The Egyptian Fellowship Examinations System aims to ascertain the capabilities and skills of the trainees and their correct clinical practices as independent specialists and as members of the medical work system inside and outside Egypt, through a set of written, practical and oral exams that measure the skills and behaviors that the trainee acquired during training.
• All scientific councils of the Higher Committee for Medical Specialties (Egyptian Fellowship) follow the following rules during the design and preparation of exams (written, practical and clinical):
 
1 - Examination questions of all kinds are based on the scientific method of specialization.
2 - The questions measure the various knowledge and skills specified in the curriculum and include:
  A. acquaintances
B. Intellectual skills
c. Problem-solving skills
d. Analytical skills
e. Practical and professional skills
F. General and transferable skills
3- The questions must be suitable for the corresponding training phase during which the exam is held.
4 - The questions are set based on a specific, interim and balanced exam matrix so that all topics and skills required for study are covered through the different types of exams (first part - second part - third part) that are evaluated during work.

Objectives of the first part exam
Evaluates the level of basic information and skills related to the specialization, which are specified in the scientific method of the specialization and in the examination matrix.

Part one exam date:
• The exam for the first part is held twice a year, in January and July of each year. The Supreme Committee for Medical Specialties (Egyptian Fellowship) may sometimes resort to changing the exam date in case of emergency and unplanned circumstances. The exam date will be announced at least one month before the exam. The Egyptian Fellowship website on the Internet, as well as in the fellowship administrative building.
 
Conditions for entering the first part exam:
• The trainee is allowed to apply for the first part exam after 6 months have passed from the date of receiving the fellowship training, with payment of the prescribed exam fees on the specified date before entering the exam, after completing and submitting the following:
1 - TOEFL certificate approved by the authority recommended by the Egyptian Fellowship, with a total score of 500 or more.
2- Success in the computer skills exam held by the fellowship, the number of times the exam is entered.
• Physicians with a bachelor's degree must pass the exam within a maximum period of three times from the date the exam is required, and any time the exam was not taken for any reason is counted as a failure, and if he did not succeed during the three times, he returns to his original place of work. Exceptional and final, with the approval of the Secretary-General.
• Physicians who have obtained a diploma: The exam for the first part must be passed during the two times following the start of training directly (only twice).
• Holders of a master's degree or a British fellowship or equivalent:
- In general specializations: He is exempted from entering the first part, provided that no more than five years have passed since he obtained his master’s degree when registering for the fellowship. He must pass the first part exam during the two times immediately following the start of training (only twice).
  If the trainee does not succeed during the two times, he returns to his place of original knowledge. The first part can be entered from his original place of work for an exceptional and final time, with the approval of the Secretary-General.
3- In the sub-disciplines: the trainee takes the exam for the first part six months after joining the fellowship, with a maximum of two times within a year, and if the trainee does not succeed during the two times, he returns to his original place of work.
• Those who have succeeded in the first part of the British or Irish fellowship or its equivalent:
- They are exempted from the exam of the first part in the same specialization in the event that the scientific council agrees to match the exam with the Egyptian fellowship exam.

Part one exam system:
• The first part exam in general is a written exam consisting of two papers, the duration of each paper is two hours. The first paper consists of multiple-choice questions, and the second paper consists of short or long written questions or problem-solving questions. The scientific councils can change the exam system if the nature of the specialization requires that and it is explained by the scientific method and with the approval of the Secretar
• Scientific councils may allocate a part of the exam or another exam to be an oral, practical or clinical exam, provided that it is objective for the same specialization and is linked to the objectives of the scientific curriculum and its documentation is explained in the curriculum, after the approval of the Secretary-General of the Supreme Committee for Medical Specialties.

Objectives of the second part exam:
• Evaluating the level of theoretical information, analytical, practical and professional skills, and the recent developments necessary to work as a specialist in the field of specialization and specified in the scientific method, which the student obtained during training in the fellowship program.
Objectives of the second part exam:
• The second part exam is held once a year in the month of September / October of each year. The Higher Committee for Medical Specialties (Egyptian Fellowship) may sometimes resort to changing the exam date in case of emergency and unplanned circumstances. The exam date will be announced a month before the exam. At least on the Egyptian Fellowship website, as well as in the fellowship administrative building.
• Passing or failing to pass the first part exam.
• The end of the training period prescribed in the fellowship program for the same specialty.
• Completing the activity book and having it approved by the trainer and the training center and submitting it for final review by the Scientific Council at least three months before applying for the exam.
• In the event that the trainee does not fulfill the requirements of the Activity Book as deemed by the Scientific Council in terms of cases, circulation, and scientific or surgical skills, he will be denied entry to the exam at least once, with the addition of a training period at the expense of the trainee, according to what the Scientific Council decides.
• The approval of the Scientific Council for the trainee to enter the exam, after reviewing the job book and making sure that its requirements are completed, as well as the trainee's regularity in training and his completion of the rotation requirements required for the specialization.
• Certificate of training in basic skills of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (A.T.L.S. A.C.L.S.C.P.R) according to the requirements of the specialist.
• Preparing an article or research (according to the decision of the Scientific Council) for each major, and the trainee is allowed to submit the article or research after success in the specified date before entering the exam.
 
