RNZCGP GPEP Year 1 Clinical Exam Study Tips | MDster You are offline Back online! [ MDster home ](/ "MDster home") Specialities [ Anesthesiology ](https://mdster.com/speciality/anesthesiology) [ Emergency Medicine ](https://mdster.com/speciality/emergency-medicine) [ Family Medicine ](https://mdster.com/speciality/family-medicine) [ Internal Medicine ](https://mdster.com/speciality/internal-medicine) [ Obstetrics & Gynecology ](https://mdster.com/speciality/obstetrics-gynecology) [ Pediatrics ](https://mdster.com/speciality/pediatrics) [ Psychiatry ](https://mdster.com/speciality/psychiatry) [ Features ](https://mdster.com/features) [ SOE Examiner NEW ](https://mdster.com/soe-examiner) [ Pricing ](https://mdster.com/pricing) [ Blog ](https://mdster.com/blog) Menu Specialities [ Anesthesiology ](https://mdster.com/speciality/anesthesiology) [ Emergency Medicine ](https://mdster.com/speciality/emergency-medicine) [ Family Medicine ](https://mdster.com/speciality/family-medicine) [ Internal Medicine ](https://mdster.com/speciality/internal-medicine) [ Obstetrics & Gynecology ](https://mdster.com/speciality/obstetrics-gynecology) [ Pediatrics ](https://mdster.com/speciality/pediatrics) [ Psychiatry ](https://mdster.com/speciality/psychiatry) [ Features ](https://mdster.com/features) [ SOE Examiner NEW ](https://mdster.com/soe-examiner) [ Pricing ](https://mdster.com/pricing) [ Blog ](https://mdster.com/blog) [ Login ](https://mdster.com/auth/login) 1. [ Home ](https://mdster.com) 2. [ Blog ](https://mdster.com/blog) 3. [ Study Tips ](https://mdster.com/blog?category=study-tips) 4. Fellowship of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (GPEP Year 1 Clinical Examination): Study Tips [ Study Tips ](https://mdster.com/blog?category=study-tips) Fellowship of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (GPEP Year 1 Clinical Examination): Study Tips ===================================================================================================================== A practical OSCE-focused preparation plan for New Zealand GP registrars building safe, patient-centred consultation performance. [ MDster Editorial Team ](https://mdster.com/about) · Jun 25, 2026 · 5 min read · 37 [ 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) [ Family Medicine ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=family-medicine) [ OSCE Preparation ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=osce-preparation) [ Clinical Examination ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=clinical-examination) [ RNZCGP ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=rnzcgp) [ GPEP Year 1 ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=gpep-year-1) ![Fellowship of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (GPEP Year 1 Clinical Examination): Study Tips](https://mdster.com/storage/blog/images/fellowship-of-the-royal-new-zealand-college-of-general-practitioners-gpep-year-1-clinical.jpg) Share this article Share this post On this page 1. [ Build Your Preparation Around the Consultation, Not the Disease ](#build-your-preparation-around-the-consultation-not-the-disease) 2. [ Prioritise High-Yield New Zealand General Practice Scenarios ](#prioritise-high-yield-new-zealand-general-practice-scenarios) 3. [ Practise Cultural Safety as a Clinical Skill ](#practise-cultural-safety-as-a-clinical-skill) 4. [ Study Schedule Template: 8 Weeks to Exam Readiness ](#study-schedule-template-8-weeks-to-exam-readiness) 5. [ Use Resources the Right Way ](#use-resources-the-right-way) 6. [ Common Pitfalls to Avoid ](#common-pitfalls-to-avoid) 7. [ Key Takeaways ](#key-takeaways) 8. [ Frequently Asked Questions ](#blog-faqs) 9. [ References ](#references-heading) On this page 1. [ Build Your Preparation Around the Consultation, Not the Disease ](#build-your-preparation-around-the-consultation-not-the-disease) 2. [ Prioritise High-Yield New Zealand General Practice Scenarios ](#prioritise-high-yield-new-zealand-general-practice-scenarios) 3. [ Practise Cultural Safety as a Clinical Skill ](#practise-cultural-safety-as-a-clinical-skill) 4. [ Study Schedule Template: 8 Weeks to Exam Readiness ](#study-schedule-template-8-weeks-to-exam-readiness) 5. [ Use Resources the Right Way ](#use-resources-the-right-way) 6. [ Common Pitfalls to Avoid ](#common-pitfalls-to-avoid) 7. [ Key Takeaways ](#key-takeaways) 8. [ Frequently Asked Questions ](#blog-faqs) 9. [ References ](#references-heading) Many strong GPEP Year 1 registrars underperform in the clinical exam because they revise knowledge instead of rehearsing consultations. This exam rewards what you can do in a simulated GP room: clarify the agenda, manage risk, explain clearly, involve whānau where appropriate, and close safely. As of June 2026, RNZCGP describes GPEP Year 1 as ending with written and clinical examinations, with the clinical exam held in Wellington. RNZCGP orientation material describes the clinical exam as 10 OSCE cases, so your preparation needs repeated, timed station practice rather than passive reading. