OSCE TEST | COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE STATIONS,
CHECKLISTS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
General Practice 1 - A 50-year-old man has been sent along by his wife. He lost his license last
month for the 3rd time for 'DUI' and she has insisted that he talk to you about his alcohol use. -
ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 1 - Leon 19 yo M mother insists poorly controlled asthma, Lots of Ventolin,
used to be on floodtide but lost it. - ANS ✔✔Hx: Age of onset[1]FHx[1] Triggers: exercise, cold
air, hay fever, dust, smoke[3] Previous hospital admissions[1] Compliance with current
meds[1]Attitude towards condition[1]Able to get Leon to demonstrate how he uses his
accuhaler[2]Student can demonstrate correct use of Accuhaler[2]Empathy score: 2
General Practice 1 - Your next patient comes to see you about her/his asthma. It has been worse
over the past few months, and s/he is needing to use a puffer a couple of times a day. - ANS
✔✔Communicate clearly, avoid jargon[0.5]Check patient's understanding of information and
instructions[0.5]Choose preventer+reliever, ICS may be combined with LABA[1]Watch
technique, recognise if poor.[1]Advise use of spacer[1]Demonstrate good MDI technique:
Shake[0.5]Hold correctly[0.5]Exhale[0.5]Inhale and hold[0.5]Arange appropriate follow up (1-
3/52)[1]Safety net including warning signs of severe asthma and action to take[1]Advice on care
of delivery device[1]Appropriate dose[1]Possible side effects, wrinsing mouth to avoid
thrush[1]Written action plan[1]Empathy score: 2
General Practice 1 - Your patient is 19 and tells you that s/he has recently started a triathlon-
training course but finds s/he is still getting short of breath when training, and feels his/her
fitness should have improved by now. - ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 1 - Your next patient, a middle aged woman, has had a cough for the last 3
months. - ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 1 - Country GP. Geoff is a 39 yo bank manager. He has been seen on a number
of occasions in the practice over the last five years. His BP has been measured and recorded.
,The best reading was 140/98 and today it is 160/105. You note his BP is taken using the right
arm and the correct sized cuff is always used with the patient sitting. When his blood pressure
was taken supine last visit it was 155/100 at 5 and 10 minutes. Outline your Mx plan for this
patient from the General Practice viewpoint. - ANS ✔✔Able to explain to Geoff that he has
moderate hypertension and it is probably time to treat him with an antihypertensive
medication. [3]Management: lifestyle modification eg low salt diet, weight loss, exercise,
controlling stress[3]Ix: discussed Eg: fasting BSL, fasting lipids,UEC, MSU, ECG, CXR etc [3]Able to
discuss phamacotherapy eg thiazide, ACE, beta blocker, calcium channel antagonist
etc[3]Empathy score: 2
General Practice 1 - Colle's fracture - gross anatomical appearance, X-ray features. - ANS
✔✔Clinical: Dinner fork deformity, soft tissue swelling, blood, ? Open[2]X-ray: #distal radius
with 50% dorsal displacement, dorsal angulation, shortening, associated #distal ulna.[2]Dx:
Colles'[1]Further assessment: Distal neurovascular function e.g. median nerve, check if
open[1]Mx: analgesia, splint, reduction with regional/general anaesthesia, back slab[2]Position:
wrist slightly flexed, ulnar deviation[2]Complications: tendon rupture, median nerve injury,
vascular compromise, stiffness/OA, malunion, carpal tunnel syndrome[2]Predisposing:
osteoporosis Dx with bone densitometry[2]
General Practice 1 - You are seeing this patient who you know well with poorly controlled
diabetes. - ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 1 - Mabel is 50 years old with chronic headaches. Take history. Had headaches
for years, treated them with aspirin/codeine. Recently headaches became 1 sided. Smoker. BP
170/100. DDx. - ANS ✔✔Establish rapport[1]Organized approach to history taking[2]Note
change in Hx... red flag[1]DDx: Tension headache[1]Migraine headache[1]Sinus
headache/rebound headache analgesia[1]Cervical spondylosis[1]Contemplate possibility of
haemorrhage/SOL[1]Follow up need for CT[1]BP being elevated[1]Other CVS risk
factors[1]Empathy score: 2
General Practice 1 - Examine this patient with high blood pressure - ANS ✔✔❶ Check the
pulse rate - irregularly irregular suggests atrial fibrillation. ❷ Measure the blood pressure in
both arms. ❸ Check for radiofemoral delay (coarctation of the aorta). ❹ Examine the optic
fundi for hypertensive retinopathy. ❺ Look for features of Cushing's syndrome or virilization.
