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Study support - past OSCE stations
The below previous OSCE stations are provided for educational purposes only. The OSCE is not a current examination requirement. The information contained in the stations may be out of date and the use of these materials is at your own discretion.
Trainees and supervisors are strongly urged to review and be familiar with current literature.
The Committee for Examinations acknowledges the potential conflicts between sources of evidence and that the application of evidence to specific instances of practice is influenced by assessment and choice of evidence available to the station writer.
For any Examination preparation workshops conducted by private providers (including Fellows of the College), you must seek written permission from the Committee for Examinations (CFE) for the use of any CFE prepared examination material. Written acknowledgement of RANZCP copyright is to be given in all workshop documentation. The Committee for Examinations does not endorse any such privately run examination preparation workshops.
July 2021
Station 1 [PDF; 529KB]
April 2021
Station 3 [PDF; 822 KB]
Station 5 [PDF; 835 KB]
November 2020
Station 3 [PDF; 663 KB]
Station 5 [PDF; 1063 KB]
September 2019
All Stations [PDF; 4.5 MB]
Station 1 [PDF; 586 KB]
This station was preceded an active bye in which the candidate watched a modified (shortened) video of a ‘Strange Situation’ procedure. The mother and her infant have been identified as at risk due to the mother’s past history of substance misuse and schizophrenia. The candidate is expected to evaluate the interaction between the mother and her child, looking for strengths and difficulties. In Station 1, the candidate is to address the concerns of the child protection worker, who is new to this work, and suggest further interventions to support the mother-child dyad in the future.
* Please note that Station 1 video is not available for viewing, as consent was only given for training and examination use.
Station 2 [PDF; 434 KB]
This viva station tested consultancy skills in clinical, ethical and professional realms. The station’s scenario concerned a 13-year-old boy with suicidal ideation who has been referred by a Nurse Practitioner to a poorly resourced mental health service in a remote area where a locum consultant is about to fly out at the end of their contract. Candidates were to demonstrate their ability to make safe clinical decisions, under time contingent conditions, without full information being available. They were then asked to consider any issues arising out of the performance of the Nurse Practitioner. |
Station 3 [PDF; 561 KB]
This station required the candidate to assess a person who is soon to attend court to face criminal charges for the presence of psychiatric disorder including personality disorder. |
Station 4 [PDF; 413 KB]
In this viva station the candidate was to evaluate and manage new onset psychotic symptoms in a 76-year-old man referred from a nursing home. |
Station 5 [PDF; 452 KB]
This station concerned the complexity of managing a situation of a mentally unwell father of a psychiatric inpatient. |
Station 6 [PDF; 538 KB]
This station covered the diagnosing and managing of a conversion disorder in a female refugee. |
Station 7 [PDF; 453 KB]
This was the Medical Disorders in Psychiatry station and covered lithium toxicity and hyperthyroidism. The candidate was expected to obtain relevant history, and interpret laboratory tests to diagnose underlying hyperthyroidism plus lithium toxicity due to interactions with pain medications commenced recently by the GP. |
Station 8 [PDF; 462 KB]
This station concerned a RANZCP Stage 1 psychiatric trainee who had been referred to a private psychiatrist for diagnostic clarification due to concerns of a possible depressive disorder. The candidate was to differentiate between burnout and a clinical depressive disorder. |
Station 9 [PDF; 619 KB]
In this station, the candidate was expected to be able to discuss the three stages of a cognitive behaviour therapy plan for the treatment of a single phobia fear of flying in a mother wanting to attend her daughter’s wedding overseas. |
Station 10 [PDF; 391 KB]
This was the core skills station, which required the candidate to perform and present a mental state examination (MSE) and clarify the MSE symptoms elicited by a junior doctor. |
Station 11 [PDF; 514 KB]
In this station candidates were to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of Motivational Interviewing (MI) skills and strategies to effectively engage a patient with cannabis dependence. |
April 2019
All Stations [PDF; 4.5 MB]
| In Station 1 Bye, candidates are to watch a video of an interview with a patient with panic disorder before entering Station 1. Candidates were expected to present a mental state examination, formulation and management plan for the patient. Candidates are also expected to describe how they would have managed the panic attack, if they were the doctor conducting the interview. |
Station 2 [PDF; 434 KB]
| In this station, candidates are expected to develop a comprehensive formulation of an Aboriginal woman in a culturally sensitive manner that indicates Indigenous cultural awareness. Candidates are expected to recognise illness in the midst of cultural and spiritual complexity, and then attempt to make sense of it in their formulation. Candidates are to take a history including important cultural and spiritual information from the Aboriginal woman, who is recovering from a manic episode. As a demonstration of engaging this woman, candidates are asked to read aloud the Acknowledgement of Country document. Candidates will present a formulation that explains why this woman is suffering from these problems at this point in time. |
