e-UKCG study guide
e-UKCG · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The e-UKCG (UK Clinical Gateway) is an assessment used to gauge whether a doctor trained outside the UK has the clinical knowledge and professional judgement expected of someone entering UK practice. It suits international medical graduates preparing for PLAB or similar routes, and doctors returning to clinical work after a break who want a structured knowledge check before sitting a higher-stakes exam. The e-UKCG study guide has 8 sections and about 2,612 words.
01Clinical knowledge: medicine and surgery
The medicine and surgery domain tests pattern recognition of acute adult presentations, safe initial management and recognition of the deteriorating patient. Questions typically give a short vignette, a set of observations, and ask for the next step or the most likely diagnosis.
353 words, about 2 min02Clinical knowledge: specialties (obstetrics, gynaecology, paediatrics, psychiatry)
Specialties covers obstetrics, gynaecology, paediatrics and psychiatry, testing whether you can spot the time-critical presentation in each and apply UK-specific pathways. Pre-eclampsia: BP 140/90 or more after 20 weeks plus proteinuria or maternal organ dysfunction; give magnesium sulphate for eclampsia or severe disease and plan delivery.
356 words, about 2 min03Clinical knowledge: general practice and primary care
General practice questions test undifferentiated presentations, safety-netting and your ability to work to UK primary care guidance rather than hospital pathways. Consult with a structure: set the agenda, explore ICE (ideas, concerns, expectations), examine, explain in chunks, check understanding, and always safety-net with explicit red flags and when to return.
315 words, about 2 min04Clinical knowledge: emergency medicine and critical care
This domain tests resuscitation priorities, team behaviour and the first ten minutes of a deteriorating patient, plus recognition of who needs critical care. ABCDE with a NEWS2 score, calling for help early.
317 words, about 2 min05Patient safety and safe prescribing
Safe prescribing questions test dose calculation, high-risk drugs, interactions and the systems that prevent harm. Nearly every vignette contains a deliberate prescribing error to spot.
298 words, about 1 min06Communication and consultation skills
This domain treats the consultation as a procedure: structure, shared decision-making, and communication with people who are distressed, angry or have additional needs. Use a recognised structure - Calgary-Cambridge: initiating, gathering information, examination, explanation and planning, closing.
295 words, about 1 min07Professionalism, ethics and law
This domain tests GMC expectations and UK statute applied to realistic dilemmas: consent, capacity, confidentiality, and honesty after harm. Good Medical Practice (2024) has four domains: knowledge, skills and development; patients, partnership and communication; colleagues, culture and safety; trust and professionalism.
366 words, about 2 min08Evidence-based practice, statistics and quality improvement
These questions test whether you can appraise a paper, interpret a diagnostic test, and distinguish audit, research and quality improvement. Study design hierarchy: systematic review and meta-analysis, then RCT, cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, case series.
312 words, about 2 min