The OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) as exam format for clinical-practical skills is judged very differently in the literature with regard to its reliability. With the aim of improving the reliability of the OSCE format, three quality assurance elements have been implemented since the summer semester 2006 at the Medical Faculty of Heidelberg in the field of internal medicine.

This guideline is addressed to lecturers who are entrusted with the planning, implementation and evaluation of internal faculty examinations. The guideline contains quality standards which are, among other things, a prerequisite for objective, reliable, valid – and thus justiciable – examinations. Written in the form of a checklist, the guideline is intended to serve as a practical working instrument for organizing examinations.

Examiners certainly have some influence on the assessment of examinations. Of practical relevance is whether this results in a serious reduction of objectivity and reliability.

Since the introduction of the new medical licensing regulations in 2002, the teaching and review of clinical competences in medical studies is of particular importance. So far, a complete, comprehensive survey on the implementation of new, innovative learning and examination methods at the medical faculties of the Federal Republic of Germany is missing.

Faculty internal exams should reflect the strengthening of the practical relevance of medical education and are part of the final certificate. In order to gain an overview of how the „examination culture“ at the medical faculties developed, a survey was conducted in autumn 2007 at all medical faculties in Germany.