Instructions and principles of Student Assessments

Structure of assessments

Types of Assessments, definitions and instructions

Graduates of College of Medicine – University of Sulaimani must be competent in wide range of clinical skills including taking medical history, performing clinical examination, recording and presenting medical information’s, performing practical procedures and some laboratory tests on the basis of a given standards.

A. Taking medical history from patient, family or care givers:

- Taking detail history in different age groups.

- Taking focused medical history based on chief complaint.

- Provide explanation, advice, re assurance and support.

B. Clinical examination:

- Performing general clinical examination and comprehensive systemic examination in different age groups.

- Performing focused clinical examination based on chief complaint in emergency and non emergency situations.

- Taking and measuring vital signs by using different tools.

C. Record and present the information obtained:

- Recording medical information obtained from the history and examinations.

- Presenting them in written or verbal forms; which includes:

. Writing patient file.

. Writing discharge summary

. Writing police report.

. Writing death certificate and note.

. Writing consultation and referral papers.

. Explanation of procedures.

D. Performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures:

Attend and be able to perform clinical procedures and explain them; this includes (appendix 1):

- Taking blood samples in different situations.

- Obtaining peripheral venous access.

- Inserting catheters and performing aspiration procedures.

- Performing basic suturing and wound care.

- Performing basic (diagnostics and therapeutic) procedures in gynecological and obstetric cases.

- Performing basic (diagnostics and therapeutic) procedures in medical and surgical patients.



E. Conducting diagnostic and laboratory tests (Appendix 1):

Perform routine diagnostic and laboratory tests. Indications, limitations and interpretation are mandatory to be learned.

This includes:

- ECG, X-Ray and contrast study.

- Urine analysis

- Swabs

- Special diagnostic tests (tuberculin, lumber puncture…)

- Hematological tests.

Graduates of College of Medicine – University of Sulaimani must be competent in wide range of clinical skills including taking medical history, performing clinical examination, recording and presenting medical information’s, performing practical procedures and some laboratory tests on the basis of a given standards.

A. Taking medical history from patient, family or care givers:

- Taking detail history in different age groups.

- Taking focused medical history based on chief complaint.

- Provide explanation, advice, re assurance and support.

B. Clinical examination:

- Performing general clinical examination and comprehensive systemic examination in different age groups.

- Performing focused clinical examination based on chief complaint in emergency and non emergency situations.

- Taking and measuring vital signs by using different tools.

C. Record and present the information obtained:

- Recording medical information obtained from the history and examinations.

- Presenting them in written or verbal forms; which includes:

. Writing patient file.

. Writing discharge summary

. Writing police report.

. Writing death certificate and note.

. Writing consultation and referral papers.

. Explanation of procedures.

D. Performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures:

Attend and be able to perform clinical procedures and explain them; this includes (appendix 1):

- Taking blood samples in different situations.

- Obtaining peripheral venous access.

- Inserting catheters and performing aspiration procedures.

- Performing basic suturing and wound care.

- Performing basic (diagnostics and therapeutic) procedures in gynecological and obstetric cases.

- Performing basic (diagnostics and therapeutic) procedures in medical and surgical patients.



E. Conducting diagnostic and laboratory tests (Appendix 1):

Perform routine diagnostic and laboratory tests. Indications, limitations and interpretation are mandatory to be learned.

This includes:

- ECG, X-Ray and contrast study.

- Urine analysis

- Swabs

- Special diagnostic tests (tuberculin, lumber puncture…)

- Hematological tests.

Graduates of College of Medicine – University of Sulaimani must be competent in wide range of clinical skills including taking medical history, performing clinical examination, recording and presenting medical information’s, performing practical procedures and some laboratory tests on the basis of a given standards.

A. Taking medical history from patient, family or care givers:

- Taking detail history in different age groups.

- Taking focused medical history based on chief complaint.

- Provide explanation, advice, re assurance and support.

B. Clinical examination:

- Performing general clinical examination and comprehensive systemic examination in different age groups.

