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Dr Shaun Tan, FRACGP, MD, BMSC
Medical Examiner | Associate Lecturer
Scored 90% on the AKT & Top 15th percentile in the KFP
Your communication skills for the RACGP CCE play a critical role, accounting for around 21 percent of the assessed criteria in the RACGP Clinical Competency Exam (CCE) [1]. No matter how strong your clinical knowledge is, without clear, compassionate, and structured communication, your expertise may go unnoticed by examiners.
Clear communication not only demonstrates clinical safety and patient centred care, but it also actively improves patient outcomes, reduces risks, and significantly decreases medicolegal issues [2]. For more strategies that translate into stronger exam performance, see our comprehensive AKT timing guide.
In this guide, we will cover exactly how to enhance your communication skills by:
Clearly opening consultations and identifying patient agendas.
Explaining diagnoses in plain English.
Mastering shared decision making.
Providing effective safety netting instructions.
Approaching sensitive discussions respectfully, particularly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) patients.
Opening the Consultation and Identifying the Agenda
An effective consultation opening sets the tone for everything that follows. Allowing your patient to initially speak without interruption builds immediate trust. Research shows that patients typically complete their opening statements in under 2 minutes if uninterrupted, and notably, allowing this initial uninterrupted patient talk does not significantly prolong the overall consultation time [3].
Consider the following structured approach:
Start by warmly greeting the patient and clearly introducing yourself.
Ask a clear, open ended question to allow patients to express their main concerns, for example: “What is your main worry today”
Listen actively, offering non verbal cues like nodding, to encourage openness.
Identify and acknowledge emotional responses to show genuine empathy.
Clearly summarise the patient’s expressed concerns back to them, confirming you understand their agenda.
Practising this consistently helps you manage time effectively, prevents the late emergence of critical issues during consultations, and clearly demonstrates structured patient centred care to RACGP examiners [1]. If you want applied practice, practise agenda setting with our free KFP case pack.
Explaining Diagnoses in Plain English
Clearly explaining a diagnosis significantly influences patient adherence, satisfaction, and outcomes. Unfortunately, around 60 percent of Australian adults have low health literacy [4]. Additionally, patients typically forget approximately 40 percent to 80 percent of medical information immediately after their consultations [5].
To explain medical conditions clearly in plain English, try these approaches:
Use familiar everyday language instead of medical jargon: say “high blood pressure” instead of “hypertension.”
Employ relatable analogies to simplify complex concepts: compare arteries to pipes or inflammation to swelling from an injury.
Break down complex explanations into smaller, easily digestible points.
Regularly check understanding by using teach back methods, asking the patient to repeat explanations.
Adjust explanations according to patient education, culture, and language background.
Clearly explaining diagnoses not only supports patient understanding but demonstrates excellent communication skills clearly scored by RACGP CCE examiners [1][2].
Safety Netting Phrases That Markers Like
Safety netting clearly instructs patients about exactly when and how to seek further help if their condition changes or worsens. Effective safety netting is explicitly assessed during your RACGP Clinical Competency Exam, as it directly demonstrates clinical safety [1].
Clearly deliver safety netting by including:
Specific red flag symptoms indicating when to seek immediate help.
Clear instructions if the condition does not improve as expected.
Explicit timelines for follow up consultations.
An invitation for final questions to confirm patient understanding.
Examples of clear safety netting phrases include:
“If your symptoms worsen or do not improve within 48 hours, please contact us immediately.”
“If new symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath appear, go directly to emergency.”
“We will schedule a follow up in 1 week to ensure you are improving.”
Clearly providing this type of information reassures examiners and patients that patient safety remains your priority [1][2].
FAQ Section: Communication Skills for the RACGP CCE
1. Why are communication skills important for the RACGP CCE?
Communication skills directly constitute around 21 percent of assessed criteria in the RACGP Clinical Competency Exam, impacting patient safety, clinical effectiveness, and satisfaction [1].
2. How should I open a GP consultation effectively?
Begin by clearly introducing yourself, ask an open ended question to understand patient concerns, actively listen without interruptions, and summarise the patient’s agenda. Allowing patients to initially speak uninterrupted typically takes under 2 minutes and does not prolong consultation significantly [3].
