Working towards success in the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Modified Essay Question Exam

Objective: To describe an approach to support Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) trainees achieve success in the Modified Essay Question (MEQ) examination. Method: Synthesis of the opinion of the authorship encompassing a range of relevant stakeholders, supported by a qualitative content analysis of published examination feedback from the RANZCP Committee for Examinations. Results: In approaching the MEQs, candidates are encouraged to (1) read the scenario and questions carefully, (2) answer questions broadly and with justification, (3) manage time effectively, (4) undertake deliberate practice in preparation, and (5) 'check your own pulse' (i.e. limit the detrimental impact of anxiety on performance). Conclusion: Preparing for the MEQ examination through deliberate practice will help candidates become competent psychiatrists. The ability to critically think in clinical practice, a key focus of this assessment, is an essential skill all psychiatrists need to develop and maintain.