Chair | Examination Standard Setting Committee

Chair, Examination Standard Setting Committee

• The Chair of the Examination and Assessment Committee, RCOG
• Education Board, RCOG
• President and Council, RCOG

Three years, commencing November 2025

This post is part of the senior clinical team overseeing the examinations on behalf of the RCOG. The Standard Setting Sub-committee chair will be expected to: 

• Chair all sub-committee meetings, having scheduled the meetings a year in advance immediately prior to the publication of MRCOG Part 1 and Part 2 written papers. 
• Lead the standard setting for MRCOG Part 2 using Angoff methodology and standard setting for MRCOG Part 1 using Ebels methodology. This might involve carrying out part 1 of the Ebels methodology before the committee meeting. These meetings are planned to be face to face at the RCOG.
• Attend the Examination and Assessment Committee meetings.
• Supervise the training of new committee members in standard setting methodology and be involved refresher training for standard setters, including DRCOG standard setters.
• Monitor the attendance of sub-committee members. If two meetings in succession are missed, the sub-committee member must write to the sub-committee chair to explain their absence, and they may be asked to stand down from the Sub-Committee at the Chair’s discretion.
• Review applications for sub-committee membership and advise the Examination and Assessment Committee about membership applications
• Advise the Examination and Assessment Committee on developments and best practice on standard setting, audit the performance of the standard setting process and attend the MRCOG Part 1 and Part 2 exam board.
• Be involved with the quality assurance processes for standard setting as required.
• Advise the question writing committees about issues raised during the standard setting process.
• Be involved in GMC liaison with regard to the standard setting process and its development as required.

N.B. It is expected that during their tenure of office the chairs of sub-committees will refrain from teaching or producing revision material on examination preparation courses arranged either by the RCOG or by other institutions unless specifically asked to do so, or agreed, by the RCOG.

Ability to attend all Sub-committee and Examination and Assessment Committee meetings, the dates of which will be published one year in advance (around 6-7 meetings in total).

This role reflects the present requirements of the post. As duties and responsibilities change and develop the role description will be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the post holder.

The role description will be re-evaluated at the end of the term.  

A new chair should be appointed before the end of the current holder's term of office and they should work closely together during this time in order to facilitate a smooth take-over period.

Essential

• MRCOG/FRCOG
• Registered with a licence to practice with GMC or Irish Medical Council, in good standing
• Substantive consultant or SAS doctor in obstetrics and/or gynaecology in UK NHS Practice for at least three years
• Generalist with a special interest, or specialist with broad-based generalist background
• Particular interest, experience and expertise in standard setting undergraduate and/or postgraduate examinations
• Involvement in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, training and assessment
• Active or previous participation in assessment and writing of examination questions and/or standard setting
• Evidence of annual appraisal
• Demonstration of involvement in personal CPD
• Evidence of equal opportunities and diversity training within previous two years

Desirable

• Postgraduate certificate/diploma in medical education
• Current or previous leadership role in medical education
  

Essential

• Able to maintain confidentiality and security
• Punctuality and ability to complete tasks by prescribed deadlines
• Knowledge of assessment pedagogy

Desirable

• Current MRCOG examiner
• Previous membership of an RCOG Examination Sub-Committee
  

Information about the RCOG CPD Framework can be found here.

Committee Chair/Member/Course Convenors and Organisers

If within your committee role or work as course convenor or organiser you gain knowledge which enhances patient care or leadership and technical skills (including, for example, giving presentations, teaching sessions or mock examining) credits can be claimed as an ‘Experiential Learning Event’.

CPD users can now freely select and record the number of credits for all their CPD activities. For Experiential Learning Events, a Reflection is required to claim the selected credits. In addition, 1 or 2 credits can be claimed for an action following the learning (1 credit for a simple action, 2 credits for a complex action). To claim credits for an action, the individual needs to demonstrate how they have applied their learning to their practice, the service they provide and/or the potential impact of the learning.

For those who prefer to follow RCOG recommendations, the CPD Framework still provides a suggested number of credits that can be claimed for different CPD activities.

Further information can be found in the RCOG CPD Framework document.