Plastic Surgery Mock Oral Examination Checklist

Before the mock

• Define whether this is a single-session practice or a complete three-session simulation.
• Use original educational Theory and Practice cases—not recalled secure examination content.
• Prepare case stems, images, progressive findings, early complications, late complications, and backup branches.
• Select de-identified personal cases randomly; do not let the candidate choose only uncomplicated cases.
• Assign two examiners per session when resources permit and rotate teams across the three sessions.
• Remove examiner access to coaching notes that reveal the desired answer in front of the candidate.
• Create a timing plan, room transitions, and a no-device expectation consistent with the mock’s purpose.
• Agree that all feedback will be withheld until the session ends.

Case Report Session — 45 minutes

• Candidate states the patient, problem, indication, goals, and alternatives concisely.
• Examiners verify preoperative workup and patient selection.
• Candidate describes the actual operation and attending decisions accurately.
• Examiners ask about meaningful alternative treatment plans.
• Candidate explains complication recognition, treatment, communication, and outcome.
• Examiners test final function, appearance, photographs, revision, and follow-up.
• Ethical, economic, consent, coding, advertising, or professionalism issues are explored when relevant.
• Organization and consistency of the case presentation are assessed without allowing the candidate to read a script.

Theory and Practice Sessions — two blocks of 45 minutes

• Candidate receives 10 minutes to review the prepared case material before each session.
• Cases span multiple domains and are not announced in advance.
• The examiner asks one question at a time and permits the candidate to commit.
• The candidate must identify the problem, select one initial plan, and explain the rationale.
• At least one branch tests an intraoperative or early postoperative complication.
• At least one branch tests a late complication, revision, or dissatisfaction.
• At least one branch tests ethics, consent, facility safety, or professional behavior.
• Examiners interrupt and transition realistically but do not intimidate, teach, clue, or debate during scoring.

Examiner conduct checklist

Educational scoring sheet

Debrief in three passes

1. 01

   Candidate self-assessment

   Before receiving feedback, the candidate identifies the strongest decision, the most unsafe or ambiguous branch, and the case that should be repeated.

2. 02

   Examiner evidence

   Each examiner cites the exact spoken phrase or omission that supports feedback. Avoid personality judgments and vague statements such as “be more confident.”

3. 03

   Repair prescription

   Convert each major issue into a replacement sentence, decision threshold, or scenario to repeat within 48 hours.

Complete full-mock readiness checklist

• Three sessions completed at the published 45-minute duration.
• Different examiner teams used or behaviorally simulated.
• Ten-minute Theory and Practice review period honored.
• Personal cases selected randomly from a verified de-identified portfolio.
• At least six major clinical domains represented across the mock.
• Early and late complication branches included.
• Safety, ethics, professionalism, and organization explicitly reviewed.
• No recalled secure questions, answer coaching, or pass guarantee used.
• Debrief produced no more than three priority repairs.
• Priority repairs scheduled for repeat practice before another full mock.