- Performing focused clinical examination based on chief complaint in emergency and non emergency situations.

- Taking and measuring vital signs by using different tools.

C. Record and present the information obtained:

- Recording medical information obtained from the history and examinations.

- Presenting them in written or verbal forms; which includes:

. Writing patient file.

. Writing discharge summary

. Writing police report.

. Writing death certificate and note.

. Writing consultation and referral papers.

. Explanation of procedures.

D. Performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures:

Attend and be able to perform clinical procedures and explain them; this includes (appendix 1):

- Taking blood samples in different situations.

- Obtaining peripheral venous access.

- Inserting catheters and performing aspiration procedures.

- Performing basic suturing and wound care.

- Performing basic (diagnostics and therapeutic) procedures in gynecological and obstetric cases.

- Performing basic (diagnostics and therapeutic) procedures in medical and surgical patients.



E. Conducting diagnostic and laboratory tests (Appendix 1):

Perform routine diagnostic and laboratory tests. Indications, limitations and interpretation are mandatory to be learned.

This includes:

- ECG, X-Ray and contrast study.

- Urine analysis

- Swabs

- Special diagnostic tests (tuberculin, lumber puncture…)

- Hematological tests.

Graduates of College of Medicine – University of Sulaimani must be competent in wide range of clinical skills including taking medical history, performing clinical examination, recording and presenting medical information’s, performing practical procedures and some laboratory tests on the basis of a given standards.

A. Taking medical history from patient, family or care givers:

- Taking detail history in different age groups.

- Taking focused medical history based on chief complaint.

- Provide explanation, advice, re assurance and support.

B. Clinical examination:

- Performing general clinical examination and comprehensive systemic examination in different age groups.

- Performing focused clinical examination based on chief complaint in emergency and non emergency situations.

- Taking and measuring vital signs by using different tools.

C. Record and present the information obtained:

- Recording medical information obtained from the history and examinations.

- Presenting them in written or verbal forms; which includes:

. Writing patient file.

. Writing discharge summary

. Writing police report.

. Writing death certificate and note.

. Writing consultation and referral papers.

. Explanation of procedures.

D. Performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures:

Attend and be able to perform clinical procedures and explain them; this includes (appendix 1):

- Taking blood samples in different situations.

- Obtaining peripheral venous access.

- Inserting catheters and performing aspiration procedures.

- Performing basic suturing and wound care.

- Performing basic (diagnostics and therapeutic) procedures in gynecological and obstetric cases.

- Performing basic (diagnostics and therapeutic) procedures in medical and surgical patients.



E. Conducting diagnostic and laboratory tests (Appendix 1):

Perform routine diagnostic and laboratory tests. Indications, limitations and interpretation are mandatory to be learned.

This includes:

- ECG, X-Ray and contrast study.

- Urine analysis

- Swabs

- Special diagnostic tests (tuberculin, lumber puncture…)

- Hematological tests.

Graduates of College of Medicine – University of Sulaimani must be competent in wide range of clinical skills including taking medical history, performing clinical examination, recording and presenting medical information’s, performing practical procedures and some laboratory tests on the basis of a given standards.

A. Taking medical history from patient, family or care givers:

- Taking detail history in different age groups.

- Taking focused medical history based on chief complaint.

- Provide explanation, advice, re assurance and support.

B. Clinical examination:

- Performing general clinical examination and comprehensive systemic examination in different age groups.

- Performing focused clinical examination based on chief complaint in emergency and non emergency situations.

- Taking and measuring vital signs by using different tools.

C. Record and present the information obtained:

- Recording medical information obtained from the history and examinations.

- Presenting them in written or verbal forms; which includes:

. Writing patient file.

. Writing discharge summary

. Writing police report.

. Writing death certificate and note.

. Writing consultation and referral papers.

. Explanation of procedures.

D. Performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures:

Attend and be able to perform clinical procedures and explain them; this includes (appendix 1):

- Taking blood samples in different situations.

- Obtaining peripheral venous access.

