After careful consideration of the role and format of the Critical Essay Question (CEQ) examination, the Board has determined that the CEQ, in its current format, will be retired immediately.

We know that over the past two years there has been uncertainty for many trainees and SIMGs while the CEQ exam has been reviewed and we thank everyone impacted for dealing with this with patience and professionalism.

The decision is informed by the findings of the 2023 report from the Australian Council for Education Research (ACER) which reviewed the CEQ’s effectiveness both as a stand-alone summative assessment and within the broader context of the RANZCP assessment program.

The changes outlined demonstrate the College’s commitment to addressing the ACER’s recommendations and supporting Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs) and Indigenous trainees, who have historically experienced low pass rates in this examination.

The decision reflects:

• the programmatic assessment approach adopted by the College;
• the alignment with the RANZCP Curriculum; and
• contemporary best practices in assessment design.

The Board recognises that the skills and knowledge assessed by the CEQ remain essential for psychiatry training. To continue teaching these competencies, an online learning activity focused on understanding the dimensions of the ‘critical thinking construct’ within psychiatry will be introduced from September 2025.

Short-term model: Structured Learning Activity (SLA)

To ensure that the critical skills and knowledge assessed by the CEQ are available to trainees and SIMGs, to sustain their knowledge of Critical Thinking Construct, a new structured learning activity model will be introduced.

The learning material will be designed to allow progression through content at a self-paced engagement. This learning activity will be available on the ‘Learnit’ platform from September 2025.

Completion of the online learning activity will be optional following its introduction in September 2025 but will become a mandatory requirement for Fellowship from June 2026, allowing 12 months notification and transition time following the announcement of the CEQ conclusion.

Long-term model: Critical Reflection Activity (CRA)

In the longer term, an alternative assessment model—the Critical Reflection Activity (CRA) has been developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders. The interim online learning modules will be incorporated into the final CRA, which will form part of the redeveloped Formal Education Courses (FECs), intended for launch in 2028.

Training Trajectory Rules

Trajectory business rules have been established to support trainees and SIMGs who are either unsuccessful in the March 2025 CEQ examination or have the CEQ as their final outstanding requirement for Fellowship.

Trajectory Rules for Trainees and SIMGs Affected by CEQ Retirement

Depending on where the trainees and SIMGs are in their progression trajectory, the following rules will apply.

1. Trainees approaching or exceeding 60 FTE months of training who have met all other requirements except for the CEQ Exam

• Exemption to complete the CEQ requirement is granted to any trainee who was unsuccessful in the CEQ exam held in March 2025.
• Exemption to complete the CEQ requirement is also granted to those on their Break in Training status.
• Such exemption will also apply to candidates seeking reconsideration of decisions to withdraw from the program resulting from multiple unsuccessful CEQ attempts.
• Any requirement to complete an alternative task/activity/assessment to be introduced is also waived for this group.

Note: the aim is to ensure a minimal delay in trainees’ progression towards Fellowship. However, decisions on exemptions will require committee approval, and for the trainee trajectory to be considered in the context of overall performance in the training program.

2. Trainees approaching or exceeding 60 FTE months before February 2025 and have not completed the MEQ/CEQ requirement

• If successful in the March 2025 MEQ exam, but not yet completed the CEQ requirement, these trainees will be exempted from the CEQ requirement to progress to Fellowship, provided all other training requirements are met. Decisions on exemptions will require committee approval, and for the trainee trajectory to be considered in the context of overall performance in the training program.
• If unsuccessful in the March 2025 MEQ exam, these trainees will be required to successfully complete the MEQ by March 2026, without requiring them to complete the alternative task/activity/assessment once it becomes mandatory for the Fellowship program.
• If trainees are unsuccessful in the March 2026 MEQ exam or sit the MEQ after March 2026, they will be required to complete the learning activity requirement once it becomes mandatory from June 2026.

3. SIMGs on Partial Comparability Pathway required to pass the CEQ exam 

For SIMG candidates with Medical Registration valid until August 2025 and/or have completed 24 months FTE or more on the Partial Comparability Pathway. 

• Exemption to complete the CEQ requirement is granted to any SIMG candidate on the partial comparability pathway who was unsuccessful in the CEQ exam held in March 2025, provided they have completed all other Fellowship Program requirements.
• Exemption is also granted to SIMG candidates who have CEQ completion as an outstanding requirement provided, they have completed 24 months FTE or more on the Partial Comparability Pathway and all other Fellowship Program requirements.
• For candidates seeking reconsideration of committee decisions to withdraw comparability status on the Specialist Pathway due to multiple unsuccessful CEQ attempts, such exemption will also apply.
• Any requirement to complete an alternative task/activity/assessment to be introduced will be waived. 

Support

Should you have a query in relation to your own circumstances, please contact the College’s Exams team directly via ceq@ranzcp.org or visit the FAQs page.