Station 3 [PDF; 561 KB]
| In this station, candidates are seeing a 49-year-old lady who has been prescribed escitalopram for anxiety, and has more recently started taking tramadol for pain, and St John’s Wort for insomnia resulting in a mild serotonin syndrome. She has presented with worsening anxiety and a request to increase her medication. Candidates are required to recognise serotonin syndrome in an outpatient setting, examine a patient experiencing serotonin syndrome, and to make appropriate treatment decisions around medication changes. |
Station 4 [PDF; 413 KB]
| An Occupational Therapist, in a multidisciplinary private practice, questions the diagnosis of PTSD provided by the GP of his client to the Psychiatrist (junior consultant). Candidates are to engage in secondary consultation focussing on the diagnosis, and identify that the PTSD is secondary to vicarious trauma. During the interaction, the colleague makes a number of prejudicial comments regarding mental illness, and the sufferers of mental illness. Candidates are to address the challenging situation that occurs, and constructively address the issue of stigma. |
Station 5 [PDF; 452 KB]
| In this station, candidates are to assess a 65-year-old man, referred to the outpatient clinic by his GP due to concerns that the patient is depressed, but unwilling to trial antidepressant medication. Candidates are expected to establish that the patient’s depression is mild to moderate, that non-pharmacological management is the more appropriate option, and to discuss the appropriate treatment options. |
Station 6 [PDF; 538 KB]
| Candidates are to undertake an assessment, with the spouse, of a 71-year-old man suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The patient has displayed a recent episode of verbal aggression triggered by delusions of jealousy. Candidates will then present their understanding of the situation and outline the general principles of early management to the spouse. |
Station 7 [PDF; 453 KB]
| A 29-year-old female patient who has been under the care of a junior consultant psychiatrist for a few months suffers from chronic schizophrenia, and is stable on a dose of 15mg olanzapine daily. She is planning to go on a ‘holiday of a lifetime’ – a three-month round-the-world cruise, with her parents. She is scheduled to leave in six weeks. She is a heavy smoker, and wishes to stop smoking before she goes on holiday. Candidates are to assess the patient’s level of nicotine dependence, and advise her on options she can use to quit smoking. |
Station 8 [PDF; 462 KB]
| In this station, candidates are to address the concerns of a mother relating to her daughter, who has recently been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder / emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD). The daughter is 22 years old, and has been frequently cutting, and has visible scars on both arms and both legs. She has been offered a place in a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Programme (DBT). Her mother does not accept or believe that her daughter has this condition, and has her own ideas on how to manage the situation which candidates need to address. |
Station 9 [PDF; 619 KB]
| Candidates are meeting a mother of an 8-year-old son, who has just been assessed as having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The mother has some specific questions about medications and other treatments. She is also concerned that the son’s problems are her fault. |
Station 10 [PDF; 391 KB]
| Candidates are to take a focussed history from a 29-year-old female woman with a history of bipolar disorder who is currently stable on sodium valproate. She wants advice about family planning, and candidates must explain management recommendations including referring to the latest suggested changes to practice guidance regarding sodium valproate, its associated risks, and more robust consent processes. |
Station 11 [PDF; 514 KB]
| This station tests candidates’ knowledge of current expectations in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand regarding seclusion, and ongoing government direction towards reduction of this practice which is regarded as a form of restraint. In this station the nurse-in-charge of an inpatient ward has raised concerns about seclusion practices on the ward. Candidates should be able to demonstrate knowledge of recovery oriented practices, and an understanding of trauma-informed care. Candidates are also expected to negotiate the team dynamics sensitively as would be expected at the level of a junior consultant. |
September 2018
All stations [PDF; 5.8 MB]
Station 1 Bye [PDF; 655 KB]
Candidates were provided with prior year seclusion figures for hospitals in their district and were asked to analyse and provide a basic graphical representation that is suitable to identify trends. |
Station 1 [PDF; 667 KB]
| The candidate is tested on their ability to analyse clinical performance data on seclusion in four local hospitals, identify that there are variations in the numbers of people being secluded across the hospitals, and provide explanations as to why this may have occurred. The candidate is then provided with more specific information on which to provide an opinion. |