,❻ Palpate the abdomen for renal enlargement (adult polycystic kidney disease) and for the
abnormal pulsation of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. ❼ Listen for bruits over the renal
arteries (renal artery stenosis). ❽ Examine the heart for the heave of left ventricular
hypertrophy and for a fourth heart sound. ❾ Look for evidence of heart failure (raised JVP,
basal lung crackles, ankle oedema). ❿ Perform microscopic examination of the urine, looking
for red cell casts.
General Practice 1 - 56 yo F. Fatigue over 2-3/12. Aunt had thyroid problem. Weight gain. Ix,
Meds, Explain. - ANS ✔✔Hx: HxPC, PMHx, Med, Allergy, FHx, SHx, smoking/etoh, systems
review[4]Screen for DM, Anaemia, Depression, Hypothyroid[2]Goitre, skin, voice, cold[1]Ix: BSL,
TSH, FBC/ferritin/Fe, UEC[2]Explain/reassure[1]Commence oral thyroxine. Suggested dose 50-
100 mcg daily[1]Recheck TFTs in 6-8 weeks and check thyroid antibodies[1]Empathy score: 2
General Practice 1 - Your last patient has been feeling unwell for about 3 days with a cough and
fever. S/he thinks it's flu, but feels really unwell, and is sometimes a bit breathless. On
examination you hear crackles in the left lower and mid zones. - ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 1 - A 32 year old woman comes to see you, she is a smoker and wants to quit. -
ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 1 - You are seeing Bianca a 20 yr old university student. She complains of
fatigue and lassitude for the last six months 1. Take a short history from Bianca. You may ask the
examiner for the examination findings when you have completed this. 2. The examiner will then
ask you to discuss the likely cause of her symptoms and any Investigations you might like to
order. - ANS ✔✔Relationships/occupation/social[1]Diet +
exercise[1]Smoking/EtOH[1]Allergies/medication[1]Menstrual[1]Depression?
Mood/sleep/appetite[1]Hypothyroid: weight gain, cold intolerance[1]Red flag symptoms:
weight loss, night sweats[1]Likely Dx: Fe deficient anaemia.[1]Psychosocial/depression
(common)[1]Ix: FBC, Fe studies, TFTs, UEC, BSL, LFTs[2]Empathy score: 2
General Practice 1 - Your patient tells you s/he has the 'flu'. S/he has had a head cold and sore
throat, and now a persistent productive cough for 5 days. S/he says s/he wants something to get
rid of it fast as s/he is travelling overseas for work next week. - ANS ✔✔0
, General Practice 1 - After your last consultation you made a note that you need to talk with this
obese patient about losing weight next time you see them. You did not mention this to the
patient. - ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 2 - Your next patient is a 20-year-old student, who works part time as a waiter.
S/he comes in with a 4-day history of a sore throat - "the worst I've ever had". S/he says s/he
has a fever and a headache, and feels quite tired. - ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 2 - Your patient comes in and tells you s/he feels dreadful - headache, feeling
really clogged up, and a toothache. S/he says she had a head cold about 10 days ago, which
s/he thought had finally gone, but then this started 2 days ago - ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 2 - Your patient comes in with knee pain. It's been present really for about six
months. It's getting worse - thought it was just part of getting old, but now worried it is gout or
that really bad arthritis that cripples you - ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 2 - A patient comes to see you for a 'Progress certificate' for their Worker's
Compensation claim. S/he says the back pain is about the same, but s/he's getting increasingly
frustrated about his/her slow recovery. S/he wonders if acupuncture will help. - ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 2 - Your patient tells you s/he has done his/her back in again. S/he says s/he
was lifting some groceries out of the car boot. When s/he turned s/he felt the pain suddenly in
her/his back, and found it difficult to straighten up. You know this patient has a history of
chronic lower back pain. - ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 2 - Examine this patient who complains of a blocked nose - ANS ✔✔❶ Inspect
the external nasal pyramid for asymmetry or evidence of trauma. ❷ Using your thumb, lift the
nasal tip to inspect the nostrils, e.g. septal haematoma following a blow to the nose. ❸ Ask the
patient to sniff while gently occluding each nostril in turn. In children hold a mirror or metal
spatula under their nostrils, looking for two patches of condensation from expired air - the
