MRCOG Part 3 Communication Stations: Hidden Mistakes That Cost You Marks

A Complete, Examiner‑Aligned Guide for MRCOG Part 3 Candidates

Communication stations are often viewed as the easiest part of MRCOG Part 3, yet they are where many candidates silently lose marks. Doctors walk out of these stations feeling confident, but when results arrive, they realise the score did not reflect their confidence. This happens because communication stations do not test fluency. They test structure, safety, connection and examiner alignment.

Below is a clear, examiner‑focused breakdown of the hidden mistakes that lower scores in communication stations and how to correct them.

1. Speaking fluently but without structure

Many candidates believe that confident speaking equals good communication. In MRCOG Part 3, this assumption costs marks. Examiners are not listening for smooth English. They are scoring observable steps.

In poorly structured answers, candidates:
• jump between ideas
• give information without order
• miss critical steps
• create confusion for the examiner

A high‑scoring communication station always follows a predictable flow:

Rapport & agenda setting

Explanation in logical chunks

Safety and red‑flag advice

Shared decision‑making

Closing and follow‑up

Structure is the secret. Not fluency.

2. Giving information without prioritisation

Many candidates try to cover every single fact they know. While this shows effort, it reduces your score. Examiners reward prioritised, relevant communication, not information overload.

A strong communication response includes:

• the single most important risk
• the key management step
• the one counselling point that changes behaviour

When everything is important, nothing stands out. Examiners cannot score scattered information.

3. Missing patient safety cues (The Biggest Score Killer)

This is the number one reason otherwise good candidates fail communication stations. Even a perfect explanation drops marks if safety is missing.

Mandatory safety elements include:

• red‑flag symptoms
• when to seek urgent help
• follow‑up plans
• monitoring and escalation

From an examiner’s perspective:

• Communication without safety is incomplete communication.
• Missing safety cues affects multiple domains simultaneously.

4. Using Rehearsed, Scripted Empathy

Many candidates practise empathy as memorised lines. Examiners immediately recognise scripted empathy because it does not match natural tone or context.

True empathy is:
• short
• situational
• linked to the patient’s concern
• delivered naturally

One genuine line beats three scripted ones.

5. Not involving the patient in decisions

Many candidates explain well but do not involve the patient. This leads to loss of marks in:

• shared decision‑making
• communication
• applied knowledge

High scoring candidates always:
• ask the patient what matters to them
• present balanced options
• check understanding
• support autonomy

Advice without team collaboration is examiner‑incomplete.

6. Practising Without Examiner Feedback or Marking Criteria

Most candidates practise communication stations alone or with friends. Without examiner-style marking sheets, mistakes remain invisible. You may think you are performing well while repeating errors every day.

The fastest improvement comes when you:
• use a marking sheet every session
• get feedback from someone trained
• practise with templates
• compare your performance against domains

This creates immediate alignment with examiner expectations.

How to Fix These Mistakes — Even With Night Duties

When preparation is structured, communication stations become predictable and high‑scoring.

What works:

• Templates → give order
• Master scenarios → reduce cognitive load
• Station shots → rapid revision during breaks
• Marking sheets → clarity on scoring
• Examiner‑focused feedback → instant correction

When structure is in place, communication becomes one of your strongest scoring areas, not a hidden failure zone.

Final Thought

If you are preparing for MRCOG Part 3 during night duties, your problem is not time. Your problem is unstructured practice. With the right framework, even short, fragmented study sessions can produce examiner‑level performance.

If you want guided, examiner‑aligned communication training with ready‑to‑use structures, message Dr Bhawna on WhatsApp.

Structured preparation turns confidence into marks.