Exams and assessment

HYMS makes use of two main types of regular assessment:

  • Formative assessment is intended primarily for your own benefit, and these marks never 'count' towards your final qualification. Regular formative exams should help you see for yourself how you’re getting on, where you are doing well, and where you need to increase your efforts.

  • Summative exams take place at the end of Years 1, 2, 4 and 5. They assess your progress to make sure you are achieving an appropriate level to continue the course, and ultimately to determine your final qualification.

As far as possible, assessments are designed to test how well you apply knowledge, rather than simply how well you can recall facts.

Record of achievement

Your record of achievement is a collection of completed documents which demonstrate your attendance and performance at clinical placements and clinical skills sessions throughout the course.

Personal portfolio

Your portfolio is intended to develop a pattern of thoughtful reflection on your own progress, including the ability to discuss difficulties and failures -- an essential habit for all doctors to cultivate and maintain throughout their careers.

In it, you note your problems and failures as well as achievements, considering what lies behind them, noting constructive criticism and thinking about how to improve in areas where you aren't satisfied with your work.

Students with skeleton model