C&J Clinical

C&J Clinical is the UK's leading specialist teaching resource, designed specifically to enable psychiatrists to pass clinical examinations successfully.


The CASC examination can be intimidating for many reasons. It is a new format and the types of questions may be different and more complex than those asked in the Part I clinical. Candidates are also frequently tired, having just finished the written examination. The traditional approach to examination preparation has always involved tutorials with senior colleagues. However this does not always help. This is because one runs the risk of being offered a range of conflicting, frequently inexpert, advice, which could induce doubt in even in the most clear thinking and confident candidate. The other conventional approach to clinical revision is to concentrate disproportionately, or even exclusively, upon past questions. This can be misguided, because clinical practice without theory may not provide candidates with an adequate understanding of the generic principles being tested at CASC stations. This form of revision makes candidates particularly unprepared for entirely new CASC stations, or for variations of established CASC stations. This is a mistake commonly made by professional revision courses.

The C&J clinical course was formed to specifically address these concerns. Although the course has evolved over time, it remains firmly based upon two central tenets. The first tenet is that if candidates are not familiar with the techniques required to answer CASC stations, then it is likely that they will encounter difficulties, particularly with unforeseen questions. The second tenet of the C&J course is that these techniques can be taught in a 2 day course.

Once candidates have a clearer idea about the questions they are likely to be asked, and a clearer idea about how to answer them, the CASC clinical examination will become less daunting.

We believe that a professional course should provide unique examination focussed teaching which will improve the candidates' chances in what is a very competitive examination. Candidates who attend the course will be taken through the questions one can expect to be asked and will be provided with a clear structure with which to answer them. They will also be taught how to employ these structures under pressure and advised how to practice them on their own. This method of teaching also reduces anxiety and prevents one from making basic mistakes. It will also allow one to present the information in the clearest and most impressive way.

We have found that candidates enjoy the noticeable improvement in their ability to answer questions. Part of this enjoyment comes also from recognising that these skills can be employed clinically. Indeed, the ability to deliver optimal clinical care whilst under pressure is exactly what this examination is testing. *