Number of admission times:
• The trainee is allowed to enter the second part exam after the end of his training, provided that he passes it successfully within the 3 years following the year of the end of the training. In the event that he does not succeed, the trainee can take the second part exam one exceptional and last time with the approval of the Secretary-General.
In the event that the trainee has exhausted the entry times for the second part exam, he can request re-enrolment in the Egyptian Fellowship and re-training for two consecutive years in the same specialty at his own expense and without fees. After completing the training, he is allowed to enter the exam provided that he passes it within 3 consecutive times, including the one held in The year in which his training ends and he is not given any other opportunities.
 

Part Four Exam System:
The written exam consists of two to four written papers over two days. Its components are as follows:
• At least one sheet of multiple-choice questions with no less than 100 questions.
• At least one sheet of short questions and problem-solving questions, with a total of 8 to 10 questions.
• The problem-solving paper may contain written questions accompanied by pictures, multiple-choice questions accompanied by pictures, or extended matching questions, provided that the number of questions is not less than 50 questions.
• The exam should cover clinical aspects and applied basic sciences related to the same specialization, as well as any skills and information required in the scientific method, which can be measured by written questions and explained in the exam matrix.
 
General instructions regarding written examinations for the Egyptian fellowship
 
Location of the written exam:
• Written exams are held at the Egyptian Fellowship's headquarters, 989 Corniche El Nil, Old Cairo, as well as in Dar Al Salam General Hospital, adjacent to the building and located at 987 Corniche El Nile, Old Cairo.
• The Higher Committee for Medical Specialties may choose any other place to hold the written exam. In this case, the student will be notified through the bulletin board at the fellowship's headquarters, as well as the fellowship's website on the Internet.
 
Procedures for entering the written examination hall:
• Attending the exam is registered at the Egyptian Fellowship headquarters with a personal card or passport. It is also necessary to bring the fellowship card.
• Please show your fellowship card throughout the exam time.
• Please follow the instructions and advice of the observers, examiners and the administrative staff of the fellowship regarding sitting for the exam.
• There is a seat designated for each trainee and the fellowship number is written on it, and the trainee must sit in the seat allocated to him.
• Mobile phones, tablets or the like will not be allowed.
 
Instructions for the written exam:
• You must arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the exam.
• Entrance to the exam committee will not be allowed in case of attendance more than 30 minutes late after the start of the exam.
• Time will not be compensated for latecomers, and the exam ends on the specified date.
• It will not be allowed to leave the exam room before half of the exam time has passed.
• In the event of leaving before the end of the exam time, you must leave the hall quietly and not disturb the rest of the examinees.
• The remaining time will be announced after half the time and 15 minutes before the end of the exam.
• It will not be allowed to leave the exam room in the last 10 minutes of the exam.

Objectives of the third part exam:
• Determine the trainee's ability to practice medicine as a specialist, as well as his ability to provide consultations to other members of the medical team in cases related to his specialization.
• Evaluation of the trainee's knowledge of the functional and pathological mechanism necessary for diagnosing and treating clinical cases.
• Evaluate the trainee's ability to request diagnostic tests (laboratory - radiological - pathological -....) and interpret the results of the tests in order to understand and treat clinical cases well and follow up on the development of patients' condition
• Each specialization sets more goals according to the need for specialization and clarifies these goals in the scientific method of the specialization.
Exam date:
• The exam is held once a year in the month of December / January. The Higher Committee for Medical Specialties (Egyptian Fellowship) may sometimes resort to changing the exam date in case of emergency and unplanned circumstances. The exam date will be announced at least one month before the exam on the Egyptian Fellowship website. On the Internet as well as in the administrative building of the fellowship.
 
Conditions for entering the third part exam:
• It is allowed to enter the third part exam for those who successfully passed the second part written exam in the same specialization.
• Pay the prescribed exam fees on the specified date before entering the exam.
 