Station 2 [PDF; 657 KB]
| The candidate is required to engage and educate a medical student who is a novice in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and demonstrate knowledge of technical administration and clinical aspects of ECT. This is done using a clinical vignette involving a patient with severe psychotic depression. |
Station 3 [PDF; 767 KB]
| This station concerned a young female with social anxiety and gender dysphoria. The candidate’s tasks were to talk to patient about their anxiety, provide a diagnosis and management plan as well as explore some of her gender questions, and consider whether further assistance with gender identity might be required. |
Station 4 [PDF; 548 KB]
| This is a viva station, relating to an alleged sexual assault in an adult inpatient psychiatry unit. The station requires the candidate to present the immediate and longer-term management of this situation. |
Station 5 [PDF; 691 KB]
| A 32-year-old man, has not worked for 6 months due to back pain, and has asked his GP for a letter for his insurance company as he has income protection insurance. The GP believes that he should be able to return to his job and so has wondered if he is depressed. The candidate is to explore the issues that may be affecting the patient’s ability to return to work. |
Station 6 [PDF; 822 KB]
| A 48-year-old widow with a long history of Anorexia Nervosa restrictive type is significantly underweight, and has had several admissions for weight restoration. The candidate is to talk with the patient’s son who is very concerned and is struggling to understand the treatment approach for his mother. The candidate is to address the examiner in response to a viva question where the candidate is expected to outline medical monitoring for the patient. |
Station 7 [PDF; 732 KB]
| A 72-year-old woman has been frequently ringing the ward wanting whomever answers to listen to her and to help her. The candidate’s tasks are to explore the concerns of the community mental health nurse who has asked to speak to the candidate, to make sense of the history obtained, and describe diagnoses of grief and dependent personality with relevant differential diagnoses. |
Station 8 [PDF; 564 KB]
| A 56-year-old married man has developed psychiatric symptoms following the recent administration of corticosteriods to treat exacerbation of asthma. The candidate is to elicit sufficient information to make a diagnosis of steroid induced mood disorder (depression with psychotic features) which the candidate needs to explain to the patient. The candidate is then expected to present a treatment plan to the examiner. |
Station 9 [PDF; 604 KB]
| A 26-year old university student has an established diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder and has been on treatment for the past year. He has been referred by his GP for an assessment of the emergence of what she believes are psychotic symptoms. The candidate is to conduct a mental state examination to facilitate symptom clarification and then present the findings including the likely diagnosis to the examiner. |
Station 10 [PDF; 546 KB]
| A 45-year-old veteran who has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and some current psychosocial stressors presents with questions regarding non-pharmacological management of PTSD. The candidate is to address his concerns, outline various psychological interventions for PTSD, specifically including Trauma-focussed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, and provide ideas of psychosocial rehabilitation interventions. |
Station 11 [PDF; 586 KB]
| The candidate is required to assess opioid withdrawal and dependence in a 29-year-old woman who has been taking an increasing amount of oxycodone for her back pain. The candidate is expected to communicate appropriately the findings of opioid dependence, and withdrawal to the patient. In addition, the candidate is expected to explain to the patient the management of opioid dependence / withdrawal. |
April 2018
All stations [PDF; 5.3 MB]
Station 1 Bye [PDF; 375 KB]
Candidates were asked to review information about a complaint and background documentation regarding use of restraint in mental health settings. |
Station 1 [PDF; 522 KB]
| Following an episode of restraint, the parents of a young person with first episode psychosis make a complaint to the service about the care their son received whilst in hospital. Candidates were to assess the situation, plan a meeting with the parents, and apply their understanding of current recommended practice in the use of restraint to plan changes to their service. |
Station 2 [PDF; 602 KB]
| Final year registrar turns up late for work looking dishevelled and malodourous. Upsets a patient by making inappropriate comment. The candidate meets the registrar to discuss the incident and the registrar’s behaviour due to alcohol use. |
Station 3 [PDF; 780 KB]
| A 22-year-old woman is referred to the consultation liaison psychiatry team due to concerns regarding paranoid thoughts and periods of confusion. Candidates were expected to identify a possible diagnosis of delirium and anti NMDA related. |
Station 4 [PDF; 618 KB]
| A 50-year-old man with a 15-year history of bipolar disorder wanting to stop his medication because he has developed hypercholesterolaemia and gained 20kg. Candidates were expected to identify risks and suggest a comprehensive plan for future management. |
Station 5 [PDF; 636 KB]
