GMC welcomes new guidance aimed at strengthening quality assurance in postgraduate medical exams

The General Medical Council (GMC) has welcomed new guidance designed to improve the quality assurance of postgraduate medical exams, following concerns about marking errors that affected doctors across several specialties. The guidance, published by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, brings together best practice and shared learning from exam teams and the GMC, with a focus on reducing the risk of future errors and reinforcing confidence in the assessment system.

The new recommendations outline steps royal colleges can take to eliminate or mitigate marking issues and ensure exams remain fair, consistent and fit for purpose. They also highlight approaches already adopted across specialties to strengthen oversight and reassure candidates, regulators and the public that assessments meet the standards expected of the medical profession.

Professor Pushpinder Mangat, the GMC’s Medical Director and Director of Education and Standards, said the regulator had called for swift action after raising concerns about exam integrity and the impact of errors on affected doctors. He emphasised that robust assessment processes are essential not only for trainees, but also for ensuring patients receive safe, high‑quality care from well‑prepared clinicians.

“The report makes several recommendations to ensure assessments are consistent and fit for purpose, which should be adopted as standard practice,” he said. The GMC added that all medical exams must meet its standards to maintain public confidence and support doctors in demonstrating the skills and knowledge required for clinical practice.

The Academy’s full guidance is available for colleges and exam teams to review as they continue strengthening their quality assurance processes. The GMC’s press office can be contacted for further information.

Disclaimer: The accuracy and information of news stories published on this website is accurate on the date of publishing. We endeavour to update stories if information change. You can contact us with change and update requests. Where possible, we will link to sources. Content on this website is for guidance purposes only. We cannot accept any responsibility or liability whatsoever for any action taken, or not taken. You should seek the appropriate legal advice having regard to your own particular circumstances.