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Build Your Preparation Around the Consultation, Not the Disease --------------------------------------------------------------- For each condition you revise, create a “consultation script,” not a textbook summary. In a GPEP clinical station, the examiner is watching whether you practise like a safe New Zealand GP under time pressure. Use this structure for every case: 1. **Open:** confirm identity, reason for visit, agenda, and patient concern. 2. **Focus:** take targeted history, identify red flags, and explore context. 3. **Think aloud selectively:** summarise the problem and share uncertainty safely. 4. **Plan:** negotiate investigations, treatment, follow-up, and safety-netting. 5. **Close:** check understanding, barriers, whānau involvement, and next steps. > **Pro Tip:** After every practice station, ask your observer: “Did I sound like a GP you would trust with your family?” That question often reveals communication gaps faster than a checklist. Prioritise High-Yield New Zealand General Practice Scenarios ------------------------------------------------------------ Do not try to rehearse every disease. Prioritise presentations that test first-contact risk management, continuity of care, and shared decision-making. Focus your first pass on: - Chest pain, dyspnoea, palpitations, collapse, and headache red flags - Child fever, rash, abdominal pain, asthma, and safeguarding concerns - Pregnancy, contraception, menopause, sexual health, and intimate partner violence - Diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular risk, gout, COPD, and chronic pain - Depression, anxiety, substance use, suicidality, and capacity concerns - Skin lesions, infections, minor injuries, and uncertainty about referral - Hauora Māori, equity barriers, rural access, cost, transport, and whānau support For each topic, prepare three things: the dangerous diagnoses, the safe GP management plan, and the explanation you would give in plain language. Practise Cultural Safety as a Clinical Skill -------------------------------------------- Cultural safety is not an “extra paragraph” at the end of a station. The Medical Council of New Zealand expects doctors to reflect on how their views and biases affect clinical interactions and patient care. [\[2\]](#cite-2 "Reference [2]") In OSCE practice, make cultural safety observable: - Ask who the patient wants involved in decisions. - Explore barriers before assuming non-adherence. - Use strengths-based language: “What has helped you manage this so far?” - Check whether the plan fits work, whānau, finances, transport, and beliefs. - Avoid token phrases that are not connected to the presenting problem. A good station answer might be: “We have a few options. Before we choose, can I check what matters most to you and whether you would like whānau involved?” Study Schedule Template: 8 Weeks to Exam Readiness -------------------------------------------------- Use this template alongside your clinical placement, seminars, video reviews, and mock exam feedback. PhaseWeekly focusOutputWeeks 1–2Map the exam and record 2 consultations weeklyPersonal gap list by skillWeeks 3–4Practise acute and paediatric stations12 timed OSCE cases completedWeeks 5–6Practise chronic disease, mental health, and equity cases12 more timed cases with feedbackWeek 7Full mock circuit under exam rulesPrioritised final repair listWeek 8Short stations, explanations, safety-netting drillsCalm, repeatable consultation rhythm Keep each week simple: - Two timed OSCE stations with a peer or kaiako - One video review focused only on communication - One red-flag drill from recent patients you saw - One explanation drill: diagnosis, medication, or referral - One reflection on equity, bias, or access barriers Use Resources the Right Way --------------------------- Question banks help you sharpen differentials, but they do not make you exam-ready unless you convert answers into spoken consultations. After each question, practise explaining the diagnosis and plan in 60 seconds. Use these resource types deliberately: - **Official RNZCGP materials:** confirm current requirements, mock exam processes, and curriculum expectations. - **Local clinical pathways:** rehearse referral thresholds and community-based management. - **Prescribing and formulary resources:** practise safe medication choices, contraindications, monitoring, and patient explanations. - **Peer study group:** rotate roles as candidate, patient, and examiner. - **Recorded consultations:** identify whether your closing, safety-netting, and shared planning are visible. Common Pitfalls to Avoid ------------------------ The most common failure pattern is an unsafe or incomplete consultation, not lack of intelligence. Fix these early. Avoid: - Listing differentials without addressing the patient’s actual concern - Forgetting red flags because the scenario seems “routine” - Giving advice without