are provided in the Schedule below. A candidate must offer all eightseven assessment units in Part I atin one sitting, unless they have been given permission by the Proctors or the Education Committee of Council to split the assessment over more than one examination session, and provided that the Medical Sciences Board may dispense candidates who have already passed a First Public Examination in any subject from the requirement to offer all eightseven assessment units at one examination. The examiners may request that a candidate attend one or more oral examinations.

Regulations

4. Assessment units 1, 2, and 3 (Organisation of the Body, Physiology and Pharmacology, and Biochemistry and Medical Genetics).

There will be one examination for theeach Patientassessment and Doctor Course

unit.

45. Assessment unit 4 (Population Health 1: Medical Sociology).

This assessment unit is a take-home assignment.

6. Assessment unit 5 (Learning from Patients 1).

The Director of Preclinical Studies or their deputy will make available toprovide the examinersExamination Board with evidence (in the form of a list of names, signed by the Director or his or her deputy) to certify that each candidate has participated satisfactorily in the Learning Patientfrom andPatients Doctor1 Coursecourse.

7. Assessment unit 6 (Practical work and Medical Statistics 

Work)

5.The CandidatesDirector areof expectedPreclinical Studies or their deputy will provide the Examination Board with evidence to engagecertify fullythat witheach candidate has a satisfactory record of attendance for practical classes where attendance is compulsory, as specified in the courseandcourse to participate in all compulsory teaching sessionshandbook. 

The Director of Preclinical Studies or their deputy may request practical notebooks from any candidate in order to determine the extent to which each candidate has a satisfactory record of practical work. 

Before8. theAssessment endunit of7 Trinity(Medical Term, theStatistics)

The Director of Pre-clinicalPreclinical Studies or their deputy will notifyprovide candidatesthe whoExamination doBoard notwith haveevidence to certify that each candidate has engaged fully, has a satisfactory record of attendance forat compulsory teaching sessions where attendance is compulsory, as specified in the course handbook, and/or candidates who have nothas reached the required standard in Medical Statistics. An unsatisfactory record, in the absence of appropriate documentary evidence, will normally result in the candidate being required to repeat a section of the course and/or to complete remedial work by a specified deadline. A candidate will not normally be allowed to progress to the second year of the course until the Director of Pre-clinical Studies is satisfied that the period of study has been repeated and/or that the remedial work has been completed. 

Outcomes of Part I of the First Examination 

61. The outcomes of Part I of the First Examination are as follows:

  • a) A candidate who has satisfied the Examiners in all eightseven assessment units will be deemed to have passed Part I of the First Examination.

  • b) A candidate who has failed more than one or more assessment units but hasfewer satisfiedthan the Examiners in four or moreseven of the seven written or computer-based assessment units (Parts A and B of subjects 1-3, and subject 4), will be deemed to have achieved a partial pass. They will be permitted one further attempt at the unitsunit(s) they have failed. This resit attempt shall normally be taken at the next opportunity, but may be deferred once, i.e. it must be taken at one of the next two opportunities.

  • c) A candidate who has satisfied the Examiners in fewer than four of the seven written or computer-based assessment units (Parts A and B of subjects 1-3, and subject 4), will be deemed to have failed Part I of the First Examination. They will be permitted one further attempt at all seven written or computer-based assessment units. This resit attempt shall normally be taken at the next opportunity, but may be deferred once, i.e. it must be taken at one of the next two opportunities. 

2. For assessment units 5-7, the resit attempt will consist of candidates being required to repeat a section of the course or to complete remedial work by a specified deadline. Details of what is required will be decided by and communicated to candidates by the Director of Pre-clinical Studies.

3. A candidate who has passed Part I of the First Examination for the degree of Bachelor of Medicine shall be deemed to have passed the First Public Examination.

84. No candidate may offer any assessment unit for Part I of the First Examination on more than two occasions, save in exceptional circumstances. A further exceptional opportunity to offer any assessment unit for Part I of the First Examination shall require application to and approval on behalf of the Education Committee of the UniversityCouncil, in accordance with the General Regulations for the First and Second Public Examinations. If granted, this exceptional resit attempt shall normally be taken at the next opportunity, but may be deferred once, i.e. it must be taken at one of the next two opportunities.

9. The examiners may award a Distinction to candidates of special merit in Part I of the examination, provided that all assessment units for all four subjects specified for Part I have been offered in their entirety and passed at one examination at the first scheduled opportunity which shall be the candidate’s first attempt, except in one of the following exceptional circumstances:

  • • The candidate has been given permission by the Proctors or Education Committee to split the assessment over more than one examination session.
  • • The candidate has withdrawn from taking the examination at the first scheduled opportunity, due to ill health or other reasons as detailed and evidenced in a Notice of Mitigating Circumstances.

