What an OSCE is
An OSCE, or objective structured clinical examination, tests practical clinical skills in a circuit of stations. Candidates rotate through history taking, examination, procedures and communication tasks, each with a fixed time and an examiner. OSCEs are used in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, dentistry and other health professions.
Typical timings
- Stations of 5 to 10 minutes, often 7 or 8.
- Reading time of 1 to 2 minutes outside the station to read the task.
- A warning bell 1 or 2 minutes before the end of each station.
- A short changeover to move to the next station.
Formats differ between schools and exams, so set the timings from your own exam guide.
For students
Practise every station type against the clock. Time a full history, then a focused examination, then a full mock circuit with friends playing patients and examiners. The warning bell trains you to start summarising when time is short.
For organisers
Put the timer in full screen on a projector or large screen in the hall. Reading time is amber, station time uses the main colour, and changeover is green, so candidates and examiners can see the phase at a glance. The bell sound carries well; switch to the buzzer if you prefer.
Studying the theory side? The study timer helps you work in focused blocks.
Questions and answers
How long is an OSCE station?
Usually 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the exam. Many use 7 or 8 minutes.
Can I set a different warning time?
Yes. Set Warning bell to the time left when it should ring, or 0 to turn it off.
Can I run one long practice station?
Yes. Set Stations to 1, or pick the practice preset.