3. What does explaining diagnoses in plain English involve?
It means clearly using everyday language, checking understanding regularly, and avoiding medical jargon. Around 60 percent of Australians have low health literacy, and patients forget approximately 40 percent to 80 percent of medical information immediately after consultations [4][5].
4. What are safety netting phrases, and why do examiners value them?
Safety netting provides clear instructions about managing unexpected changes or worsening symptoms, explicitly protecting patient safety. This is clearly assessed by RACGP examiners during the Clinical Competency Exam [1].
5. How should sensitive topics and ATSI health be approached?
Clearly approach these conversations with explicit patient permission, culturally safe language, genuine empathy, and sensitivity. RACGP explicitly expects culturally competent practice when consulting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients [6].
Phrasing for Sensitive Topics and ATSI Health
Sensitive topics and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health conversations require special care. Demonstrating emotional intelligence, cultural sensitivity, and genuine empathy directly aligns with RACGP guidance on culturally safe practice [6].
Clearly approach sensitive conversations and ATSI health by:
Explicitly acknowledging the sensitivity of the discussion and seeking patient permission before proceeding.
Using culturally safe language without assumptions or judgment.
Normalising sensitive topics, if appropriate, to reduce patient discomfort or embarrassment.
Clearly indicating openness to cultural or community specific considerations.
For example:
Sensitive topics: “This next issue can feel quite personal, so please tell me if you are uncomfortable.”
ATSI health: “Are there any community or cultural considerations I should be aware of to support you properly”
Clearly demonstrating this culturally safe, empathetic approach is explicitly expected by RACGP examiners during your Clinical Competency Exam (CCE) [6].
Shared Decision Making and Discussing Options
Shared decision making means actively involving patients in choosing treatments or management approaches, improving adherence, satisfaction, and health outcomes [2]. Effective shared decision making in the RACGP Clinical Competency Exam requires clear, balanced, patient centred discussions [1][2].
To implement shared decision making clearly:
Present all viable management options in straightforward language.
Outline the pros, cons, and potential outcomes of each option clearly and neutrally.
Actively seek the patient’s personal preferences and concerns about each option.
Ensure mutual agreement by clearly summarising the agreed upon management plan.
For example, if a patient is hesitant about medication, you might clearly say: “There are a few different ways we can manage this, including medications or lifestyle changes. Given your preferences, which approach feels best for you” This structure reflects patient centred care and aligns with RACGP expectations in the CCE [1][2].
Clearly refining your communication skills for the RACGP Clinical Competency Exam significantly improves exam performance, patient outcomes, and clinical satisfaction. Effective communication involves clearly opening consultations, using plain English, employing shared decision making, providing explicit safety netting, and demonstrating culturally safe practice [1][2].
If preparing for your RACGP exams feels overwhelming, Fellow Academy offers high quality AKT and KFP questions, concise exam notes, evidence based flashcards, webinars, and practical resources tailored specifically to RACGP exam success.
Disclaimer: This content is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. The strategies shared are intended as general guidance only and should not be taken as official RACGP advice.
Disclaimer: This content is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. The strategies shared are intended as general guidance only and should not be taken as official RACGP advice.
