Quick observations on the exam (Part 1/CICE) - by a successful overseas candidate

2023 Spring exam experience:

I have recently sat for this exam this Spring. My account is like this.

I think everyone has different strengths and weaknesses and different learning styles so adapt it accordingly. For Part 1, we need to know bits and bobs about a lot of things. And there was not a time, at least in my case, when I felt I was ready. I just went for it.

If you have 1 year, I would highly suggest skimming through the Oxford Handbook of Microbiology. It does help, and then do MCQs of Bia learn infection and Orange Book. And when doing MCQ, understand why each option is wrong and why one is right.

Then you need to go through a lot of guidelines. For part 1, I think these are a must.

• There are a lot of MCQs that test understanding of HIV, so BHIVA guidelines are a must.
• Rash in pregnancy UKHSA,
• HSV in pregnancy,
• Hep A, Hep E public health-related response. What to do if positive etc.
• Hep B treatment guidelines, drugs, its perinatal management and pregnancy and hep B. Hep C, treatment with respect to each genotype.
• CMV in pregnancy,
• IP-related guidelines for blood and urine spills.
• Healthcare personnel living with Hep B, HCV and HIV, how to monitor them.
• Malaria, rabies guidelines.
• Skim through Greenbook and at least know each vaccine's indication type and doses.
• Endocarditis BSAC and European guideline,
• typhus, tick-borne diseases.
• VZV in pregnancy.
• Antimicrobials mechanism of action and resistance-conferring gene, easy topic and high yield.
• Culture plates and how different bacterial colonies would look on those.
• Selective and differential media as well.
• If possible, do go through uk smi on biochemical tests for bacterial identification.
• Westgard rules.

Also it is important to make notes all the way through for the points that you tend to forget so that you can just revise those at the end, near the exam. Be systemic and organised. And good luck.

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