| Assessing capacity in a 66-year-old female with chronic renal failure secondary to hypertension who wants to stop haemodialysis. Candidates must synthesise the data obtained in the MMSE and present their conclusion. Candidates were expected to discuss the initial management of an older person who requests euthanasia. |
Station 6 [PDF; 731 KB]
| A mother recovering from a major depressive episode has concerns about her 6-year-old son. The station focusses on the theory of attachment in which candidates are expected to consider specific disorders like oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and also assess the impact of parental mental illness on children. |
Station 7 [PDF; 589 KB]
| Candidates are meeting with a nurse in charge of a 25-year-old male patient with borderline personality disorder and self-inflicted burns who is frequently non-compliant thus resulting in staff conflict and a deteriorating ward environment. The nurse in charge asks the candidate to ‘sort things out’ |
Station 8 [PDF; 699 KB]
| A carer brings a 30-year-old intellectual disabled male to the Emergency Department after an episode of self-harm. Candidates are to take a collateral history from the carer to identify the presence of symptoms of anxiety as a potential mental illness. The carer asks for an explanation and the candidate is to explain the situation in layman’s terms. |
Station 9 [PDF; 619 KB]
| This station tests the candidate’s ability to manage a difficult interview with a young man who has been admitted with a relapse of psychosis in the context of substance use. The patient wants to go home but it is not safe for him to do so. |
Station 10 [PDF; 587 KB]
| The candidate is required to assess a 58-year-old man, presenting with significant anxiety in the context of a deteriorating, agitated, major depressive episode with somatic delusions. The candidate is to present a preferred diagnosis with a short-term management plan. |
Station 11 [PDF; 510 KB]
| This is a short core skills station that examines the abilities of candidates to present a Mental Status Examination (MSE) of a mute patient, and correctly interpret observed psychopathology in the context of what appears to be a psychotic disorder with hallucinations and behaviour associated with persecutory thinking. |
September 2017
All Stations Report [PDF; 118 KB]
Station 1 Bye
[PDF; 101 KB]
A 16 minute interview between a junior registrar and a patient with depression and psychotic symptoms.
Station 1
[PDF; 427 KB]
The candidate is to assess patient’s mental state, formulate differential diagnoses and provide an initial management plan based on their observations. The candidate is then required to present the feedback they would provide to the junior registrar on his interview.
Station 2
[PDF; 433 KB]
Mother of 19-year-old female with first episode mania. Moved to HDU due to injury, mother not informed. Meeting to discuss incident.
Station 3
[PDF; 4414 KB]
Medicine in Psychiatry station. Candidates are to review a man with schizoaffective disorder who is on multiple medications, and who has been referred by his GP for assessment of symptoms and a medication review.
Station 4
[PDF; 343 KB]
This is a short VIVA station. Candidate to assess a woman, with schizophrenia who has mild symptoms of relapse in the context of relationship stress.
Station 5
[PDF; 411 KB]
A 36-year-old male patient with history of schizophrenia and polysubstance dependence, who is also being treated with olanzapine long-acting injectable (LAI), and is also on pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin for Hepatitis C. The case manager has booked him in for review as he is concerned about his mood.
Station 6
[PDF; 1897 KB]
This station deals with Fitness-to-Drive of a 29-year-old male, following post-manic episodes.
Station 7
[PDF; 445 KB]
A stable Bipolar Disorder patient has requested an appointment to discuss her three-year-old son whose kindergarten teacher has requested that she seek an assessment of her son for a possible Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The mother wants to know what ASD is, how it is diagnosed and how it is managed.
Station 8
[PDF; 421 KB]
This station deals with a 69-year-old woman with a history of panic disorder and long-term benzodiazepine use.
Station 9
[PDF; 393 KB]
This station concerns a 20-year-old female in crisis, with borderline Personality Disorder who has recently overdosed on a small quatity of Paracetamol.
Station 10
[PDF; 695 KB]
This station concerns a 34-year-old married male, who suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder. His wife, has come to an arranged appointment to discuss her husband’s progress.
Station 11
[PDF; 405 KB]
This station concerns a man with Bipolar Disorder, who is requesting an advance health directive to decline the use of intramuscular Clopixol-Acuphase® in the future.
April 2017
All Stations Report [PDF; 84 KB]
Station 1
[PDF; 436 KB]
Explore history, clarify diagnosis of depression and offer treatment to a female Indian patient with multiple aches & pains.
Station 2
[PDF; 208 KB]
Explain psychological mechanisms for a young person facing impending death and delineate the step-wise management of this person who is leaving behind a young family.
Station 3
[PDF; 184 KB]
Assess a woman referred by her GP with a history of ‘funny turns’, anxiety, trauma and difficulty sleeping and provide a formulation to the examiner.
Station 4
[PDF; 645 KB]
Take a brief history from a male patient with bipolar disorder, who wants to stop his current psychotropic medication and insists on switching to medicinal cannabis.
