The Society for Cardiological Science and Technology

Undergraduate Assessment of Clinical Practice

The SCST Professional Body examinations are embedded in the BSc (Hons.) Clinical Physiology (Cardiology) degree programme.  As part of this programme students attend specialist blocks in each of the four years of their degree.  These specialist blocks are assessed by examination and course work set by the Higher Education Institution (HEI).

In addition, Clinical Practice modules are undertaken and assessed in the workplace.  The quality of these assessments is assured through a process of internal verification and through nationally standardised practical examinations.

Part One Undergraduate Assessment

Part One Undergraduate Assessment takes place in June of Year 2 of the programme and requires the student to undertake an ECG assessment in line with the performance criteria in the logbook, at a designated centre.

Students are required to meet the performance criteria and complete a short oral examination based on the ECG.  

As part of this assessment, students also present their Record of Clinical Practice (logbook) containing details related to the assessment of ECG and non-invasive blood pressure recording together with the Evidence Portfolio related to those two topics. 

A student will progress to Year 3 of the programme if they have successfully completed all Year 1 & 2 modules at their HEI and satisfied the requirements of the Professional Body in terms of the practical examination, oral assessment and completion of the log book & evidence portfolio.

Part Two Undergraduate Assessment

Part Two Undergraduate Assessment takes place in April/May of Year 4 of the programme and requires the student to undertake an assessment in line with the performance criteria in the logbook which relate to Part Two Undergraduate Assessment (i.e. all aspects apart from ECG and non-invasive blood pressure recording), at a designated centre.  

Students undertake an assessment that is based on a patient journey.  This may cover any disease process or investigation which is in the syllabus. Typically it is based on the diagnosis and treatment of one of the following (please note this is not a definitive list):

• Coronary artery disease
• Valve disease
• Heart failure
• Cardiac rhythm management
• Congenital heart disease

The assessment will consist of 5 stations each of which contains data and / or questions related to a patient.  Students have 5 minutes at each station, at the end of which they move on to the next station, leaving the answer sheet behind.  The pass mark for this part of the examination is 50%.

As part of this assessment, students also present their Record of Clinical Practice (logbook) and evidence portfolio containing all information related to the Part Two assessment. 

On successful completion of the practical examination, presentation of the logbook & evidence portfolio and provided that they have completed all Year 3 & 4 modules within the programme successfully, they will be awarded Associate Membership of the Society for Cardiological Science and Technology (ASCST).