checking readiness, barriers, or understanding - Over-investigating when safe GP follow-up would be appropriate - Using cultural safety language without changing the plan - Running out of time before safety-netting and follow-up > **Pro Tip:** In every station, leave enough time for: “What would make you seek urgent help?” If you cannot answer that clearly, your management plan is not finished. Key Takeaways ------------- This week, make your preparation more exam-specific: - Choose six common GP presentations and write consultation scripts. - Complete two timed OSCE stations, then repeat the weaker one. - Practise one culturally safe shared decision-making conversation. - Build a personal red-flag checklist from your own clinic cases. - Ask your kaiako for feedback on one skill: opening, risk, explanation, or closure. The GPEP Year 1 Clinical Examination is demanding because it tests integrated GP performance. If you rehearse realistic consultations, seek specific feedback, and make safety visible, you give examiners what they need to see: a registrar ready for safe, patient-centred general practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. Frequently Asked Questions ---------------------------- ### How should I practise differently for the GPEP Year 1 Clinical Examination compared with the written exam? The written exam tests applied knowledge; the clinical exam tests performance. Convert knowledge into timed consultations with opening, focused assessment, shared plan, safety-netting, and closure. ### How many practice OSCE stations should I complete before the exam? Aim for at least 24 focused stations plus one full mock circuit. Repeat weak stations until your structure is smooth under time pressure. ### What feedback should I ask my kaiako or peer observer for? Ask for specific feedback on safety, patient-centred communication, cultural safety, clinical reasoning, and whether your management plan was practical for New Zealand general practice. ### How do I show cultural safety in a simulated consultation? Make it visible by asking about priorities, whānau involvement, barriers to care, and whether the plan fits the patient’s context. Avoid scripted phrases that do not affect management. ### What should I do if I freeze during a station? Pause, summarise what you know, identify immediate risk, and return to a safe GP structure: concern, red flags, focused assessment, plan, follow-up, and safety-netting. References (4) ------------------ 1. 1. [ RNZCGP: GPEP Year 1 programme structure ](https://www.rnzcgp.org.nz/study-with-us/study-general-practice/gpep-programme-structure/gpep-year-1/) [↩](#cite-ref-1-1 "Back to text") 2. 2. [ Medical Council of New Zealand: Cultural safety ](https://www.mcnz.org.nz/our-standards/current-standards/cultural-safety/) [↩](#cite-ref-2-1 "Back to text") 3. 3. [ RNZCGP: GPEP programme structure and requirements 2026 ](https://www.rnzcgp.org.nz/documents/718/GPEP-programme-structure-2026.pdf) 4. 4. [ RNZCGP: Marau Mātauranga Curriculum for General Practice ](https://www.rnzcgp.org.nz/resources/learning-documents/curriculum-for-general-practice/) Next Stay consistent in Family Medicine prep with a guided pathway --------------------------------------------------------------- - Broad coverage without the overwhelm - Short daily sessions that compound - See your progress and focus on weak areas [ Start practicing ](https://mdster.com/user/dashboard) [ Family Medicine ](https://mdster.com/speciality/family-medicine) [ View pricing ](https://mdster.com/pricing) [ Explore features ](https://mdster.com/features) No credit card required. Full access to all features\*. No commitment. Cancel anytime. \*AI SOE Examiner is limited to 10 cases monthly for Advanced & Bundle subscribers. Explore topics: [ # Family Medicine ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=family-medicine) [ # OSCE Preparation ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=osce-preparation) [ # Clinical Examination ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=clinical-examination) [ # RNZCGP ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=rnzcgp) [ # GPEP Year 1 ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=gpep-year-1) [ Back to all posts ](https://mdster.com/blog) Discussion () ----------------- Join the discussion [ Log in ](https://mdster.com/auth/login) or [ Sign up ](https://mdster.com/auth/register) No comments yet Be the first to share your thoughts! ![]() More in Study Tips ------------------ [ See all ](https://mdster.com/blog?category=study-tips) [### Fellowship of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (FCPS Part II): Pediatrics Study Plan 6 min read Jun 23, 2026 ](https://mdster.com/blog/fellowship-of-the-college-of-physicians-and-surgeons-pakistan-fcps-part-ii-pediatrics-stud) [### College of Family Physicians of Canada (Examination of Added Competence in Emergency Medicine): Study Plan 5 min read Jun 21, 2026 ](https://mdster.com/blog/college-of-family-physicians-of-canada-examination-of-added-competence-in-emergency-medici) [### Fellowship of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (FCPS Part I): Internal Medicine Study Plan 5 min read Jun 17, 2026 ](https://mdster.com/blog/fellowship-of-the-college-of-physicians-and-surgeons-pakistan-fcps-part-i-internal-medicin) Related Posts ------------- [ ![Fellowship of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (FCPS Part II): Pediatrics Study Plan](https://mdster.com/storage/blog/images/fellowship-of-the-college-of-physicians-and-surgeons-pakistan-fcps-part-ii-pediatrics-stud.jpg) Study Tips ### Fellowship of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (FCPS Part II): Pediatrics Study Plan Prepare for FCPS Part II Pediatrics with a practical plan for MCOs, long cases, short cases, TOACS stations, mocks, and focused revision. 6 min read 0 comments ](https://mdster.com/blog/fellowship-of-the-college-of-physicians-and-surgeons-pakistan-fcps-part-ii-pediatrics-stud) [ ![Dysuria and UTI Syndromes: Cystitis, Pyelo, and Risk Flags](https://mdster.com/storage/blog/images/dysuria-and-uti-syndromes-cystitis-pyelo-and-risk-flags.jpg) Medical Education ### Dysuria and UTI Syndromes: Cystitis, Pyelo, and Risk Flags A practical, board-focused guide to dysuria and UTI syndromes: distinguish cystitis from pyelonephritis, know when to culture, and treat risk flags safely. 5 min read 0 comments ](https://mdster.com/blog/dysuria-and-uti-syndromes-cystitis-pyelo-and-risk-flags) [ ![College of Family Physicians of Canada (Examination of Added Competence in Emergency Medicine): Study Plan](https://mdster.com/storage/blog/images/college-of-family-physicians-of-canada-examination-of-added-competence-in-emergency-medici.jpg) Study Tips ### College of Family Physicians of Canada (Examination of Added Competence in Emergency Medicine): Study Plan Prepare smarter for the CFPC CCFP(EM) exam with a focused plan for SAMPs, evolving question formats, oral stations, and high-yield EM topics. 5 min read 0 comments ](https://mdster.com/blog/college-of-family-physicians-of-canada-examination-of-added-competence-in-emergency-medici) [ ![Pediatric Acute Severe Asthma: ED Case Discussion](https://mdster.com/storage/blog/images/pediatric-acute-severe-asthma-ed-case-discussion.jpg) Case Discussion ### Pediatric Acute Severe Asthma: ED Case Discussion A board-focused pediatric asthma case covering severity classification, ED stabilization, differential diagnosis, discharge readiness, and action-plan teaching. 4 min read 0 comments ](https://mdster.com/blog/pediatric-acute-severe-asthma-ed-case-discussion) [ ![Fellowship of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (FCPS Part I): Internal Medicine Study Plan](https://mdster.com/storage/blog/images/fellowship-of-the-college-of-physicians-and-surgeons-pakistan-fcps-part-i-internal-medicin.jpg) Study Tips ### Fellowship of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (FCPS Part I): Internal Medicine Study Plan Prepare for FCPS Part I Internal Medicine with a practical MCQ-based plan, topic priorities, revision system, and 12-week study template. 5 min read 0 comments ](https://mdster.com/blog/fellowship-of-the-college-of-physicians-and-surgeons-pakistan-fcps-part-i-internal-medicin) [ ![American Board of Physician Specialties (Written Examination): Anesthesiology Study Plan](https://mdster.com/storage/blog/images/american-board-of-physician-specialties-written-examination-anesthesiology-study-plan.jpg) Study Tips ### American Board of Physician Specialties (Written Examination): Anesthesiology Study Plan Prepare smarter for the ABPS Anesthesiology written exam with a focused schedule, MCQ tactics, resource strategy, and exam-day pacing plan. 5 min read 0 comments ](https://mdster.com/blog/american-board-of-physician-specialties-written-examination-anesthesiology-study-plan) [ MDster home ](/ "MDster home") Master your medical exams with evidence-based learning. [ GET IT ON Google Play ](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mdster.app) Platform - [Home](https://mdster.com) - [Features](https://mdster.com/features) - [Pricing](https://mdster.com/pricing) - [About](https://mdster.com/about) Resources - [Blog](https://mdster.com/blog) - [Dashboard](https://mdster.com/user/dashboard) Support - [Contact](https://mdster.com/contact) - [Legal & Policies](https://mdster.com/legal) - [Medical Reviewers](https://mdster.com/medical-reviewers) © 2026 MDster [ ](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mdster.app) [Terms](https://mdster.com/terms) [Privacy](https://mdster.com/privacy) [Editorial](https://mdster.com/editorial-policy) reCAPTCHA Protected by reCAPTCHA. Google [Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms) apply. Cookie Consent -------------- We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to visit this site you agree to our use of cookies. [ Terms of Use ](https://mdster.com/terms) & [ Privacy Policy ](https://mdster.com/privacy) Accept