Station 5
[PDF; 166 KB]
Describe the differences between clinical audit and a research study, and explain considerations, which include the role of the ethics committees, when undertaking research.
Station 6
[PDF; 134 KB]
Demonstrate ability to provide advice to a midwife who is concerned about a patient who has a history of Anorexia Nervosa and she is due to deliver her second child at a regional hospital where the midwife works.
Station 7
[PDF; 131 KB]
Assess a woman whose employer has asked her to undertake a psychiatric assessment because of difficulties in the work place.
Station 8
[PDF; 477 KB]
Discuss the efficacy and rationale for prescribing clozapine with a concerned parent of a patient with treatment resistant schizophrenia.
Station 9
[PDF; 134 KB]
Demonstrate an awareness of lithium pharmacokinetics and of the problematic interactions between lithium and ACE inhibitors including an angiotensin II receptor antagonist candesartan.
Station 10
[PDF; 157 KB]
Demonstrate knowledge about signs of chronic alcoholism, and their ability to carry out a focussed physical examination in a man who has a long-standing history of alcohol dependence.
Station 11
[PDF; 182 KB]
Take a brief history from a mother whose 17-year-old son is spending excessive time playing games on the internet and explain the emerging phenomenon of Internet Addiction / Internet Gaming Disorder to the mother.
September 2016
All Stations Report [PDF; 89 KB]
Station 1
[PDF; 205 KB]
Present a formulation after taking history of an Indigenous patient.
Station 2
[PDF; 121 KB]
Describe the management of a patient with treatment-resistant depression and address polypharmacy.
Station 3
[PDF; 208 KB]
Undertake a series of bedside tests and incorporate available information to present a diagnosis, differentiate diagnosis and a management plan.
Station 4
[PDF; 109 KB]
Describe the audit process on how metabolic syndrome is monitored. Discuss the role of the psychiatrist in conducting clinical audits in a multidisciplinary environment.
Station 5
[PDF; 109 KB]
Assess a patient with Parkinson's disease and identify a range of differential diagnoses.
Station 6
[PDF; 89 KB]
Assess the current symptom status of a patient with bipolar disorder and discuss findings with patient.
Station 7
[PDF; 84 KB]
Demonstrate knowledge of negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
[PDF; 92 KB]
Discuss with a parent their concerns and options available relating to his child who has autism spectrum disorder, who is being bullied at school.
Station 9
[PDF; 106 KB]
Explain the key features of anorexia nervosa, describe the common medical complications and treatment options.
Station 10
[PDF; 111 KB]
Take a focussed drug and alcohol history, explain the diagnosis and management options to the patient.
Station 11
[PDF; 102 KB]
Take a focussed history examining mood symptoms, behaviour and cognitions, explain the process of CBT to patient.
April 2016
All Stations Report [PDF; 70 KB]
Station 1 Bye
[PDF; 46 KB]
Develop a focussed and prioritised short term and a longer term management plan for the patient.
Station 1
[PDF; 118 KB]
Present a short term and a longer term management plan for the patient. Prepare a court report on the issues of the patient's criminal responsibility and fitness for trial.
Station 2
[PDF; 105 KB]
Discuss with a mother her concerns about her parenting and the effects of her borderline personality disorder on her children.
Station 3
[PDF; 114 KB]
Conduct part of a psychotherapy session and address the issue of being given a gift by a patient.
Station 4
[PDF; 114 KB]
Diagnose a patient with agoraphobia and panic disorder and discuss an initial non-pharmacological management plan.
Station 5
[PDF; 94 KB]
Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), demonstrate how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) and explain the contraindications for the use of AED.
Station 6
[PDF; 112 KB]
Take a focussed history of body dysmorphic disorder, discuss diagnosis and differential diagnosis with patient.
Station 7
[PDF; 117 KB]
Perform a diagnostic assessment to confirm a diagnosis of major depression and identifying PTSD. Explain diagnosis to the patient in a culturally sensitive and individually tailored manner.
Station 8
[PDF; 101 KB]
Take focussed history of substance use, explain the management options and negotiate a management plan with the patient.
Station 9
[PDF; 98 KB]
Teach a junior doctor about risk assessment, develop a management plan that takes into account the risk factors and ethical issues.
Station 10
[PDF; 98 KB]
Assess an episode of verbal aggression in a patient with dementia and outline the general principles of early management to the spouse.
Station 11
[PDF; 98 KB]
Engage a patient with poor motivation and engagement, identify negative symptoms of schizophrenia by excluding depression and extrapyramidal side effects.
