OSCE pass rate rises 5 per cent

Students achieved an 83 per cent pass rate in the College of Optometrists' Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

This represents a 5 per cent increase in pass rates compared to last year, with 287 optometrists completing the scheme.

Jacqueline Martin, director of education at the College of Optometrists, said: 'As a College we have a very important role to play in developing the next generation of optometrists and ensuring they are trained to the highest standards. The Scheme for Registration follows best practice in skills-based examinations and forms a robust assessment of a candidate's skills.

'The role of the OSCE is to assess everyone in the same environment under the same conditions. It complements the work-based assessment which sees trainees assessed in their practice where, clearly, conditions can vary for each trainee. We're delighted the pass rate is up and would like to congratulate everyone who passed the examination. We would expect such an increase at this stage for a new style exam, as universities, supervisors and training providers, who support trainees in their preparation for the exams, improve their understanding of the OSCEs.'