CPSA · Clinical Summary Exam
The CSE
A written practical paper of 3 tasks — each an equally-weighted CPSA station. You watch audio-visual material and write your response into a blank booklet, exactly as you would on the ward.Sat 11 Jan 2027.
Audio-visual task A
≈30 minWatch a video of a consultation or professional conversation and write your response into a blank answer booklet — as if writing in the patient’s notes, a letter, or a form.
Confidence
What you might be asked
- Observe a psychiatric consultation → record the mental state examination
- Observe a paediatric consultation → record a child’s development
- Observe a GP consultation → write a referral letter
- Observe a ward round → keep notes / (part of) a discharge summary
Practise & rate
How to approach it
- Read the task instructions first — know exactly what document you must produce before the video starts
- Take structured notes *as you watch* — you usually can’t rewind, so capture names, numbers, drugs and key findings live
- Use the recognised structure for the output (SBAR for referrals, a standard MSE order, a clerking proforma)
- Write legibly and concisely in the blank booklet; prioritise clinically important information
Tips
- The document format is marked — learn the standard layouts (referral letter, discharge summary, MSE, clerking) cold.
- Note exact drug names/doses and numbers as they’re said — they’re hard to recall afterwards.
- Don’t transcribe everything — synthesise and summarise the clinically relevant points.
Audio-visual task B
≈30 minA second audio-visual task, sat consecutively after Part A with papers collected between. Synthesise and summarise the observed material.
Confidence
What you might be asked
- Observe a handover → keep notes / organise a prioritised task list
- Observe a post-take ward round → keep written notes as it proceeds
- Write a referral letter, discharge summary or investigation request from the observed consultation
Practise & rate
How to approach it
- For a handover: capture each patient with an SBAR-style line and the outstanding jobs
- Prioritise the task list — sickest/time-critical jobs first (e.g. review the deteriorating patient before routine bloods)
- For a ward round: note the plan and jobs per patient as they’re decided
- Keep it organised and legible — the marker must be able to follow your list
Tips
- Prioritisation is explicitly tested — justify your order (clinical urgency, not list order).
- Capture jobs with enough detail to action them (who, what, when).
- A tidy, prioritised list beats an exhaustive but disorganised one.
Written practical task — prescribing
variesA written practical task, often practical prescribing: prescribe a set of TTOs or complete a hospital drug chart, as you would as an FY1. Review the provided prescribing guidance, sample drug chart and TTO.
Confidence
What you might be asked
- Prescribe discharge medications (TTOs)
- Complete an in-patient hospital drug chart
Practise & rate
How to approach it
- Check patient details, weight, allergies and renal/hepatic function before prescribing
- Prescribe each drug: approved name, correct dose/route/frequency, duration where relevant — legibly and unambiguously
- Don’t forget regular meds, VTE prophylaxis, analgesia and anti-emetics where appropriate
- Use the BNF; sign and date every entry
Tips
- Check allergies first — a prescription for something they’re allergic to is a critical error.
- Never abbreviate “units” (insulin); write micrograms in full.
- This mirrors the PSA Prescribing section — practise on drug charts and the Southampton Formulary.
Note: the older written CSE (referral letter · discharge summary · request form, from written notes) is discontinued — the same skills are now assessed from audio-visual material in the practical paper above.