'mirror test'. ❹ Examine the anterior nasal cavity, especially the position of the septum and
CHECKLISTS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
General Practice 1 - A 50-year-old man has been sent along by his wife. He lost his license last
month for the 3rd time for 'DUI' and she has insisted that he talk to you about his alcohol use. -
ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 1 - Leon 19 yo M mother insists poorly controlled asthma, Lots of Ventolin,
used to be on floodtide but lost it. - ANS ✔✔Hx: Age of onset[1]FHx[1] Triggers: exercise, cold
air, hay fever, dust, smoke[3] Previous hospital admissions[1] Compliance with current
meds[1]Attitude towards condition[1]Able to get Leon to demonstrate how he uses his
accuhaler[2]Student can demonstrate correct use of Accuhaler[2]Empathy score: 2
General Practice 1 - Your next patient comes to see you about her/his asthma. It has been worse
over the past few months, and s/he is needing to use a puffer a couple of times a day. - ANS
✔✔Communicate clearly, avoid jargon[0.5]Check patient's understanding of information and
instructions[0.5]Choose preventer+reliever, ICS may be combined with LABA[1]Watch
technique, recognise if poor.[1]Advise use of spacer[1]Demonstrate good MDI technique:
Shake[0.5]Hold correctly[0.5]Exhale[0.5]Inhale and hold[0.5]Arange appropriate follow up (1-
3/52)[1]Safety net including warning signs of severe asthma and action to take[1]Advice on care
of delivery device[1]Appropriate dose[1]Possible side effects, wrinsing mouth to avoid
thrush[1]Written action plan[1]Empathy score: 2
General Practice 1 - Your patient is 19 and tells you that s/he has recently started a triathlon-
training course but finds s/he is still getting short of breath when training, and feels his/her
fitness should have improved by now. - ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 1 - Your next patient, a middle aged woman, has had a cough for the last 3
months. - ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 1 - Country GP. Geoff is a 39 yo bank manager. He has been seen on a number
of occasions in the practice over the last five years. His BP has been measured and recorded.
,The best reading was 140/98 and today it is 160/105. You note his BP is taken using the right
arm and the correct sized cuff is always used with the patient sitting. When his blood pressure
was taken supine last visit it was 155/100 at 5 and 10 minutes. Outline your Mx plan for this
patient from the General Practice viewpoint. - ANS ✔✔Able to explain to Geoff that he has
moderate hypertension and it is probably time to treat him with an antihypertensive
medication. [3]Management: lifestyle modification eg low salt diet, weight loss, exercise,
controlling stress[3]Ix: discussed Eg: fasting BSL, fasting lipids,UEC, MSU, ECG, CXR etc [3]Able to
discuss phamacotherapy eg thiazide, ACE, beta blocker, calcium channel antagonist
etc[3]Empathy score: 2
General Practice 1 - Colle's fracture - gross anatomical appearance, X-ray features. - ANS
✔✔Clinical: Dinner fork deformity, soft tissue swelling, blood, ? Open[2]X-ray: #distal radius
with 50% dorsal displacement, dorsal angulation, shortening, associated #distal ulna.[2]Dx:
Colles'[1]Further assessment: Distal neurovascular function e.g. median nerve, check if
open[1]Mx: analgesia, splint, reduction with regional/general anaesthesia, back slab[2]Position:
wrist slightly flexed, ulnar deviation[2]Complications: tendon rupture, median nerve injury,
vascular compromise, stiffness/OA, malunion, carpal tunnel syndrome[2]Predisposing:
osteoporosis Dx with bone densitometry[2]
General Practice 1 - You are seeing this patient who you know well with poorly controlled
diabetes. - ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 1 - Mabel is 50 years old with chronic headaches. Take history. Had headaches
for years, treated them with aspirin/codeine. Recently headaches became 1 sided. Smoker. BP
170/100. DDx. - ANS ✔✔Establish rapport[1]Organized approach to history taking[2]Note
change in Hx... red flag[1]DDx: Tension headache[1]Migraine headache[1]Sinus
headache/rebound headache analgesia[1]Cervical spondylosis[1]Contemplate possibility of
haemorrhage/SOL[1]Follow up need for CT[1]BP being elevated[1]Other CVS risk
factors[1]Empathy score: 2
General Practice 1 - Examine this patient with high blood pressure - ANS ✔✔❶ Check the
pulse rate - irregularly irregular suggests atrial fibrillation. ❷ Measure the blood pressure in
both arms. ❸ Check for radiofemoral delay (coarctation of the aorta). ❹ Examine the optic
fundi for hypertensive retinopathy. ❺ Look for features of Cushing's syndrome or virilization.