Number of times to enter the exam:
• It is allowed to enter the third part exam three consecutive times after passing the second part. In the event of failure, the trainee can take the third part exam one exceptional and final time with the approval of the Secretary General.
• In the event that the trainee has exhausted the entry times for the third part exam, he can request re-enrolment in the Egyptian Fellowship and re-training for two consecutive years in the same specialty at his own expense and without support for fees. After completing the training, he must re-examine the second part, provided that he passes it within 3 consecutive times, including the time held in the year in which his training ended, and he is not given any other opportunities, then the third part exam, provided that he passes it within 3 consecutive times, including the time held in the year in which he ended Training him and he is not given any other opportunities, then the third part exam, provided that he passes it within 3 consecutive times, including the time held in the year he passed in the second part, and he is not given any other opportunities.
 
Third part exam system:
• The final clinical exam includes the following parts combined or separately, according to the decision of the Scientific Council and according to the needs of the specialization curriculum.

  First: the long case test:
• It includes from one to two clinical cases, and its duration ranges from 40-50 minutes for each case. During the first 20-30 minutes, the trainee interviews the patient and takes the medical history with a comprehensive clinical examination.

• The examinees (two in each committee) monitor the performance of the trainee during the debate and record their evaluation or observations on a special form for each trainee. After the end of the examination period, the examiners discuss the case with the delegate.
• The trainee is evaluated in the long case based on key skills, which are:
-The skill of communicating with the patient.
-The skill of taking medical history.
-Clinical examination skill.
- Symptomatic interpretation and case evaluation skills.
-Prescribing and planning treatment.
- The skill of moral and professional dealing with the patient.
• Each of the examinees must present the trainee's score on the relevant form along with a note book on "Feedback on performance" in case the trainee fails.
Second: Short Case Exam:
• It includes 2-6 cases, and the duration of the exam for each case ranges from 10-20 minutes.
• The aim of the short case exam is to assess the trainees' abilities to clinical examination of the various body systems and to interpret the symptoms and pathological phenomena.
• Two examiners evaluate the student's performance while examining the case.
• Each of the examiners puts the trainee's score separately in the form designated for that.
Third: the oral exam:
• It consists of 2-4 committees, and the duration of the exam in each committee is from 10-30 minutes.
• The oral exam aims at measuring problem-solving skills and linking information to clinical practice, as well as the student's ability to present information and suggestions in a sound, clear and organized scientific manner.
• The questions are placed in advance in the form of a Structured viva card.
• Each exam committee consists of two examinees.
• Each of the examinees monitors the trainee's score on the form designated for that.
 
Fourth Stations: Clinical and Objective:
• It includes 6-14 cases, and the exam duration is 5-10 minutes for each case.
 
Thematic workstations:
• It includes 10-20 stations, and the duration of the exam is 3-6 minutes in each station.
• Thematic stations aim to test the trainee's ability to diagnose and medical examination.
• Communicating with patients and colleagues, solving problems, as well as acting professionally while preserving professional ethics.
• One examiner in each station evaluates the student's performance while he is examining the case.
• The examinee puts the trainee's grade in the form designated for that.

Thematic slides:
 
• It includes a presentation of 10-20 slides and the duration of the exam (slide presentation) is 3-5 minutes.
• The trainee answers the questions about the slide in the form prepared for that, and one examiner (for each slide) evaluates the student's answer.
 

Third part exam location:
• Clinical and practical exams are held in hospitals and training centers in the Ministry of Health and major health institutions in Egypt, in order to ensure that the capabilities of the training center are compatible with the exam requirements.
The date and place of the exam will be announced for at least a month in the administrative building of the fellowship and on the fellowship's website on the Internet.
Important note :
Some majors do not apply to the above-mentioned examination methods. In this case, the Scientific Council for each major is requested to determine the examination method so that the examination is an accurate measure for achieving the educational goals and outputs of the specialization. The examination methods for the specialization are announced in the scientific curriculum handbook of the specialization.
Number of clinical exam days:
• The duration of the exam ranges from two days to four days (for one trainee) according to the parts of the exam.
Important instructions:
• The student must appear at least 30 minutes before the exam to register and attend the introductory session before the start of the exam with the exam supervisor.
• The national ID card and the fellowship card must be brought, and the fellowship card must be worn throughout the exam time.
• It is not allowed to bring any electronic devices to the exam, and the mobile phone is closed and left outside the exam venue.
• The trainee must treat all patients and role-players with respect and appreciation.
• All exam participants must maintain infection prevention and control measures during the exam and during the transition from one clinical case to another.
 
