Exam Information And Sample Exam Questions

Exam information and sample exam questionsThis year the exam will take place on Thursday 13th July 2017.The exam takes place just once a year so it is very important that you make thenecessary arrangements to ensure that you are able to attend on the day.Preparation and general informationBy the date of the exam you should have submitted your written reportattached to Module 6 back and completed all of the weekly Quizzes (except forModule 6 week 4 which is for information only – your grade for this quiz doesnot contribute to your module grade). There will be a revision clinical day (UKcourse) and tutorial (overseas course) before the exam.The exam itself comprises of 2 papers of 2 hours each (total 4 hours). The 1stpaper is a MCQ paper and the 2nd paper a short answer paper. You will be verypleased to hear that there are no essay type questions and there is no negativemarking, so please attempt all questions. Please try to pace yourself so thatyou answer ALL questions as it is necessary to pass each module individually inorder to pass the exam overall. The questions will not specify from whichmodule they are taken and will be randomly placed in the exam papers, i.e.question 1 might come from module 3, question 2 might come from module 6etc.There will be 120 questions in paper 1 and 13 multipart questions in paper 2.Marking informationThe mark allocation for the exam and for the course overall is rathercomplicated but I have tried to clarify it for you below.Module 1 to 5 – 20% of each module mark comes from the weekly quizzes andthe remaining 80% from the exam (40% per paper). The pass mark for eachmodule is 50%.

Module 6 – 15% of the module mark comes from the weekly quizzes (exceptweek 4), 35% from the written report and the remaining 50% from the exam(25% from each paper).Mark allocation for PGDipClinDerm 2016-17Module credits % value of module % module valueModule 11512.50%6 x quizzes20%exam80%Module 21512.50%6 x quizzes20%exam80%Module 31512.50%6 x quizzes20%exam80%Module 41512.50%6 x quizzes20%exam80%Module 51512.50%5 x quizzes20%exam80%Module 64537.50%6 x quizzes15%Report35%Exam50%Overall %% per quiz% value of course overall0.4% per quiz2.50%10%0.4% per quiz2.50%10%0.4% per quiz2.50%10%0.4% per quiz2.50%10%0.5% per quiz2.50%10%0.9% per quiz5.60%13.10%18.80%100%You will need an overall grade of 50% or more across all modules to pass thecourse. If you fail up to 2 modules with a grade of more than 30% but less than50%, then as long as your overall grade for the course is greater than 50% thenyou will pass with “condoned fails”. If you have more than 2 modules with lessthan 50% then you will need to re-sit the exam. Similarly, if you have anymodules where you score less than 30% then you will need to re-sit the exam.Award Categories 50% fail50% to 59.9% pass60% to 69.9% merit70% or above distinction

ResultsI will email each of you with your provisional results following our 1st examboard meeting which will be held mid to late September. I am not permitted torelease results until after this meeting. The result will be confirmed to youfollowing the final exam board meeting in October but your grade will beunlikely to change.Course AccessQueen Mary officially stop your access to the course once you have sat yourfinal exam. However, in my experience, they do not generally do this untilseveral weeks afterwards. I would recommend that if you wish to print out orkeep any course material that you do so before the 13th July so as to avoid thisdeadline. You will find a “print” button on the left hand side of the page onQMplus when you are in a module. It is not possible to download videos due topatient consent.Graduation and AwardThere will be a graduation ceremony here in London in December and you willall be contacted directly by the events inviting you to attend. You will finddetails about the graduation at http://www.qmul.ac.uk/graduation/The faculty do not attend the graduation event unfortunately, but it is a greatday out if you are able to make it and I am sure that you will enjoy it. If you areunable to attend, your Diploma will be sent by post/special delivery shortlyafterwards. Please ensure that your contact details are correct on mysis(https://mysis.qmul.ac.uk).The award title is the Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Dermatology, QueenMary University of London and you will be able to add PGDipClinDerm to yourpost nominal titles.It is accredited by the RCGP, quotable in Hong Kong and displayable inSingapore upon application to the SMC.

