OSCE practice online

What good OSCE practice looks like

Reading is the start, not the practice. Real practice has four parts. You are given a short task. You speak and act as you would on the day. You work to a fixed time. You then look back at what you missed.

• Say your actions aloud, because assessors mark what they can see and hear.
• Keep to the time. Eight to ten minutes passes faster than you expect.
• Repeat the same station after a gap and compare the two attempts.

A practice routine that fits around work

If you work shifts, a short daily pattern is easier to keep than long weekend sessions.

1. Pick one station type, for example an A to E assessment or a medicines check.
2. Do it once with the clock running and no notes.
3. Write down the two things you would change.
4. Do a different station type the next day.
5. Return to the first station at the end of the week.

Practise the right exam

Formats differ, so practise against the one you will sit. Fixed station lengths run from 7 minutes for the Canadian pharmacist OSCE to about 13 minutes for the Ontario nurse OSCE. You can compare them on what is OSCE, and browse the full list on our stations page.

Practice with a partner is also useful for hands-on skills. An AI patient cannot watch your hands, so use a colleague or a skills lab for technique. We explain this on OSCE AI.

Common questions

Where can I do OSCE practice online?

You can practise online with an AI patient on this site, and one station is free with no sign-up. Other options include practice partners, a skills lab and your school or employer's mock sessions.

How many stations should I practise a day?

One or two, done properly against the clock, is better than many rushed ones. Review each attempt before you start the next.

Can I practise hands-on skills online?

You can rehearse the talking, the checks and the order of steps online. Hands-on technique needs a person or a manikin to watch it.