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Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (FC Psych(SA) Part II): Study Tips [ Study Tips ](https://mdster.com/blog?category=study-tips) Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (FC Psych(SA) Part II): Study Tips ========================================================================= A practical clinical preparation plan for busy psychiatry registrars [ MDster Editorial Team ](https://mdster.com/about) · Sep 17, 2026 · 6 min read · 50 [ Reviewed by Dr. Ali Ragab, MBBCH, MSc, MCAI ](https://mdster.com/medical-reviewers/dr-ali-ragab) [Editorial Policy](https://mdster.com/editorial-policy) | [Corrections Policy](https://mdster.com/corrections) [ Study Tips ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=study-tips) [ Psychiatry ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=psychiatry) [ FC Psych(SA) Part II ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=fc-psychsa-part-ii) [ Clinical Exam Preparation ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=clinical-exam-preparation) ![Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (FC Psych(SA) Part II): Study Tips](https://mdster.com/storage/blog/images/colleges-of-medicine-of-south-africa-fc-psychsa-part-ii-study-tips.jpg) Share this article Share this post On this page 1. [ 1. Confirm the format before building your timetable ](#1-confirm-the-format-before-building-your-timetable) 2. [ 2. Rehearse observable specialist performance ](#2-rehearse-observable-specialist-performance) 3. [ Use a three-person rehearsal group ](#use-a-three-person-rehearsal-group) 4. [ Protect long-case practice ](#protect-long-case-practice) 5. [ 3. Turn the blueprint into clinical tasks ](#3-turn-the-blueprint-into-clinical-tasks) 6. [ Give each resource one job ](#give-each-resource-one-job) 7. [ 4. Study Schedule Template ](#4-study-schedule-template) 8. [ Common Pitfalls ](#common-pitfalls) 9. [ Key Takeaways: Act This Week ](#key-takeaways-act-this-week) 10. [ Frequently Asked Questions ](#blog-faqs) 11. [ References ](#references-heading) On this page 1. [ 1. Confirm the format before building your timetable ](#1-confirm-the-format-before-building-your-timetable) 2. [ 2. Rehearse observable specialist performance ](#2-rehearse-observable-specialist-performance) 3. [ Use a three-person rehearsal group ](#use-a-three-person-rehearsal-group) 4. [ Protect long-case practice ](#protect-long-case-practice) 5. [ 3. Turn the blueprint into clinical tasks ](#3-turn-the-blueprint-into-clinical-tasks) 6. [ Give each resource one job ](#give-each-resource-one-job) 7. [ 4. Study Schedule Template ](#4-study-schedule-template) 8. [ Common Pitfalls ](#common-pitfalls) 9. [ Key Takeaways: Act This Week ](#key-takeaways-act-this-week) 10. [ Frequently Asked Questions ](#blog-faqs) 11. [ References ](#references-heading) You can explain a psychiatric diagnosis thoroughly yet struggle when asked to present a focused formulation under observation. For FC Psych(SA) Part II preparation, replace some reading time with timed demonstrations: assess, interpret, explain and defend your decisions. 1. Confirm the format before building your timetable ---------------------------------------------------- **September 2026 check:** Part II is not solely an OSCE. CMSA lists two digital written papers plus clinical assessment; the published regulations require passing the written component before entering the clinical examination. Keep written preparation in your plan unless CMSA has confirmed an exemption. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") The August 2023 regulations describe nine 20-minute stations and a long case weighted as three stations, with the clinical component contributing 70% overall. They specify an OSCE minimum of 50%; verify the applicable requirements against your sitting instructions. [\[2\]](#cite-2 "Reference [2]") Importantly, public documents differ: the older November 2017 OSCE guide describes different timings and additional passing requirements. The 2026 second-semester timetable lists decentralised assessment and Zoom-based structured oral examinations, so ask CMSA or your training department to confirm delivery, timings and marking rules before designing mocks. [\[3\]](#cite-3 "Reference [3]") Create a one-page examination brief recording: - Your confirmed components and dates. - Station, preparation and long-case timings. - Applicable passing requirements. - Online arrangements, equipment and identification instructions. 2. Rehearse observable specialist performance --------------------------------------------- CMSA’s OSCE guidance emphasises communication, professionalism, examination skills, interpretation and safe, inclusive management. Turn these domains into your feedback sheet rather than judging practice by how many facts you mentioned. [\[3\]](#cite-3 "Reference [3]") ### Use a three-person rehearsal group Rotate candidate, simulated patient and observer roles. Give the observer a specific task sheet and ask them to record behaviours, not impressions. 1. **Identify the task:** Is this focused history, examination, counselling, interpretation or management? 2. **Perform the task:** Ask the questions or demonstrate the explanation instead of describing what you would theoretically do. 3. **Make reasoning visible:** State the finding supporting your leading diagnosis and what could change it. 4. **Close deliberately:** Summarise, address the requested next steps and check understanding when appropriate. For practice, divide available station time approximately into 10% orientation, 60% task completion, 20% synthesis and 10% closure. This is a coaching template, not CMSA’s prescribed timing; adapt it to the station instructions. > **Pro Tip:** Ask your observer, “Which decision did I leave unexplained?” Then repeat that section immediately, using fewer words and clearer justification. ### Protect long-case practice Schedule one supervised long-case presentation weekly because the published regulations give it substantial weight. Present a concise problem representation, differential diagnosis, biopsychosocial formulation and prioritised management plan, then invite challenges to your reasoning. [\[2\]](#cite-2 "Reference [2]") Try prompts such as: “What information is missing?”, “Why this treatment?” and “How would limited follow-up access change your plan?” Use de-identified cases for peer discussion and follow departmental consent requirements for observed patient encounters. 