Over the past 2 months, I have had the privilege of leading MEDIT’s virtual practice and coaching sessions for participants preparing for the MRCP UK PACES exam every weekday.
As their facilitator, I have learned a great deal about the process of coaching and the unique challenges that come with preparing for such a demanding medical exam.
Here are five important things that I have learned during this experience:
Consistency is key
It is one of the most underrated traits for success. Yes, it is boring and mundane. But, nothing beats discipline and consistency as you simply get better at it every single time you work on it again.
Regular practice sessions, providing consistent feedback and sticking to a routine all help to build confidence and create a sense of familiarity that can be very valuable when facing a high-pressure exam.
Personalized coaching
Every participant comes to the coaching process with different strengths and weaknesses, as well as unique learning styles and preferences. As a facilitator, it is essential to tailor the feedback to each participant in order to help them get the most out of the experience.
Perfect practice makes perfect
This adage certainly rings true when it comes to preparing for a medical exam like the MRCP UK PACES. The more practice sessions that participants attended, the more confident and prepared they became for the exam. Practising with a variety of cases and scenarios based on the best standards of practice also helped participants to develop their clinical reasoning and decision-making skills.
Attention management
The MRCP UK PACES exam is a timed exam, and participants must be able to manage their time, more importantly, their attention effectively to complete all of the required tasks within the allotted time. As a facilitator, I worked with participants to help them develop strategies for time management and prioritize their tasks during the exam.
Emotional support
Preparing for a high-stakes exam like the MRCP UK PACES can be stressful and emotionally challenging. As a facilitator, I found it important to provide emotional support and encouragement to participants, both during practice sessions and leading up to the exam itself. Creating a supportive environment where participants feel comfortable sharing their concerns and feelings can help them to better manage their stress and perform at their best on exam day.
Validation is key to effective feedback
When giving feedback to participants, it's important to start by validating their efforts and acknowledging their strengths before moving on to areas that need improvement. Validating participants' hard work and progress can help to build trust and rapport, making them more receptive to feedback and more motivated to continue improving. By using a supportive and validating approach, I was able to help participants feel more confident and engaged in the coaching process, leading to more successful outcomes.
Overall, my experience as a facilitator for MEDIT’s MRCP UK PACES preparatory program has been a valuable learning experience, both in terms of coaching techniques and medical knowledge.
By focusing on consistency, personalized coaching, practice, time management, and emotional support, I was able to facilitate participants to develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed on this challenging exam.