If you cannot sit the exam/Extenuating CircumstancesIf you cannot sit the exam for any reason then you will need to submit anExtenuating Circumstances (EC) claim which will be considered at our examboard meeting in September 2017. If your application is accepted then you willbe able to sit the exam in July 2018. If your case is not accepted then yourstudent record will show “1st sit fail”. You will then be able to sit the exam in2018 but your grade will be capped at 50%. Should you then fail the exam in2018, then you would have no further attempts.Please think very carefully before submitting ECs!Go to xtcircs/5069.pdffor guidelines for EC procedures. Please note that “not having time to revise”or “being on holiday” will not be considered as acceptable reasons, as per theUniversity’s guidelines.If you fail the examIf you fail the exam this year then you will be able to re-sit the exam again inJuly 2018. Your grade on the module or modules that you failed will be cappedat 50%.

Sample exam questionsPaper 1 – sample question - MCQ-EMQ worth 1 point eachQuestion 1aThe above patient was complaining of an itchy and flaky scalp.What is the most likely diagnosis?A - Allergic contact dermatitis to fragrance mixB - Seborrhoeic dermatitisC - Pediculosis capitisD - Chronic plaque psoriasisE - Pityrosporum ovale infection(Correct answer B)

Which is the best fit answer from the following list of diagnoses? The questionbelow is one of a series of questions using this stem of possible answers. Thestem will state that “Each answer may be used once, more than once, or not atall”.Question 1bThis 23 year old girl was concerned about the following rash which becamemore pronounced on a recent sunny holiday.A - PsoriasisB - Pityriasis albaC - VitiligoD - Pityriasis versicolourE - Mycosis fungoidesF - Post inflammatory hyperpigmentationG - Lepromatous leprosyH - Subacute lupus erythematosusWhich is the most likely diagnosis? (Correct answer D)

Paper 2 - Sample question – short answer questions worth 10 points each.This lady has been complaining of a sore mouth for 3 months.She attended the oral surgeons and had a biopsy of the affected area, whichshowed the following.‘a piece of skin embedded measuring 3 x 2 mm. There is hyperkeratosis withprominence of the granular layer and basal layer vacuolation is noted. There isa moderate upper dermal infiltrate composed mainly of lymphocytes.’1. What is the diagnosis? (1 mark)Correct answer - Oral lichen planus2. What contributing factor may be implicated in the development of thiscondition at this location? (1 mark)Correct answer - Amalgam fillings

3 List 3 other specific sites (i.e. not general such as leg or abdomen) whichyou would examine to look for this condition elsewhere (3 marks).ScalpNailsGenitals4. What complication may arise due to the condition in 1? (1 mark)Correct answer - Squamous cell carcinoma5. This condition typically shows the Koebner phenomenon.List 3 other conditions which may demonstrate this phenomenon (3 marks)Correct answers -this list is not exhaustivePsoriasisPlane wartsSarcoidMolluscumPityriasis rubra pilaris6. What treatment would you institute for oral disease initially? (1 mark)Correct answer - Potent topical steroid in oral paste or pastilles

Note - When answering the exam questions be as specific as possible, i.e. givethe generic name of the drug or for topical steroids the commonly knowntrade names such as Betnovate, Eumovate, Dermovate etc. Likewise forantibiotics and antifungals etc. please use specific drug names. You will not beexpected to remember doses.If you have any questions about the exam, please do not hesitate to contactme by email l.e.russell@qmul.ac.uk

Paper 1 – sample question - MCQ-EMQ worth 1 point each Question 1a The above patient was complaining of an itchy and flaky scalp. What is the most likely diagnosis? A - Allergic contact dermatitis to fragrance mix B - Seborrhoeic dermatitis C - Pediculosis capitis D - Chronic plaque psor