References
[1] Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. (2025). 2025.1 Clinical Competency Exam, public exam report. East Melbourne, VIC: RACGP. https://www.racgp.org.au/getmedia/f4fc7ea1-ba17-4eae-86ea-d4369d22e5aa/2025-1-CCE-Public-Exam-Report.pdf.aspx
[2] Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. (2025). Public exam report 2025.1 Clinical Competency Exam, communication and consultation skills commentary. East Melbourne, VIC: RACGP. https://www.racgp.org.au/getmedia/f4fc7ea1-ba17-4eae-86ea-d4369d22e5aa/2025-1-CCE-Public-Exam-Report.pdf.aspx
[3] Kreijkamp Kaspers, S., and Glasziou, P. (2012). A is for aphorism, the power of silence. Australian Family Physician, 41(11), 909–910. https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2012/november/a-is-for-aphorism
[4] Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. (2020). Health literacy, taking action to improve safety and quality. Sydney, NSW: ACSQHC. https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/migrated/Health-Literacy-Taking-action-to-improve-safety-and-quality.pdf
[5] Kessels, R. P. C. (2003). Patients’ memory for medical information. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 96(5), 219–222. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC539473/
[6] Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. (2023). RACGP curriculum and syllabus for Australian general practice, 6th ed. East Melbourne, VIC: RACGP. https://www.racgp.org.au/education/education-providers/curriculum/curriculum-and-syllabus/home
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Dr Shaun Tan, FRACGP, MD, BMSC
Medical Examiner | Associate Lecturer
Scored 90% on the AKT & Top 15th percentile in the KFP
Summary
Your communication skills for the RACGP CCE play a critical role, accounting for around 21 percent of the assessed criteria in the RACGP Clinical Competency Exam (CCE) [1]. No matter how strong your clinical knowledge is, without clear, compassionate, and structured communication, your expertise may go unnoticed by examiners.
Clear communication not only demonstrates clinical safety and patient centred care, but it also actively improves patient outcomes, reduces risks, and significantly decreases medicolegal issues [2]. For more strategies that translate into stronger exam performance, see our comprehensive AKT timing guide.
In this guide, we will cover exactly how to enhance your communication skills by:
Clearly opening consultations and identifying patient agendas.
Explaining diagnoses in plain English.
Mastering shared decision making.
Providing effective safety netting instructions.
Approaching sensitive discussions respectfully, particularly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) patients.
Opening the Consultation and Identifying the Agenda
An effective consultation opening sets the tone for everything that follows. Allowing your patient to initially speak without interruption builds immediate trust. Research shows that patients typically complete their opening statements in under 2 minutes if uninterrupted, and notably, allowing this initial uninterrupted patient talk does not significantly prolong the overall consultation time [3].
Consider the following structured approach:
Start by warmly greeting the patient and clearly introducing yourself.
Ask a clear, open ended question to allow patients to express their main concerns, for example: “What is your main worry today”
Listen actively, offering non verbal cues like nodding, to encourage openness.
Identify and acknowledge emotional responses to show genuine empathy.
Clearly summarise the patient’s expressed concerns back to them, confirming you understand their agenda.
Practising this consistently helps you manage time effectively, prevents the late emergence of critical issues during consultations, and clearly demonstrates structured patient centred care to RACGP examiners [1]. If you want applied practice, practise agenda setting with our free KFP case pack.
Explaining Diagnoses in Plain English
Clearly explaining a diagnosis significantly influences patient adherence, satisfaction, and outcomes. Unfortunately, around 60 percent of Australian adults have low health literacy [4]. Additionally, patients typically forget approximately 40 percent to 80 percent of medical information immediately after their consultations [5].
To explain medical conditions clearly in plain English, try these approaches:
Use familiar everyday language instead of medical jargon: say “high blood pressure” instead of “hypertension.”
Employ relatable analogies to simplify complex concepts: compare arteries to pipes or inflammation to swelling from an injury.
Break down complex explanations into smaller, easily digestible points.
Regularly check understanding by using teach back methods, asking the patient to repeat explanations.
Adjust explanations according to patient education, culture, and language background.
Clearly explaining diagnoses not only supports patient understanding but demonstrates excellent communication skills clearly scored by RACGP CCE examiners [1][2].
Safety Netting Phrases That Markers Like
Safety netting clearly instructs patients about exactly when and how to seek further help if their condition changes or worsens. Effective safety netting is explicitly assessed during your RACGP Clinical Competency Exam, as it directly demonstrates clinical safety [1].
Clearly deliver safety netting by including:
Specific red flag symptoms indicating when to seek immediate help.
Clear instructions if the condition does not improve as expected.
Explicit timelines for follow up consultations.
An invitation for final questions to confirm patient understanding.
Examples of clear safety netting phrases include:
“If your symptoms worsen or do not improve within 48 hours, please contact us immediately.”
“If new symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath appear, go directly to emergency.”
“We will schedule a follow up in 1 week to ensure you are improving.”
