ABPI Exam Unit 1 NHS Structure & Function: Happy 70th Birthday to you

The NHS is 75 on 5th July.

Sad to say that the NHS is more than a little creaky now, 5 years after I first wrote this post. Here’s hoping we still have it in another 5 years.

The main point of the original article was to flag up that our Unit 1 MCQs had been updated. As you’d imagine, they’ve gone through more than a few iterations since then. To be honest, I found it more than a little tiresome constantly having to amend some of the MCQs to reflect either changes in ministers or yet more name changes in structural elements.

To keep the MCQs as current as possible, we removed these sorts of questions (e.g. the classic “who is the current Secretary of State for Health”), but bear in mind that they may still crop up in the actual ABPI exam.

I know it’s a pain trying to keep on top of it all for your exam, but stay with it.

Keep in mind that questions about the NHS form a small part of this particular exam paper (i.e. Unit 1 Code of Practice and NHS), since it’s weighted more towards MCQs about the Code of Practice).

 

————Start of the original article from 2018——–

The NHS is 70 today.

 

NHS at 70
Newspaper announcement introducing the NHS in 1948

 

You’d have to be hiding under a rock to have missed the headlines about the 70th birthday celebrations for the NHS.

Whatever you think of this British institution, it’s 70 today. No surprise that’s it’s a bit creaky then, is it?

What does this big birthday mean for you, as an ABPI exam candidate?

I’m not going to go into the politics of how it’s organised or managed. Let’s just say that aside from the challenges the NHS faces, you’re challenged to keep up with its constant changes. For both the NHS and you, it’s a work in progress.

But, you must keep up, so you’re able to tackle the MCQs about the NHS in your exam. Hopefully, if you’re taking it later this month, you’ve also been sent the most recent version of the ABPI’s handout of NHS Structure & Function.

Since the ABPI stopped updating their site for trainers, I’ve had to rely on Toolkit users to let me know when a new version appears. So, thank you to those who gave me the heads up, alerting me to the need for an  update of my MCQs.

I’m glad to say that after a flurry of emails back and forth, the ABPI sent me their most recent version of the handout yesterday. Fingers crossed that they’ll get back on track in the near future with keeping trainers in the loop.

While the NHS birthday celebrations are in full swing – here’s my announcement:-

Happily, just in time for the NHS’ 70th birthday, I’ve updated the MCQs in my Unit 1 to 4 MCQ Workbook.

(What a happy coincidence, huh? Couldn’t have planned it, if I’d tried.)

If you’re taking the exam later this month, don’t despair if you recently received your updated pdf from the ABPI. I know some of you are panicking because you’re tired, overworked and feeling like you may as well throw out your notes because there isn’t enough time to learn anything new.

First, take a deep breath. Think about what you’ve done so far. Take a step back. Then, throw that overwhelm monster off the cliff.

Done it?

Good.

So what’s changed in the NHS since the last bunch of notes from the ABPI?

Continue reading “ABPI Exam Unit 1 NHS Structure & Function: Happy 70th Birthday to you”

ABPI Exam: What price success?

What price are you willing to pay for success?

 

 

You appreciate that taking the ABPI exam involves a variety of costs, right?

Some costs can be claimed back from your company, or else your company pays up front. For example, this includes the cost of:-

    • ABPI learning manuals
    • Sitting the Exam itself

But what if you need more than that?

Like any other big goal that involves a cost,  you plan for it by budgeting. Don’t you?

And yet, the cost of my 16-week email course of lessons is zilch, nada, niente. In other words, nothing.  Why look a gift horse in the mouth?

While there’s no cost to you, there’s a ton of hard work behind these lessons.  Does that mean you don’t value them?  I’m pleased to say that many of you tell me you’ve found them helpful. A good many of you then progress to take advantage of the flashcards, MCQ workbooks or mind maps.

Even so, some find self-study challenging.

That being the case, it’s disappointing for me when students sabotage themselves rather than seeking help. (Is it really that hard to discuss your issues with your manager, or a colleague, or someone outside your company, like me?)

What’s more worthwhile – MCQs where the answers are obvious, or MCQs where you have to think really hard?

Take the other day, an ABPI exam candidate fed back that she wished she hadn’t bought the unit 1 to 4 workbook…

Continue reading “ABPI Exam: What price success?”

What’s the difference between versions 7 and 8 of the ABPI Exam learning materials?

Over past few months, I’ve been asked about whetherABPI Exam Toolkit™ resources are suitable for those who’ve bought the version 8 ABPI learning materials.

Although I’m still working from vs 7, I recently confirmed with Amira Burshan, Education Officer at the ABPI that the main differences between vs 7 and vs 8 are: –

  • incorporation of the NHS and PV materials (instead of in a separate document/brochure);
  • minor changes re: layout, and typos;
  • changes for technical clarity following medical review (e.g. updated disease treatment information);
  • overall chapter headings/titles – essentially the same.

In essence, other than making things clearer, what’s being tested in the ABPI exam isn’t changing, at least not until next year when vs 8 will be fully adopted.

Even then, if you’ve read the independent report on the Exam published in February[1], you’ll appreciate that rather than changing content drastically, the ABPI are focussed on changing how content in their learning materials is tested:

Continue reading “What’s the difference between versions 7 and 8 of the ABPI Exam learning materials?”

ABOUT THIS SITE

The ABPI Exam Toolkit™ refers to the range of digital products and services developed and provided by McKenzie Mills Partnership Ltd.

© McKenzie Mills Partnership Ltd 2017-2024. All rights reserved.