Situational Judgement Test (SJT) and Clinical Problem-Solving Test (CPST)

All applicants who complete the brief online application form, pay the application fee and complete the pre-test checks will be invited to sit the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) and Clinical Problem-Solving Test (CPST) assessments. These are online invigilated tests  

The tests must be taken consecutively, and both must be completed in one sitting. Applicants are advised to allow approximately three hours. 

Applicants can select a preferred test time on Application A. Depending on demand, for certain times we cannot guarantee that all applicants will get their preferred time and will randomly allocate applicants to times. Applicants are advised to ensure that they can undertake the test at any time during the test window. 

Taking the test involves the following:

• In advance of the test: Undertake mandatory pre-test check in advance of test day, on the same device and in the same location as on test day. Remember: a compatible device, robust internet connection and a quiet, uninterrupted space are your responsibility. 

• Applicants that do not complete the mandatory pre-test check will not be issued with a link to the live test and will be removed from the remainder of the process 

• At the start of the test: Validation process to establish the identity of the test taker.

  • Please have government ID card, passport or driver’s license ready at start of test. 

  • Copy of your test codes. 

• During the test: Completing the SJT test first and then the CPST test. Applicants will be required to take a 10-minute break between the tests. 

The SJT will consist of 45 scenarios depicting situations that applicants would be likely to encounter in their work as a hospital doctor. The SJT will assess attributes such as professionalism, empathy, integrity and your ability to cope with pressure, and acts as a measure of pro-social behaviour. They will not measure clinical knowledge. 

Applicants will be asked to select from a range of options the most appropriate action to take in a given situation. Answer keys will follow two formats: either a rank option, where the candidate lists suggested solutions in order of appropriateness from 1 to 5, or multiple choice, where the candidate chooses three appropriate options from a list of eight. 

Scoring of the SJT assesses non-academic competencies that best align to the attributes of a good GP. As applicant numbers exceed the number of training places in any given year, your score in the SJT will be used to shortlist those who progress to interview. SJT scores will also be carried forward to the final ranking and assignment of training places. 

The CPST will assess candidates' clinical knowledge and will take approximately 60 minutes. It must be completed online in a single session, following the SJT. An optional break will be possible between the SJT and CPST. The CPST will consist of approximately 50 single best answer (SBA) questions, describing common clinical presentations that a recently qualified doctor might encounter in a clinical setting. The questions will explore candidates' ability to diagnose, investigate and manage these presentations. Applicants will be required to select the single most appropriate of five possible responses to each situation. 

The purpose of the CPST is to ensure that the public is protected from practitioners not clinically competent to occupy training posts, whilst ensuring that the bar is not so high that it excludes those who do have the necessary knowledge and skills from being able to commence training. The standard of achievement expected will be that of a current intern. 

The Irish College of GPs will use a criterion-referenced method of determining the pass mark for the CPST (Ebel method). Applicants who do not attain the required standard will not be shortlisted, but, unlike the SJT, CPST scores will not contribute towards final ranking or assignment of training places.