Clearly providing this type of information reassures examiners and patients that patient safety remains your priority [1][2].
Tools That Make Active Recall Easy
Digital tools simplify the process of integrating active recall and spaced repetition into your RACGP exam preparation.
-
Brainscape: Uses adaptive algorithms to determine when you should review each flashcard based on your confidence level.
-
Anki: Allows custom deck creation for topics like PBS rules or emergency management.
-
Quizlet: Offers collaborative decks for study groups.
Using these tools allows you to:
-
Review flashcards during commutes or between patients.
-
Automatically revisit topics you’re struggling with.
-
Track progress and identify weak areas.
These platforms bring structure to your study plan, ensuring regular reinforcement and better recall.
(For time management strategies, see our AKT Study Planner.)
How to Combine These Methods for Peak Performance
When you combine active recall with spaced repetition, the results are exponential. This combination, known as “spaced retrieval practice”, creates a continuous cycle of learning, forgetting, and relearning that strengthens memory.
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Start early (at least 6–12 months before your exam).
-
Create flashcards for each guideline or high-yield topic.
-
Use Brainscape or Anki daily to review material in spaced cycles.
-
Schedule mock exams every 3–4 weeks to test your applied knowledge.
Research indicates spaced repetition can significantly increase long-term retention, with spaced learners achieving approximately 58% accuracy compared to 43% among traditional learners (p<0.001) [4].
By six months into this method, most candidates report not only improved recall but also better confidence under pressure. You’re no longer scrambling to remember—you’re retrieving information automatically.
FAQ Section: Communication Skills for the RACGP CCE
1. Why are communication skills important for the RACGP CCE?
Communication skills directly constitute around 21 percent of assessed criteria in the RACGP Clinical Competency Exam, impacting patient safety, clinical effectiveness, and satisfaction [1].
2. How should I open a GP consultation effectively?
Begin by clearly introducing yourself, ask an open ended question to understand patient concerns, actively listen without interruptions, and summarise the patient’s agenda. Allowing patients to initially speak uninterrupted typically takes under 2 minutes and does not prolong consultation significantly [3].
3. What does explaining diagnoses in plain English involve?
It means clearly using everyday language, checking understanding regularly, and avoiding medical jargon. Around 60 percent of Australians have low health literacy, and patients forget approximately 40 percent to 80 percent of medical information immediately after consultations [4][5].
4. What are safety netting phrases, and why do examiners value them?
Safety netting provides clear instructions about managing unexpected changes or worsening symptoms, explicitly protecting patient safety. This is clearly assessed by RACGP examiners during the Clinical Competency Exam [1].
5. How should sensitive topics and ATSI health be approached?
Clearly approach these conversations with explicit patient permission, culturally safe language, genuine empathy, and sensitivity. RACGP explicitly expects culturally competent practice when consulting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients [6].
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by RACGP exam preparation, Fellow Academy offers high quality AKT and KFP questions, exam notes in concise and comprehensive format, and high yield, evidence based flashcards designed to help you study smarter and perform with confidence. You’ll also find free KFP case packs, webinars, and practical study resources to guide you every step of the way.
Disclaimer: This content is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). The strategies and approaches shared are based on personal experience and the experiences of other GP candidates who successfully passed their exams. They are intended as general study guidance only and should not be taken as official RACGP advice.
References
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GP Supervisors Australia. (2025). Study Skills Guide for GP Registrars: Studying Smarter, Not Harder. GPSA.
-
Carpenter, S. K., Pan, S. C., & Butler, A. C. (2022). The science of effective learning with spacing and retrieval practice. Nature Reviews Psychology, 1(10), 496–511.
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Durrani, S. F., Yousuf, N., Ali, R., et al. (2024). Effectiveness of spaced repetition for clinical problem solving amongst undergraduate medical students studying paediatrics in Pakistan. BMC Medical Education, 24(1), 676.
-
Price, D. W., Wang, T., O’Neill, T. R., et al. (2025). The effect of spaced repetition on learning and knowledge transfer in a large cohort of practising physicians. Academic Medicine, 100(1), 94–102.
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