Internal Assessment in New MBBS Curriculum: Methods and Logistics

Assessment is a pivotal element of competency-based curriculum. The implementation of competency-based undergraduate medical curriculum in India requires proper implementation of updates in assessment for which universities, colleges, and teachers need to plan and design internal assessment (IA) modules as well as guidelines. IA provides opportunity to assess many competencies and hence should be implemented judiciously. Multiple assessment methods should be used to improve utility of IA. The process should involve all the teachers of a subject and all competencies. Capacity building trainings should be organized by institutes in basic concepts of assessment as well as training in methods such as the objective structured clinical/practical examination, direct observation of procedural skills, and mini-clinical evaluation exercises. The culture of providing regular feedback needs to be instilled at institute levels. The learners who are not able to achieve competencies and required criteria in university examination should be provided predecided remedial measures for improving their performance. The article discusses all these aspects in detail.