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First BM Parts I and II

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 they have been through the standard selection procedures for the standard medical course (including sitting the prescribed admissions test), has met the published entry requirements for admission to the standard medical course, and their 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 assessment 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. A candidate must offer all seven assessment units in Part I 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, 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 seven assessment units at one examination. The examiners may request that a candidate attend one or more oral examinations.

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 each assessment unit.

5. 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 provide the Examination Board with evidence to certify that each candidate has participated satisfactorily in the Learning from Patients 1 course.

7. Assessment unit 6 (Practical Work)

The Director of Preclinical Studies or their deputy will provide the Examination Board with evidence to certify that each candidate has a satisfactory record of attendance for practical classes where attendance is compulsory, as specified in the course handbook.

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.

8. Assessment unit 7 (Medical Statistics)

The Director of Preclinical Studies or their deputy will provide the Examination Board with evidence to certify that each candidate has engaged fully, has a satisfactory record of attendance at compulsory teaching sessions, and has reached the required standard in Medical Statistics.

Outcomes of Part I of the First Examination

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

a) A candidate who has satisfied the Examiners in all seven assessment units will be deemed to have passed Part I of the First Examination.
b) A candidate who has failed more than one but fewer than seven of the 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.
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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.

4. 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 Council, in accordance with the General Regulations for the First and Second Public Examinations. [For students starting from MT 2019: 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.]

5. The examiners may award a Pass with Merit to candidates of special merit in any of the individual assessment units 1, 2, or 3. The award of Pass with Merit shall be confined to candidates who have offered all seven assessment units of Part in one 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 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 of more assessment units at the first scheduled opportunity in accordance with Part 14 of the Regulations for Conduct of University Examinations.

6. 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.

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 assessment units of Part II of the First Examination shall be:

1. Applied Physiology and Pharmacology
2. The Nervous System
3. Principles of Pathology
4. 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. A candidate must offer all eight 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.

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 each assessment unit.

6. 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 their deputy will provide the Examination Board with evidence to certify that each candidate has participated satisfactorily in the Learning from Patients 2 course.

8. Assessment unit 7 (Practical Work)

9. Assessment unit 8 (Medical Statistics)

Outcomes of Part II of the First Examination

1. 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 but fewer than 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][For students starting from MT 2018: . 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.[For students starting from MT 2018: 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.]

4. The examiners may award a Pass with Merit to candidates of special merit in any of the individual assessment units 1-3 or 5. The award of Pass with Merit shall be confined to candidates who have offered all eight assessment units of Part II of the examination in one 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 theEducation 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 Counduct of University Examinations.

5. 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.