- Inserting catheters and performing aspiration procedures.

- Performing basic suturing and wound care.

- Performing basic (diagnostics and therapeutic) procedures in gynecological and obstetric cases.

- Performing basic (diagnostics and therapeutic) procedures in medical and surgical patients.



E. Conducting diagnostic and laboratory tests (Appendix 1):

Perform routine diagnostic and laboratory tests. Indications, limitations and interpretation are mandatory to be learned.

This includes:

- ECG, X-Ray and contrast study.

- Urine analysis

- Swabs

- Special diagnostic tests (tuberculin, lumber puncture…)

- Hematological tests.

Graduates of College of Medicine – University of Sulaimani must be competent in wide range of clinical skills including taking medical history, performing clinical examination, recording and presenting medical information’s, performing practical procedures and some laboratory tests on the basis of a given standards.

A. Taking medical history from patient, family or care givers:

- Taking detail history in different age groups.

- Taking focused medical history based on chief complaint.

- Provide explanation, advice, re assurance and support.

B. Clinical examination:

- Performing general clinical examination and comprehensive systemic examination in different age groups.

- Performing focused clinical examination based on chief complaint in emergency and non emergency situations.

- Taking and measuring vital signs by using different tools.

C. Record and present the information obtained:

- Recording medical information obtained from the history and examinations.

- Presenting them in written or verbal forms; which includes:

. Writing patient file.

. Writing discharge summary

. Writing police report.

. Writing death certificate and note.

. Writing consultation and referral papers.

. Explanation of procedures.

D. Performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures:

Attend and be able to perform clinical procedures and explain them; this includes (appendix 1):

- Taking blood samples in different situations.

- Obtaining peripheral venous access.

- Inserting catheters and performing aspiration procedures.

- Performing basic suturing and wound care.

- Performing basic (diagnostics and therapeutic) procedures in gynecological and obstetric cases.

- Performing basic (diagnostics and therapeutic) procedures in medical and surgical patients.



E. Conducting diagnostic and laboratory tests (Appendix 1):

Perform routine diagnostic and laboratory tests. Indications, limitations and interpretation are mandatory to be learned.

This includes:

- ECG, X-Ray and contrast study.

- Urine analysis

- Swabs

- Special diagnostic tests (tuberculin, lumber puncture…)

- Hematological tests.

Graduates of College of Medicine – University of Sulaimani must be competent in wide range of clinical skills including taking medical history, performing clinical examination, recording and presenting medical information’s, performing practical procedures and some laboratory tests on the basis of a given standards.

A. Taking medical history from patient, family or care givers:

- Taking detail history in different age groups.

- Taking focused medical history based on chief complaint.

- Provide explanation, advice, re assurance and support.

B. Clinical examination:

- Performing general clinical examination and comprehensive systemic examination in different age groups.

- Performing focused clinical examination based on chief complaint in emergency and non emergency situations.

- Taking and measuring vital signs by using different tools.

C. Record and present the information obtained:

- Recording medical information obtained from the history and examinations.

- Presenting them in written or verbal forms; which includes:

. Writing patient file.

. Writing discharge summary

. Writing police report.

. Writing death certificate and note.

. Writing consultation and referral papers.

. Explanation of procedures.

D. Performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures:

Attend and be able to perform clinical procedures and explain them; this includes (appendix 1):

- Taking blood samples in different situations.

- Obtaining peripheral venous access.

- Inserting catheters and performing aspiration procedures.

- Performing basic suturing and wound care.

- Performing basic (diagnostics and therapeutic) procedures in gynecological and obstetric cases.

- Performing basic (diagnostics and therapeutic) procedures in medical and surgical patients.



E. Conducting diagnostic and laboratory tests (Appendix 1):

Perform routine diagnostic and laboratory tests. Indications, limitations and interpretation are mandatory to be learned.

This includes:

- ECG, X-Ray and contrast study.

- Urine analysis

- Swabs

- Special diagnostic tests (tuberculin, lumber puncture…)

- Hematological tests.

