Reasoning GP · SCA mock exam

The SCA mock exam, run properly

Single cases build skills. A full 12-case mock builds stamina, timing and the habit of leaving a bad case behind. Here is how to run one alone, with AI, or with two friends, and how to mark it honestly.

12
cases in a full diet
3 min
reading before each case
12 min
per consultation
~3 h
for a full mock

Why a full SCA mock exam matters

Single cases train consulting skills. A full mock trains everything else the SCA tests: staying sharp at case nine, leaving a bad case behind, and fitting a plan into 12 minutes when the clock does not pause. Most candidates know their weak domain from single cases. Far fewer know how they hold up over three hours until they try it.

Aim for at least two full 12-case mocks before your diet: one about four to six weeks out, so there is time to act on it, and one in the last fortnight to rehearse the day.

Copy the real format

  • 12 cases, each with 3 minutes to read the record and 12 minutes to consult. The next case starts when the buzzer goes, ready or not.
  • Mostly video, some telephone. Include at least two or three audio-only cases, and do them with the camera off.
  • Mix the clinical experience groups. A real diet samples across them, so do not build a mock from your favourite topics.
  • Sit where you will sit on the day (usually your practice) with the same headset and lighting, and check the RCGP's current venue and technical rules on the RCGP SCA page.

Three ways to run a 12-case mock

1. The AI mock circuit

The AI Mock Exam Circuit runs AI patients back to back, each with a 3-minute records read and a 12-minute consultation. Choose 3, 6 or 12 cases and a random mix or your weakest groups. Each case is marked as you go, and you get one report card across all three domains at the end. Best when you are practising alone.

2. The self-led circuit

The Mock Exam Circuit serves Hot Seat cases under true timing, with no pause button and no second look. You consult out loud to a study partner or an empty chair, jot grades between cases, then log them in Examiner Marking. No AI involved.

3. A group mock with friends

Three of you, three roles: candidate, patient and examiner. The Live Group Mock gives each person only their own card (brief, script or marking sheet) and keeps a shared 3-minute and 12-minute clock in sync. Run your usual video call alongside it. Rotate roles every four cases.

Printed packs, in person

If you are in the same room, the role-play packs print a patient card and an examiner card for every case. Give each patient a different case so the candidate cannot overhear the next one.

How to mark a mock like an examiner

The RCGP marks each case in three domains (data gathering, clinical management and relating to others) and gives each domain one of four grades: clear pass, pass, fail or clear fail. Examiners judge against the standard of a newly qualified GP using published descriptors, not a tick list. The pass mark is set for each diet. The RCGP explains the detail on its marking and results page.

  1. Grade each domain straight after each case, before the next one starts colouring your memory.
  2. Write one line of evidence for every fail grade, such as “never asked what she thought it was”. Grades without evidence are guesses.
  3. Look for patterns, not bad cases. One poor case is survivable. The same domain failing in four of twelve is a revision plan.
  4. Track mocks over time in Examiner Marking and the circuit report cards, and spend the next fortnight on the weakest domain.
A mock score is not a prediction. AI feedback and peer marking are practice opinions. Neither is an RCGP examiner, and neither can tell you whether you will pass. Use them to find habits to fix.

Start free

Five sample Hot Seat cases, the full SCA Guide and one free run of the AI Patient Simulator are open to everyone, with no card needed. The whole SCA suite (all 359 cases, the AI mock circuit, group mocks and the Resit Clinic) is in the Gold plan.

Try the free Hot Seat casesRead the free SCA GuideSee plans and pricing
Free means free: no card and no countdown. Paid plans can be cancelled or paused at any time.

Frequently asked questions

How long is a full SCA mock exam?
Twelve cases of 3 minutes reading plus 12 minutes consulting comes to 3 hours of exam time. Allow a little more for setup and marking. Shorter 3- or 6-case circuits are useful for weekday practice.
Can I do an SCA mock exam on my own?
Yes. The AI Mock Exam Circuit runs AI patients back to back and marks each case, and the self-led circuit times Hot Seat cases for you to consult out loud and self-mark.
How do I run a group SCA mock with friends online?
One person hosts a case in the Live Group Mock and shares a short code. The others join as patient and examiner. Each sees only their own card, and the clocks run in sync. Use your normal video call alongside.
How is the SCA marked?
Each case is marked in three domains (data gathering, clinical management and relating to others), each with one of four grades. The pass mark is set per diet. See the RCGP marking and results page for the official detail.
How many mock exams should I do before the SCA?
Most candidates benefit from at least two full 12-case mocks: one with four to six weeks to go, and one in the final fortnight. Shorter circuits in between keep the timing familiar.

More SCA guides

SCA casesThe case bank: 300+ SCA practice casesFree SCA casesWhat you can practise without payingAI SCA simulatorHow the AI patient works, and its limitsSCA dates and fees2026–27 diets, fees, booking and deadlinesSCA for IMGsHonest advice for international graduatesSCA resitFailed the SCA? Reading feedback and a 4–8 week planSCA telephone consultationsAudio-only cases: structure, safety-netting, third partiesSCA marking and domainsThe three domains, grades and how the pass mark is setSCA pass ratesWhat the RCGP figures show, and what they do notPaying for SCA preparationExam fee, study budget rules and our plans

gpreasoning.uk is not affiliated with or endorsed by the RCGP. The SCA is run by the Royal College of General Practitioners; for anything official (dates, fees, rules, results) always check the RCGP SCA pages. Our cases are original teaching material written for practice: they are not exam recalls and do not predict what you will meet on the day.