Written exams:
• The written exams for the Egyptian Fellowship are arbitrated based on the recommendations of the Executive Board of the Egyptian Fellowship
• As well as based on the recommendations of the Royal Colleges in Ireland and the United Kingdom related to specialization exams
The accreditation is as follows: -
First: All majors of the Egyptian Fellowship, in which the number of trainees exceeds ten, arbitration is carried out using the modified Hofstee approach, which was approved by the Executive Council of the Fellowship, and its rules are as follows:
1- Two arbitrators are nominated by the President of the Scientific Council, provided that the arbitrator meets the following conditions: 
A - The arbitrator did not participate in setting the exam.
b- Works as a consultant/professor in the specialty.
C- Familiar with the scientific method of the Egyptian Fellowship in the specialization, as well as the current and expected graduate level.
2- The number of arbitrators shall not be less than three.
3 - Arbitration is conducted individually for each arbitrator separately.
4 - The arbitrators shall be handed an introductory paper on the importance of arbitration and its method for determining success and failure criteria.
5 - A number of copies of the exam paper equal to the number of arbitrators are printed, and all copies are received after the end of the arbitration on the same day and delivered to the Examinations Department.
6- The arbitrator should review the exam questions and divide them into questions (easy - difficult - medium).
7 - The results of the individual arbitration are delivered to the General Secretariat of the Supreme Committee for Medical Specialties to prepare the arbitration curve and determine the final degree of success in the subject according to the curve, and then deliver the final result to the controller.
Second: The degree of passing in specializations in which the number of applicants for the exam is less than ten is calculated as 60% of the total number of the exam, based on the decision of the Executive Council of the Egyptian Fellowship and the impossibility of using any other method in arbitration in such cases.
Third: International accreditation majors, which number eleven, which are:
1- Family medicine.
2 - General Surgery - Ear, Nose and Throat - Eyes - Orthopedics.
3 - General internal organs - kidneys - digestive system - heart.
4 - Urology - heart surgery (under accreditation procedures).
 
The method of calculating passing scores in international accreditation majors:
Arbitration is carried out and success scores are calculated using the Modified Angoff method and its rules are as follows:
1 - The number of arbitrators is eight, all of whom are consultants and professors in their specialization, who are familiar with the scientific method, training methods, and the general and expected level of graduates.
2 - A special hall is provided for arbitration in the presence of the Chairman of the Scientific Council, as well as the arbitration facilitator, who is (a specialist - a consultant) in medical education.
3 - A number of copies of the examination paper shall be printed equal to the number of the arbitrators, and all copies shall be received after the end of the arbitration on the same day and delivered to the Examinations Department ... There is no objection to the use of presentation tools via the computer
  (Data projector) in presenting the questions to the arbitrators, provided that the exam is displayed on the computer of the professor responsible for exam confidentiality and the question bank (only)
4 - The result of the arbitration is monitored and the degree of success is determined using the Angoff method for each paper and then for the exam as a whole on an Excel sheet by the committee facilitator and he delivers it electronically to the General Secretariat of the Supreme Committee.
Medical specializations for final review and then handed over to the Control Committee.
 

Clinical and oral exams:
1- The practical council for each major determines the number of cases and committees in which the student must succeed, together or individually.
2 - The Scientific Council determines the correction form used by the examiners in each committee separately.
3 - The passing score is not less than 60% in each exam separately (long case - short case - substantive stations - oral committee)
4- For the substantive stations, the scientific council can stipulate success in a specific number of stations, in addition to the trainee obtaining a score of 60% or more.
5 - Accreditation majors depend on the standard regression curve agreed upon with the accredited colleges (Standard Regression Curve) in determining the degree of success.
6- The Scientific Council of the specialty may consider using other internationally known and agreed-upon methods to determine the degree of success in the practical and clinical exams, such as the closed marking system. In this case, after the approval of the Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Medical Specialties, the trainees are notified at least three months before the exam. Through the fellowship website on the Internet, as well as through an internal advertisement in the Egyptian fellowship building.
Grievance: The trainees have the right to complain about the results of the exams in its three parts, according to the following controls:
1- That the trainee personally submit a grievance (or whoever acts on his behalf with an official power of attorney for dealing with the Egyptian Fellowship).
2- The grievance shall be in writing at the General Administration of the Egyptian Fellowship only, with payment of the prescribed fees.
3- The grievance shall have a specified period within fifteen days from the announcement of the result.
4 - Only grades are re-monitored, and no re-correction or evaluation is made.
5- The grievance application form shall be posted on the fellowship website and at the reception desk. Grievances not written on the form will not be considered.
 
