All EULAR exams are subject to standard quality assurance procedures to ensure fairness. A panel of rheumatology and medical education experts oversees every stage of the process, including question development, performance evaluation, pass/fail scoring, and continuous improvement.
Topic outline
- What quality assurance processes are used in EULAR Online Courses exams?
- How are exam questions of EULAR Online Courses developed?
All questions follow strict guidelines and templates. They are created by subject matter experts and are reviewed by course convenors to ensure full syllabus coverage. A secure exam bank stores monitored questions to prevent overuse.
A panel of rheumatology and medical education experts selects and reviews questions for each exam. They ensure a balanced mix of questions, aligning with the expected knowledge level of trainee rheumatologists or sub-specialists.
- What happens at an exam board meeting?
A formal exam board, chaired by a Medical Educationalist, is conducted for every exam of the EULAR Online Courses. The board includes Course Convenors, the Scientific Organiser, the Educational Chair, and EULAR administrators. They analyse the performance of every question using statistical data.
Key aspects of the review include:
- Overall exam reliability – Analysing the consistency of results.
- Individual question performance – Identifying questions that may be too easy, too difficult, or flawed.
- Fair scoring adjustments– Removing flawed questions and ensuring candidates are not penalized due to ambiguous wording.
The passing mark is determined using methods like Hofstee, Ebel, and modified Angoff. Results are documented, and improvements for future exams are noted.
- Can I receive detailed feedback on the questions I answered incorrectly?
We cannot provide detailed feedback on individual questions to maintain the confidentiality of the exam bank. Candidates who fail should review the self-assessment questions, identify challenging modules, and focus on those areas for future preparation.
- Can I challenge my exam result?
Candidates cannot challenge their individual results, only the correctness of the exam process. EULAR exams maintain high standards to ensure the credibility of certification. While up to one-third of candidates may not meet the required standard, there is no set pass quota—100% of candidates can pass if they demonstrate sufficient knowledge.
- What should I do if I failed by one or two marks?
We strongly encourage you to take the next scheduled exam, to demonstrate your expertise in your field.