Graduates of College of Medicine – University of Sulaimani must be competent in wide range of clinical skills including taking medical history, performing clinical examination, recording and presenting medical information’s, performing practical procedures and some laboratory tests on the basis of a given standards.

A. Taking medical history from patient, family or care givers:

- Taking detail history in different age groups.

- Taking focused medical history based on chief complaint.

- Provide explanation, advice, re assurance and support.

B. Clinical examination:

- Performing general clinical examination and comprehensive systemic examination in different age groups.

- Performing focused clinical examination based on chief complaint in emergency and non emergency situations.

- Taking and measuring vital signs by using different tools.

C. Record and present the information obtained:

- Recording medical information obtained from the history and examinations.

- Presenting them in written or verbal forms; which includes:

. Writing patient file.

. Writing discharge summary

. Writing police report.

. Writing death certificate and note.

. Writing consultation and referral papers.

. Explanation of procedures.

D. Performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures:

Attend and be able to perform clinical procedures and explain them; this includes (appendix 1):

- Taking blood samples in different situations.

- Obtaining peripheral venous access.

- Inserting catheters and performing aspiration procedures.

- Performing basic suturing and wound care.

- Performing basic (diagnostics and therapeutic) procedures in gynecological and obstetric cases.

- Performing basic (diagnostics and therapeutic) procedures in medical and surgical patients.



E. Conducting diagnostic and laboratory tests (Appendix 1):

Perform routine diagnostic and laboratory tests. Indications, limitations and interpretation are mandatory to be learned.

This includes:

- ECG, X-Ray and contrast study.

- Urine analysis

- Swabs

- Special diagnostic tests (tuberculin, lumber puncture…)

- Hematological tests.

Graduates of College of Medicine – University of Sulaimani must be competent in wide range of clinical skills including taking medical history, performing clinical examination, recording and presenting medical information’s, performing practical procedures and some laboratory tests on the basis of a given standards.

A. Taking medical history from patient, family or care givers:

- Taking detail history in different age groups.

- Taking focused medical history based on chief complaint.

- Provide explanation, advice, re assurance and support.

B. Clinical examination:

- Performing general clinical examination and comprehensive systemic examination in different age groups.

- Performing focused clinical examination based on chief complaint in emergency and non emergency situations.

- Taking and measuring vital signs by using different tools.

C. Record and present the information obtained:

- Recording medical information obtained from the history and examinations.

- Presenting them in written or verbal forms; which includes:

. Writing patient file.

. Writing discharge summary

. Writing police report.

. Writing death certificate and note.

. Writing consultation and referral papers.

. Explanation of procedures.

D. Performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures:

Attend and be able to perform clinical procedures and explain them; this includes (appendix 1):

- Taking blood samples in different situations.

- Obtaining peripheral venous access.

- Inserting catheters and performing aspiration procedures.

- Performing basic suturing and wound care.

- Performing basic (diagnostics and therapeutic) procedures in gynecological and obstetric cases.

- Performing basic (diagnostics and therapeutic) procedures in medical and surgical patients.



E. Conducting diagnostic and laboratory tests (Appendix 1):

Perform routine diagnostic and laboratory tests. Indications, limitations and interpretation are mandatory to be learned.

This includes:

- ECG, X-Ray and contrast study.

- Urine analysis

- Swabs

- Special diagnostic tests (tuberculin, lumber puncture…)

- Hematological tests.

Principles of Assessments

- Due to the fact that passing exams is the biggest concern of all students worldwide, it is necessary for the assessments to be a main part in the new curriculum and it should utilize the students concern to pass exams to improve their skills and guide their performance to achieve the desired outcomes from the graduates. In other words, the exams should be used as means of developing the students’ learning abilities and not only for the purpose passing or failing.

- Since the new curriculum depends on integration between the taught modules, it is necessary for the exams to be in accordance to the integrated teaching system too, as the desired change from updating the curriculum will not be achieved if the exams state remain the way it is.

