Chair | Examinations and Assessment Committee

Chair of the Examinations and Assessment Committee

Examinations and Assessment Committee 

This appointment is for a three-year term, beginning in May 2026 but preceded by a 6 month “shadow” period starting in November 2025 working alongside the current E&AC Chair who’s term of office will end in May 2026.

The Chair is responsible for ensuring that the College’s examination and assessment system is fair and valid, meeting the requirements of the GMC. They are responsible for continually reviewing the content, validity, reliability and feasibility of examinations and assessments to ensure that they remain fit for purpose in educational and training terms.  They are responsible for working with the Vice President, Education and senior College staff for the strategic development of College examinations, including global growth and enacting upon digital opportunities. The Chair is frequently called upon to report and advise on College assessment policy to national bodies. They also review the relationship between College examinations/assessments and those of other countries.

The role will have a particular focus over the next three years on the global growth of MRCOG examinations, and the continued development of digital delivery models.

Committee Membership

• Examination and Assessment Committee (Chair)
• MRCOG Part 1 Sub-Committee
• MRCOG Part 2 SBA Sub-Committee
• MRCOG Part 2 EMQ Sub-Committee
• MRCOG Part 3 Clinical Assessment Sub-Committee
• DRCOG Sub-Committee
• Specialty Education Advisory Committee
• Curriculum Committee
• Education Quality Assurance Committee
• Education Board

Examinations and assessments

• Responsibility for the process of examinations through the Director of Examinations Department and the staff of that Department.
• Supporting the setting and quality assurance of questions for DRCOG, MRCOG Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 examinations (delegated to Chairs of Sub-Committees).
• See and approve all examination scripts from first proof onwards.
• See and approve guidelines for marking.
• Approve examination results, reports and pass lists.
• Attend MRCOG Part 3 Clinical Assessments.
• Advise on College workplace-based and CPD assessments, in conjunction with the Assessment Advisors.
• Advise the College Officers on international issues concerning the MRCOG examination and other assessments.
• Support the strategic development of examinations, including global growth and digital delivery.

General examination and assessment committee business

• Provide suitable training programmes for examiners.
• Make recommendations to the Education Board regarding membership of the Examination and Assessment Committee and Sub-Committees.
• Review the marks of failed candidates on appeal.  
• Investigate complaints about examiners or the examination process.
• Advise the Director of Examinations and Assessment on problems and incidents regarding the conduct or delivery of examinations.

Liaison activities

• Act as adviser on the College’s examination and assessment policy.
• Act as external examiner for equivalent examinations of other countries.
• Inspect and quality assure non UK examination centres (Part 3).
• Act, when required, as the RCOG’s representative to other examination boards (national and international), GMC and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.

Education Board

• The Chair of the Committee is a member of the Education Board.

• Vice President, Education
• RCOG Examinations Sub-Committee Chairs
• Executive Director, Education and Quality
• Director, Examinations and Assessment
• RCOG Education Board members
• RCOG Examinations and Assessment Committee members
• General Medical Council 

The Committee meets at least four times per year, and the Chair will also be expected to represent the Committee at the quarterly Education Board meetings.
There will also be significant commitment outside of the meetings to help with the development and delivery of examinations. 
There will also be public engagement activities, for example presenting to RCOG membership regarding examination matters.

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. 

Essential 

• MRCOG/FRCOG
• Registered with a licence to practice with GMC or Irish Medical Council, in good standing
• Substantive consultant in obstetrics and/or gynaecology in NHS practice with at least one completed CPD cycle Generalist with a special interest, or specialist with broad-based generalist background.
• Particular interest, experience and expertise in the relevant examination - i.e., oral/clinical assessment
• Experienced MRCOG examiner 
• Involvement in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, training and assessment.
• Active or previous participation in assessment and writing of relevant types of examination questions/tasks
• Evidence of equality and diversity training within previous two years

Essential 

•  Evidence of commitment to promoting and improving women’s health
• Demonstrable experience of examination and assessment methodology
• Experience of examination question writing
• Ability to interpret complex data
• Ability to find consensus amongst large groups, ensuring organisational aims are met
• Demonstrable experience in leading groups, ensuring an inclusive approach 

Desirable

• Experience of developing proposals
• Membership of an RCOG examinations committee/sub-committee 

Essential 

• Good interpersonal skills
• Confident communicator
• Ability to work productively and co-operatively as a team member
• Evidence of working to deadlines

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.