As it stands, the requirements of the GMC are for students to pass their university OSCEs (simulated patient examinations) and MLA (for which most universities do AKT, which is a multiple choice paper). Many universities only have these as their final medical examinations, however Leicester continues to use an additional SAQ (Short answer question) paper which is now marked as a separate component to the other exams. Historically this paper would be marked alongside an SBA but with the introduction of the AKT, it is now marked alone. This sharp change meant over 10% of the cohort graduating this year had to resit their SAQ exam and some even having to resit the year because of it. As such, the University of Leicester has failed students who would have otherwise become doctors were they enrolled in any other UK university.
This petition is to remove the SAQ from the medical finals and make them fair for students.