Assessment & Evaluation

The most important assessment of the student is the ongoing, continuous observation carried out daily by the Preceptor(s) and the associated constructive, objective feedback, given to the student. 

Clinical Calendar

Due to Covid19 the classes of 2021 & 2022 curriculum has been adjusted from the 4+4 curriculum to a 6 week structure. 

This tool has been developed to assist students and preceptors with planning the rotation, to document clinical time and ensure that expectations are met. Students are expected to work full time. If you are a preceptor that does not work full time then it is OK, and even beneficial, if a student spends some time with other family doctors or extended health team in your clinic as available.


Mid-Point Review Meeting: Mid-point ITER and Logbook Review

A formative assessment takes place at the midpoint of the rotation, where the student and preceptor discuss how the student is progressing and how the rotation is going. This should be a scheduled, "protected-time" meeting of about 20-30 minutes.

For the class of 2021, the family medicine rotation will be a total of 6 weeks. This 6 weeks will be split into blocks of 2-weeks and 4-weeks; 2 or 4 weeks RURAL, and 2 or 4 weeks URBAN.

2-week block - An ITER will be completed at the end of this block

4-week block - A MITER will be completed at the end of week 2 An ITER will be completed at the end of week 4

When completing your clinical calendar during the first few days, also set up a time with your preceptor to review your progress. If it is the 2-week block, please plan on reviewing progress at the end of the first week.

Prior to this meeting, the preceptor will complete a formative mid-point in-training evaluation report (ITER) (online system ONE45), so that it can be reviewed with the student. At this meeting, the logbook, as completed up to that point by the student, must be used to identify any deficiencies in the type of clinical presentations the student has seen. Completion of the mid-point ITER, showing evidence of this being discussed and confirming logbook completion are required elements of the student's Learning Portfolio for this rotation. If any elements are missing from a student's portfolio, this may result in the student being awarded a 'Performance Deficiency" for this rotation. Questions for student to consider prior to the Mid-Point Review:

  • Is your Log book up to date?
  • Are your preceptors: Giving you timely constructive feedback? Providing a sense of what it is like to be a family physician?
  • Are you keeping up with reading around cases?
  • What is your schedule like?
  • Are the staff and other preceptors involving you in the clinic?
  • Are there additional learning experiences to initiate in the remaining three weeks?
  • What strengths or weaknesses could your preceptor comment on in witnessing your performance in the remaining three weeks?

End-of-block Review Meeting: Final ITER and Logbook Review

At the end of the rotation, the preceptor and student will meet again for a 20-30 minute protected-time, session to review the student's performance, during the block overall. The completed Logbook will be reviewed, at this meeting, along with the student's Clinical Calendar.The preceptor will complete an end-of-block ITER (online system ONE45) and review this with the student. This end of block ITER must be submitted to the UME office, within 2 weeks of completing the rotation. Usually, the lead preceptor, using the on-line "one45" system, will submit this. A reminder about the need to complete this final ITER will be sent to the student's lead preceptor a few days before the end of each rotation. Where more than one preceptor is involved in the student's teaching and learning, the named lead preceptor will coordinate the overall assessment of the student and be responsible for the submission of the ITER. This final assessment/ITER is a "must pass" component of the Clerkship.Confirmation that the logbook has been completed and reviewed at the end of the rotation is a required element of the student's Learning Portfolio. Completion of the logbook, by the end of the 6 weeks is a PASS/FAIL component of the rotation.


Formative MCQ Exam

The student is to complete an on-line, "open-book", Formative MCQ exam before the end of the 2nd week of the 4-week block. This will be made available, via the link in the Core Doc, and will remain available ONLY until 4:00pm on the Friday of week 2 during the FM 4-week block. This can be accessed any time prior to this and the student's mark on this exam is not used in the overall assessment for this block. The student may sit the exam multiple times.This is a learning opportunity designed to help the student identify knowledge gaps in relation to the objectives of the rotation. Performance in this examination can be used as a discussion point with the student's preceptor, at the mid-point review, or at any other time. 

Final MCQ Exam

There will be a written Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) exam, on the final day of the rotation that incorporates the 26 clinical presentations within the context of Family Medicine. This is a "must pass" requirement of the rotation. A student that does not meet the MPL will be required to rewrite the examination and if the grade is 3% below the MPL the Family Medicine Clerkship Committee will make a recommendation about any remedial learning that may be required for that student.The Department of Family Medicine may, from time to time, delete or add questions to the summative MCQ examination. No more than 5% of items will be so altered. The exam Blueprint will be available on Osler, under Family Medicine Clerkship, along with the core doc.A student who misses 10% or more of a rotation will not be eligible to write the summative MCQ exam until this time is made up, regardless of the reason(s) for the absence. If absence is anticipated (e.g. conference or CaRMS leave), a "Time Away Request" form must be completed and submitted.

FM Project

The student must prepare project on either an Individual or Community Health Challenge. The student must present this project to their preceptor, and where possible, additional clinic physicians, staff and other health care professionals, before completion of the rotation. The preceptor will complete the marking Family Medicine Project ASSESSMENT form for the project for students to submit (40% of their Project mark). Students are encouraged to present to their preceptors PRIOR to presenting at the Week 4 Academic Day, in order to get feedback and make any needed revisions.The student must also present the project on the Week 4 Academic Day to a group of fellow students, and 2 examiners. The final project will be a weighted combination of the student's Community Preceptor mark (40%); and the Faculty Assessor's mark (40%) and Colleague Assessors (20%). This is a "must pass" component of the clerkship and is also a required element of the Learning Portfolio.The presentation must be submitted in electronic format by sending to the Family Medicine Co-ordinator (famclerk@ucalgary.ca) by the Thursday prior to presenting on the Week 4 Academic Day. A prize will be awarded for the best student projects each year. Requests to defer evaluation of the Project presentation must be submitted through UME, using the "Deferred Final Examinations" form. This type of request may be granted, as for exam deferrals, only in the event of:

  1. Illness
  2. Domestic Affliction
  3. Religious Conviction