- Students should keep in mind that assessments of what they learn during medical studies should not be about passing exams, but rather to which extent will they be able to deal with clinical issues they encounter as physicians. If the students were trying to cheat this teaching system, they would get minimum benefit to themselves and their patients. Furthermore, if students were planning to leave training courses with minimum knowledge, then they will find it difficult to adjust with the clinical responsibilities of a junior doctor.

- Assessments in every stage do not aim to specify what should be learnt as the desired learning outcomes were made for this purpose.

- Assessments were designed to check whether the student have the required efficiency to proceed to the next stage or whether he should be asked to make more effort.

- During the mid or at final part of every module there should be a formative assessment that is conducted to evaluate the student comprehension to the scientific material amid his studies and it should have no grades which can be used as an important tool for the lecturer to evaluate the scientific response of the student and provide instruction on how to correct any flaws.

- There should also be a final summative assessment by the end of semesters to evaluate the student in terms of connecting different modules in each semester as an integrated exam (end semester exam, ESA). This exam will sum up all the studying materials of the semester and it’s made of paper 1 and paper 2.

- There is no mid-term exam.

- By the end of phase I the students should be able to communicate with patients, examine them clinically and should have a good comprehension of the anatomy and physiology of the human body and how is that linked to health and disease.

Mechanism of assessments

-One: assessments of the first semester of the first stage (S1)
These are similar to traditional exams as every module exam is conducted separately with either a theoretical-only exam or both theoretical and practical exams and the exam of forensic medicine will be in similar terms in the third stage (S5). Consequently, there would be deferral (عبور ) only for the studying materials of the first semester of the first stage (2 modules or less). There would also be a crossing over for forensics medicine and it, does not involve any other semester or modules during the rest of the stage

-Two: assessments of studying semesters (S2-S6)
In the end of each semester there would be an end semester assessment (ESA1 - ESA5), at the end of semesters 6, it is called the end of phase I assessment (EPA-I) which determines the students’ advancement to Phase II.

A. Written exam: is an integrated
 exam with two papers, paper 1 involves 96 MCQs while paper 2 includes twelve clinical cases with short answer questions and is conducted in the end of each semester covering all the modules that were covered in the corresponding semester. There would also be a precent of questions covering scientific materials studied in previous years’ modules as students are required to cover all materials they studied before the exam while taking into consideration the variation of questions percent upon progression of students in studying semesters (as the system is taught in both vertical and horizontal integration).

B. Clinical examination: there would
 be two practical clinical exams in the end of S4 and S6 called objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) which involves 8-12 stations with 5-10 minutes each.

-Three: assessment of student selected components
Student Selected Components must be passed separately to the core course. Assessment in these modules will be by course completion, accomplishment and assessments in which external examiners will be involved.

-Four: assessments of phase II
In phase II there would be only one integrated exam (including all 5 blocks) in the end of the year named Intermediate/Final Professional Examination (IPE1, IPE2, FPE) similar to phase I written exam in addition to a Mock OSCE exam. The Mock OSCE would be done at the end of each block, also.