105. The examiners may award a Pass with Merit to candidates of special merit in any of the individual subjectsassessment units 1, 2, or 3. The award of Pass with Merit shall be based on performance in Part B of a subject and shall be confined to candidates who have offered all eightseven assessment units of Part I of the examination atin one examination, and who have passed Part A of that subject at the same sitting which shall be the first scheduled opportunity and the candidate’s first attempt, except in one of the following exceptional circumstances:

  • • The candidate has been given permission by the Proctors or Education Committee of Council to split the assessment over more than one examination session.
  • • The candidate has withdrawnbeen excused by the Proctors from taking theone examinationof more assessment units at the first scheduled opportunity, due to ill health or other reasons as detailed and evidenced in aaccordance Noticewith Part 14 of Mitigatingthe CircumstancesRegulations for Conduct of University Examinations.

116. In line with the General Regulations for the First Public Examination, a person admitted for Part I of the first examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine within three terms of the term in which they were originally due to be examined for Part I of the first examination, shall be entitled to be examined in accordance with the regulations pertaining to the original examination, if they so wish.

In line with the General Regulations for the First Public Examination, a person admitted for Part I of the first examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine four or more terms after the term in which they were originally due to be examined for Part I of the first examination shall normally be examined in accordance with the current regulations.

Schedule for Part I

  • 1. Organisation of the Body

  • 2. Physiology and Pharmacology

  • 3. Biochemistry and Medical Genetics

  • 4. Population Health 1: Medical Sociology

A Composite Syllabus (Core plus Extension) for Part I will be published annually at the start of Michaelmas Term by the Medical Sciences Board. The syllabus will make appropriate reference to related issues of clinical significance. In each subject, candidates will be expected to have a general understanding of the components specified in the syllabus, including methods of study and quantitative analysis of experimental results.

In subjects 1, 2, and 3 two papers will be set, Paper A and Paper B. Paper A shall be no longer than 1 hour and 15 minutes in duration, and shall be a computer-based assessment of breadth of knowledge and understanding of the Core Syllabus. Paper B shall be set to examine deeper knowledge and understanding of a choice of topics included in or closely relating to the Composite Syllabus. For Subjects 1, 2, and 3, Paper B shall be two hours in duration.

In subject 4, one one-and-a-half-hour paper will be set, assessing knowledge and understanding of the Composite Syllabus.

Part II of the First Examination

1. No candidate shall be admitted to the examination for Part II of the First Examination without first having passed all the assessment units of Part I, save in exceptional circumstances. This shall require application to and approval on behalf of the Educational Policy and Standards Committee of the Medical Sciences Board.

2. The subjectsassessment units of Part II of the First Examination shall be:

  • 51. Applied Physiology and Pharmacology

  • 62. The Nervous System

  • 73. Principles of Pathology

  • 84. Psychology for Medicine

  • 5. Synoptic questions
  •  
  • 6. Learning from Patients 2 
  •  
  • 7. Practical work 
  •  
  • 8. Medical Statistics 

3. The syllabus of each subject shall be as prescribed from time to time by the Medical Sciences Board.

4. Subjects 5, 6, and 7 shall each be examined in two assessment units: Part A and Part B. Subject 8 forms a single assessment unit. The Patient and Doctor Year 2 course forms a single assessment unit. The content and assessment format of the assessment units are provided in the Schedule below. A candidate must offer all eleveneight assessments in Part II in one sitting, unless they have been given permission by the Proctors or the Education Committee of Council to split the assessment over more than one examination session. The examiners may request that a candidate attend one or more oral examinations.

Regulations

5. Assessment units 1-3 and 5 (Applied Physiology and Pharmacology, The Nervous System, Principles of Pathology and Synoptic Questions) 

There will be one examination for theeach Patientassessment and Doctor Course

unit.

56. Assessment unit 4 (Psychology for Medicine)  

This assessment is a take-home assignment. 

7. Assessment unit 6 (Learning from Patients 2)

The Director of Preclinical Studies or his or hertheir deputy will make available toprovide the examinersExamination Board with evidence (in the form of a list of names, signed by the Director or his or her deputy) to certify that each candidate has participated satisfactorily in the PatientLearning andfrom DoctorPatients Course2 course.

8. Assessment unit 7 (Practical work and Medical Statistics  

Work)

6.The CandidatesDirector areof expectedPreclinical Studies or their deputy will provide the Examination Board with evidence to engagecertify fullythat witheach candidate has a satisfactory record of attendance for practical classes where attendance is compulsory, as specified in the courseandcourse to participate in all compulsory teaching sessionshandbook. 

The Director of Preclinical Studies or their deputy may request practical notebooks from any candidate in order to determine the extent to which each candidate has a satisfactory record of practical work. 