3. Turn the blueprint into clinical tasks ----------------------------------------- Use the Part II blueprint to prevent revision becoming adult-general-psychiatry only. Include neuropsychiatry, child and adolescent, forensic, addiction and consultation-liaison practice alongside broader psychiatric content. [\[2\]](#cite-2 "Reference [2]") Build a matrix with topic rows and skill columns: assessment, interpretation, formulation, communication and management. Mark a cell complete only after performing that task aloud. Suggested rehearsal prompts—not predictions of examination stations—include: - **Neuropsychiatry:** Interpret cognitive findings and explain your differential. - **Addictions:** Present a focused substance history and justify your immediate priorities. - **Child psychiatry:** Explain how you would gather developmental and collateral information. - **Psychopharmacology:** Counsel a simulated patient about treatment options and monitoring. - **Forensic and ethics:** Discuss capacity or admission status using current South African requirements. - **Psychotherapy and research:** Defend a therapy formulation or critically appraise a study’s clinical relevance. ### Give each resource one job Use a question bank to identify clinical reasoning gaps, then convert missed questions into spoken mini-cases. Use a textbook or current guideline to resolve the specific uncertainty, rather than restarting the entire chapter. For South African legal scenarios, check current official legislation and departmental guidance rather than importing another country’s admission procedures. Choose courses offering observed performance and individual feedback; ask whether their mock format matches your confirmed sitting. Practise retrieval before reopening notes. A randomised medical-education trial found better retention of clinical reasoning through repeated testing than case study alone; this supports the method, not a guaranteed FC Psych(SA) result. [\[4\]](#cite-4 "Reference [4]") 4. Study Schedule Template -------------------------- Try this six-week rolling plan, adjusting it to your examination date. The suggested commitments are a practical starting point, not an official preparation requirement. PeriodMain focusMinimum outputWeeks 1–2Confirm format; identify weak skillsFour timed tasks and two long casesWeeks 3–4Rotate neglected specialtiesSix mixed tasks and two long casesWeek 5Integrate under examination conditionsOne mock using confirmed timingsWeek 6Repair recurring errorsRepeat weakest tasks; rehearse delivery Across an ordinary week, protect two 45-minute peer sessions, one 60-minute supervised case session and three 20-minute targeted revision blocks. During an on-call-heavy week, shorten the sessions but retain one observed performance and one correction cycle. After each rehearsal, log only three items: the missed finding, the reasoning gap and the communication problem. Reattempt the task after several days with a changed vignette, so you must reason rather than reproduce a script. Common Pitfalls --------------- - **Answering a different task:** Underline the instruction verb before beginning. - **Listing treatments without priorities:** Explain what comes first and why. - **Using rigid interview scripts:** Practise responding to unexpected answers. - **Ignoring delivery conditions:** If online delivery is confirmed, rehearse audio, screen layout and interruption procedures. - **Treating peer scores as official marks:** Use them to track improvement, not predict a pass. Key Takeaways: Act This Week ---------------------------- - Obtain sitting-specific format and marking confirmation. - Book one observed long case and two timed tasks. - Select three neglected blueprint topics. - Convert five question-bank errors into spoken reasoning prompts. - Repeat one weak performance after focused feedback. Start with one case you already know and make your reasoning audible. Build your next study session around what the observer could not follow—not another broad reading target. Frequently Asked Questions ---------------------------- ### Is FC Psych(SA) Part II only an OSCE? No. CMSA lists written and clinical components. Confirm your requirements and any written exemption before planning clinical-only revision. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") ### Should I practise 12-minute or 20-minute stations? Public CMSA documents differ. Obtain sitting-specific confirmation rather than relying on older station timings. [\[2\]](#cite-2 "Reference [2]") ### How can I use question banks for clinical preparation? Convert each missed vignette into a spoken task: justify the differential, explain your next step and practise patient-facing counselling. References (5) ------------------ 1. 1. [ cmsa.co.za/fellowship-of-the-college-of-psychiatrists-of-south-africa ](https://cmsa.co.za/fellowship-of-the-college-of-psychiatrists-of-south-africa/) [↩](#cite-ref-1-1 "Back to text") 2. 2. [ CMSA. FC Psych(SA) Regulations, August 2023. ](https://cmsa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01._FC_PsychSA_Regulations_20_11_2023.pdf) [↩](#cite-ref-2-1 "Back to text") 3. 3. [ cmsa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/FC\_PsychSA\_Part\_II\_\_\_Objective\_Structured\_Clinical\_Examination\_21\_2\_2024.pdf ](https://cmsa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/FC_PsychSA_Part_II___Objective_Structured_Clinical_Examination_21_2_2024.pdf) [↩](#cite-ref-3-1 "Back to text") 4. 4. [ Raupach et al. Test-enhanced learning of clinical reasoning. Medical Education, 2016. ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27295475/) [↩](#cite-ref-4-1 "Back to text") 5. 5. 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