Examination Instructions and Final grade calculations

One: the following instructions apply to College of Medicine/ University of Sulaimani integrated system.
Two: there are no mid-term exam.
Three: regarding the first stage/ first semester (S1), students take the exams of each module separately out of 100 and the passing mark is 50, if the student fails then he has to retake the exam (second trial) and the student does not pass if he fails more than half of the modules of the second trial (which are 6 modules). If the student fails 2 or 1 modules then he can carry them as deferral (عبور ) to the next stage and do first/second trial exams and failing these leads to suspension (students have 4 trials) or the student can continue with parallel way. The same is applied for the forensic medicine exam in the third stage (S5).
Four: evaluation of main units starting from the second semester of the first stage to the sixth stage (ESA2, ESA3, ESA4, ESA5, EPA-1, IPE1, IPE2, FPE):
A: the student has to pass the determined passing grade limit in the written exam in the end of each semester or year and also to pass the clinical examination (OSCE) (if applied) by borderline regression method so that he qualifies to the next stage.
B: the marks for each question are 10, and the passing grade limit for the written exam is determined by the standard setting method. The examiners' board (ranging from 5-7), of different specialties, review each question and give grades for each individual question, example: 6 out of 10 for the first question, 5 out of 10 for the second question, etc. depending on the level of the questions. The total passing grade is calculated from the summation of grades for every 8 MCQs in paper I and each case in paper II, later the average grade and its standard deviation for these questions and total mark is calculated using statistical analysis, in a way that the individual (members) total grade differences shouldn’t exceed the standard deviation for each question (each of 12 cases, or every 8 questions of MCQS).
C: To recognize the new teaching pattern, the passing grade should be in accordance to international standards like (Angoff) method in MCQs, and (the borderline regression method) in OSCE exams.
The student’s final result for this semester or year is the sum of Paper I (MCQs), Paper II (case scenarios), and OSCE (if applicable).
- For S2, S3, and S5, the sum of grades out of 240 is calculated by summing up Paper I (120) + Paper II (120)
- For S4, and S6, the sum of grades out of 240 is calculated by summing up Paper I (80) + Paper II (80) + OSCE (80)
- For Phase II (years 4-6), the final grades include the grades from all 5 Mock OSCE and logbook grades after every five blocks, each out of 12, with a total of 60 after summing up all blocks' grades
- The sum of grades out of 240 is calculated by summing up Paper I (60) + Paper II (60) + OSCE (60) + (Mock OSCE results + Logbook) (60)
- Final grade out of 100 = 100 * Final result/240

Five: if the student fails in ESA2 then he is required to take a second trial exam and if he fails again then he has to repeat that studying year while being exempted from S1 (if he passed it). If the student fails the second year then the student will be suspended from the college. However, the student has the right to re-apply to the college and continue the study with the rules of the Parallel Program.
Six: if the student fails in ESA3, ESA4 or both he is required to take a second trial exam and if he fails again, he has to repeat that studying year and is required to do the semester that he fails in (ESA3 or ESA4). If the student fails the second year, then the student will be suspended from college. However, the student has the right to re-apply to the college and continue the study with the rules of the Parallel Program.
Seven: if the student fails in ESA5, EPA or both he is required to take a second trial exam and if he fails again, he has to repeat that studying year, and is required to do the semester that he fails in, and if he fails the second year, then the student will be suspended off from the college. However, the student has the right to re-apply to the college and continue the study with the rules of the Parallel Program.
Eight: if the student fails in IPE1, IPE2 or FPE he is required to take a second trial exam and if he fails again, he has to repeat that studying year and if he fails the second year, then the student will be suspended from the college. However, the student has the right to re-apply to the college and continue the study with the rules of the Parallel Program.
Nine: the written exam is separate from the clinical exam (OSCE). Consequently, if a student passed the clinical exam in first trial while failing the written one, then he only has to take the written exam in the second trial. While if he fails both the written and the clinical exams then he has to take both in the second trial.
Ten: if a student did not attend any final exams without an excuse, then he is deprived from the chance of a second trial exam and he has to repeat that year. If he has a legit excuse then according to the exam guidelines he is granted the chance of taking a second trial exam.
Eleven: assessment of student selected components:
A: student selected components must be evaluated separately to the core course.
B: the evaluation should be by a theorical or practical exams or scientific research depending on the decision of the selected components committee.
C: The exam should be out of 100 and the passing mark should be 50.
D: Students who fail the first trial can take a second trial exam, if they fail it too then they can carry the failed modules to the next stage and do first/ second trial exams and failing these leads to academic suspension; termination (students have 4 trials).
Thirteen: as the new curriculum differs significantly from the old curriculum, then if the student who currently studies with the old curriculum fails, he can take a second trial exam, if he fails it too then he can carry the failed modules (subject) to the next stage and do first/ second trial exams and failing these leads to academic suspension; termination (students have 4 trials).
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