Before9. theAssessment Firstunit BM8 Part(Medical II examinations, theStatistics) 

The Director of Pre-clinicalPreclinical Studies or their deputy will notifyprovide candidatesthe whoExamination doBoard notwith haveevidence to certify that each candidate has engaged fully, has a satisfactory record of attendance forat compulsory teaching sessions where attendance is compulsory, as specified in the course handbook, and/or candidates who have nothas reached the required standard in Medical Statistics. An unsatisfactory record, in the absence of appropriate documentary evidence, will normally result in the candidate being required to repeat a section of the course and/or to complete remedial work by a specified deadline. A candidate will not normally be allowed to progress to the third year of the course until the Director of Pre-clinical Studies is satisfied that the period of study has been repeated and/or that the remedial work has been completed. 

Outcomes of Part II of the First Examination

71. The outcomes of Part II of the First Examination are as follows:

  • a) A candidate who has satisfied the Examiners in all eight assessment units will be deemed to have passed Part II of the First Examination.

  • b) A candidate who has satisfied the Examiners in more than one orbut morefewer of thethan eight assessment units will be deemed to have achieved a partial pass. They will be permitted one further attempt at the unit(s) they have failed. This resit attempt shall normally be taken at the next opportunity, but may be deferred once, i.e. it must be taken at one of the next two opportunities. 

2. For assessment units 6-8, the resit attempt will consist of candidates being required to repeat a section of the course or to complete remedial work by a specified deadline. Details of what is required will be decided by and communicated to candidates by the Director of Pre-clinical Studies.

3. No candidate may offer any assessment unit for Part II of the First Examination on more than two occasions, save in exceptional circumstances. A further exceptional opportunity to offer any assessment unit for Part II of the First Examination shall require application to and approval on behalf of the Educational Policy and Standards Committee of the Medical Sciences Board, according to the procedure set out in the handbook for medical students in Years 1-3. If granted, this exceptional resit attempt shall normally be taken at the next opportunity, but may be deferred once, i.e. it must be taken at one of the next two opportunities.

9. The examiners may award a Distinction to candidates of special merit in Part II of the examination, provided that all assessment units for all four subjects specified for Part II have been offered in their entirety and passed at one examination at the first scheduled opportunity which shall be the candidate’s first attempt, except in one of the following exceptional circumstances:

  • • The candidate has been given permission by the Proctors or Education Committee to split the assessment over more than one examination session.
  • • The candidate has withdrawn from taking the examination at the first scheduled opportunity, due to ill health or other reasons as detailed and evidenced in a Notice of Mitigating Circumstances.

104. The examiners may award a Pass with Merit to candidates of special merit in any of the individual subjectsassessment 5,units 6,1-3 or 75. The award of Pass with Merit shall be based on performance in Part B of a subject and shall be confined to candidates who have offered all eight assessment units of Part II of the examination atin one examinationsitting, and who have passed Part A of that subject at the same sitting which shall be the first scheduled opportunity and the candidate’s first attempt, except in one of the following exceptional circumstances:

  • • The candidate has been given permission by the Proctors or EducationtheEducation Committee of Council to split the assessment over more than one examination session.
  • • The candidate has withdrawnbeen excused by the Proctors from taking theone examinationor more assessment units at the first scheduled opportunity, due to ill health or other reasons as detailed and evidenced in aaccordance Noticewith Part 14 of Mitigatingthe CircumstancesRegulations for the Counduct of University Examinations.

115. A person admitted for Part II of the first examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine within three terms of the term in which they were originally due to be examined for Part II of the first examination, shall be entitled to be examined in accordance with the regulations pertaining to the original examination, if they so wish.

A person admitted for Part II of the first examination for the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine four or more terms after the term in which they were originally due to be examined for Part II of the first examination shall normally be examined in accordance with the current regulations.

Schedule for Part II

  • 5. Applied Physiology and Pharmacology

  • 6. The Nervous System

  • 7. Principles of Pathology

  • 8. Psychology for Medicine

A Composite Syllabus (Core plus Extension) for Part II will be published annually at the start of Michaelmas Term by the Medical Sciences Board. The syllabus will make appropriate reference to related issues of clinical significance. In each subject, candidates will be expected to have a general understanding of the components specified in the syllabus, including methods of study and quantitative analysis of experimental results.

In subjects 5, 6, and 7 two papers will be set, Paper A and Paper B. Paper A shall be no longer than 1 hour and 15 minutes in duration, and shall be a computer-based assessment of breadth of knowledge and understanding of the Core Syllabus. Paper B shall be set to examine deeper knowledge and understanding of a choice of topics included in or closely relating to the Composite Syllabus. For Subjects 5, 6, and 7, Paper B shall be three hours in duration.

In subject 8, one one-and-a-half hour paper will be set. The paper shall consist of two sections: (1) multiple-choice questions (45 minutes), assessing breadth of knowledge and understanding of the Core Syllabus; (2) essay questions (45 minutes), examining deeper knowledge and understanding of a choice of topics included in or closely related to the Composite Syllabus.