Steps for examining grievances with the Egyptian fellowship:
1- The grades obtained by the trainee in all exam papers or committees are reviewed by the person in charge of specialization and in the presence of one of the employees of the control department.
2- If the result is found to be identical, the trainee will be notified of that.
3 - If the result is found to be inconsistent, a report is written and the head of the scientific council of the specialization is notified to repeat the monitoring steps again in the presence of a member of the scientific council. The trainee with the result of examining the grievance and re-monitoring the grades.
4 - The response to grievances will be completed within 21 days from the date of submission to the reception desk of the Egyptian Fellowship.
 

1 - Trainees with various disabilities and special medical needs that would affect their performance for the exam should submit a written request to the Egyptian Fellowship Administration at least one month before the exam with a report documenting the relevant case from a medical committee with health insurance or the medical commission.
2- The Egyptian fellowship will try hard to provide the necessary means to enable the trainee to perform the exam in a satisfactory manner.
3- The trainee is not entitled not to count any of the three times scheduled to enter the exam for any reason, and he is only entitled to request a repeat of the exceptional time in the event of any pathological obstacle that prevents him from entering the exam, provided that he submits a documented report on the concerned case from a medical committee with health insurance or the medical commission to manage the exams by fellowship
Confidentiality of exams:
1 - Written and practical exams are confidential and protected by copyright and are subject to non-disclosure requirements that everyone must respect and abide by.
2- At the end of the exam, all trainees must hand in the answer sheets and question papers with the name of the trainee and fellowship number written on them at the designated place.
3- The trainee’s exam will be considered invalid if he does not hand over the question papers along with the answer papers on which the full name and fellowship number are written.
4- The student's exam will be considered invalid if he attempts to photocopy any of the exam papers or write questions on external papers.
 
The policy of the Supreme Committee for Medical Specialties regarding student behavior in exams:
One of the fellowship’s priorities is to maintain the integrity and fairness of the exams and to ensure that the judgment on the performance of the trainees in them has been based on their scientific and professional capabilities that they acquired during the training. Therefore, the Egyptian fellowship has set the following rules for conducting the exam and for preserving the professional behavior of the trainees during the exams. Entering the exam is considered tacit approval of full commitment with these rules.

Definition of inappropriate behavior during exams:
Inappropriate behavior includes any of the following:
1- Smoking during the exam.
2- Having any electronic device with the student or using it during the exam (other than a simple computer).
3 - Continue writing after the end of the specified exam time.
4- Violating the instructions of the observers and writing on the examination paper on the printed instructions or in a place in the answer booklet that is prohibited to be used.
5- Using any notes written in papers, pamphlets, dictionaries, or any other unauthorized materials in any way during the examination.
6- Attempting to copy, record or photograph exam questions or cases in any way.
7- Publishing the content of the exam in any way, including placing the exam details on the Internet.
8- Take out the exam questions outside the exam hall.
9 - Try to see the answers of any other student.
10 - Allow any other student to transfer the answers.
11- Trying to communicate with any other student during the exam.
12 - Non-compliance with the instructions of observers and examiners.
13- Taking any action that may verbally or physically harm the examiners or observers.
14 - Taking any harmful or disruptive behavior during the examination.
15- Forging the fellowship card or identity card.
16- It is impossible to impersonate or impersonate any other student.
17 - Obtaining the content of the exam before the exam.
18 - Attempting to falsify the exam result.
19 - Any other form of cheating, deception or behavior that may result in giving an unfair advantage to a student.
Electronic devices include - mobile phones of all kinds - recording equipment - cameras - video cameras - computers - personal computers (laptops) and electronic boards (tablets) and any electronic devices that store, display and publish information on the condition that it is from the observers or examiners who are present during the occurrence of any of the The aforementioned behaviors are the arrest of the student and preventing him from completing the exam according to the directives and procedures set out below.
Procedures for dealing with inappropriate behavior during exams:
 
1- The report form of the inappropriate behavior incident should be completed and signed by the observer or examinee present during the incident, and the report should be submitted to the Examinations and Supervision Department of the Supreme Committee for Medical Specialties.
2- Any materials or devices that are not allowed to be present during the examination shall be confiscated and submitted with the written report to the Examinations and Supervision Committee on the same day of the examination.
3- The student who causes misbehavior is arrested, the student’s exam is cancelled, and the exam committee leaves.
  4- In some cases, the student may be prevented from taking the exam for a period ranging from one to two years.
5 - In the event that a student performs one of the actions mentioned in Items 12, 13, 14 and 15, the necessary legal measures will be taken and the police will be informed.
6- The student’s exam will be considered invalid in the event that the student does not submit the question paper with the answer papers on which the full name and fellowship number are written.