,❻ Palpate the abdomen for renal enlargement (adult polycystic kidney disease) and for the
abnormal pulsation of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. ❼ Listen for bruits over the renal
arteries (renal artery stenosis). ❽ Examine the heart for the heave of left ventricular
hypertrophy and for a fourth heart sound. ❾ Look for evidence of heart failure (raised JVP,
basal lung crackles, ankle oedema). ❿ Perform microscopic examination of the urine, looking
for red cell casts.
General Practice 1 - 56 yo F. Fatigue over 2-3/12. Aunt had thyroid problem. Weight gain. Ix,
Meds, Explain. - ANS ✔✔Hx: HxPC, PMHx, Med, Allergy, FHx, SHx, smoking/etoh, systems
review[4]Screen for DM, Anaemia, Depression, Hypothyroid[2]Goitre, skin, voice, cold[1]Ix: BSL,
TSH, FBC/ferritin/Fe, UEC[2]Explain/reassure[1]Commence oral thyroxine. Suggested dose 50-
100 mcg daily[1]Recheck TFTs in 6-8 weeks and check thyroid antibodies[1]Empathy score: 2
General Practice 1 - Your last patient has been feeling unwell for about 3 days with a cough and
fever. S/he thinks it's flu, but feels really unwell, and is sometimes a bit breathless. On
examination you hear crackles in the left lower and mid zones. - ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 1 - A 32 year old woman comes to see you, she is a smoker and wants to quit. -
ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 1 - You are seeing Bianca a 20 yr old university student. She complains of
fatigue and lassitude for the last six months 1. Take a short history from Bianca. You may ask the
examiner for the examination findings when you have completed this. 2. The examiner will then
ask you to discuss the likely cause of her symptoms and any Investigations you might like to
order. - ANS ✔✔Relationships/occupation/social[1]Diet +
exercise[1]Smoking/EtOH[1]Allergies/medication[1]Menstrual[1]Depression?
Mood/sleep/appetite[1]Hypothyroid: weight gain, cold intolerance[1]Red flag symptoms:
weight loss, night sweats[1]Likely Dx: Fe deficient anaemia.[1]Psychosocial/depression
(common)[1]Ix: FBC, Fe studies, TFTs, UEC, BSL, LFTs[2]Empathy score: 2
General Practice 1 - Your patient tells you s/he has the 'flu'. S/he has had a head cold and sore
throat, and now a persistent productive cough for 5 days. S/he says s/he wants something to get
rid of it fast as s/he is travelling overseas for work next week. - ANS ✔✔0
, General Practice 1 - After your last consultation you made a note that you need to talk with this
obese patient about losing weight next time you see them. You did not mention this to the
patient. - ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 2 - Your next patient is a 20-year-old student, who works part time as a waiter.
S/he comes in with a 4-day history of a sore throat - "the worst I've ever had". S/he says s/he
has a fever and a headache, and feels quite tired. - ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 2 - Your patient comes in and tells you s/he feels dreadful - headache, feeling
really clogged up, and a toothache. S/he says she had a head cold about 10 days ago, which
s/he thought had finally gone, but then this started 2 days ago - ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 2 - Your patient comes in with knee pain. It's been present really for about six
months. It's getting worse - thought it was just part of getting old, but now worried it is gout or
that really bad arthritis that cripples you - ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 2 - A patient comes to see you for a 'Progress certificate' for their Worker's
Compensation claim. S/he says the back pain is about the same, but s/he's getting increasingly
frustrated about his/her slow recovery. S/he wonders if acupuncture will help. - ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 2 - Your patient tells you s/he has done his/her back in again. S/he says s/he
was lifting some groceries out of the car boot. When s/he turned s/he felt the pain suddenly in
her/his back, and found it difficult to straighten up. You know this patient has a history of
chronic lower back pain. - ANS ✔✔0
General Practice 2 - Examine this patient who complains of a blocked nose - ANS ✔✔❶ Inspect
the external nasal pyramid for asymmetry or evidence of trauma. ❷ Using your thumb, lift the
nasal tip to inspect the nostrils, e.g. septal haematoma following a blow to the nose. ❸ Ask the
patient to sniff while gently occluding each nostril in turn. In children hold a mirror or metal
spatula under their nostrils, looking for two patches of condensation from expired air - the
'mirror test'. ❹ Examine the anterior nasal cavity, especially the position of the septum and
