West Midlands Trainee Network holds successful mock OSFA

A group of 30 STP trainees have taken a leap forward in their preparations for their Objective Structured Final Assessment (OSFA) at an event organised by the West Midlands Healthcare Science Trainee Network. The annual mock OSFA event, which is always in high demand, provided trainees with a range of experiences that will stand them in good stead ahead of next month’s live examinations.

The day began with a talk from David Hill, a clinical scientist and recent STP graduate, who advised trainees on how best to prepare for the OSFA. Trainees then took part in sessions on how to write an OSFA station; by creating their own questions using domains and marking criteria provided by the School, they gained a good understanding of what assessors are looking for in an answer. They then experienced mock generic OSFA stations which focused on real-life professional practice scenarios. This combination of sessions gave attendees a well-rounded view of what is expected at the OSFA and how they can best prepare themselves.

Feedback given after the event was very positive with trainees highlighting the mock OSFA stations as particularly useful to their revision given that they forced them to think on their feet and demonstrate their knowledge. Others also praised the station writing session for giving them a different point of view that helped them to appreciate how to achieve top marks with their answers. Attendees felt that the day was well-run and would recommend similar events to fellow trainees.

You can follow the West Midlands Trainee Network on Twitter or email them at WestMidlandsSTP@gmail.com . To find your local trainee network, look on the School’s website.