The Fachsprachprüfung (FSP) is an exam that all foreign doctors must pass in order to work in Germany. Despite its importance, many face difficulties, and the failure rate is quite high — approximately 40%.
So, what are the factors, causes, and mistakes that lead to failures on the FSP, and what can be done to pass the exam successfully? Let's break it down below👇
1. Insufficient Knowledge of German
One of the main reasons for failure is insufficient knowledge of the German language. Even if your German level is at B2, this may not be enough to successfully pass the exam.
Common mistakes include grammatical errors, particularly when using Präteritum (Past tense), Konjunktiv 1, and Konjunktiv 2 (Conditional forms).
Another error is not having a good command of conversational German. Your German must be at a level where you can express your thoughts clearly and without hesitation. The FSP requires not only basic language skills but also the ability to confidently discuss medical topics.
2. Lack of Knowledge in Medical Topics
Although the exam doesn't test medical qualifications, it's important to be prepared to discuss a wide range of medical topics, not just the ones most commonly featured on the exam. Some candidates limit their preparation to specific topics, which can be problematic if the examiner asks an unexpected question.
To avoid potential issues, it's important to read medical literature in German. This way, you'll have a broad knowledge base, even if you specialize in a narrow field.
3. Common Mistakes on the FSP Exam
The FSP consists of 3 parts, each lasting 20 minutes. Let's go through the most common mistakes in each part of the exam.
Part 1: Patient Interaction and Medical History Gathering
Common mistakes include:
Incorrect passport details (name, surname, date of birth) — it may seem trivial, but inaccuracies in this part are considered serious errors and will cost you points.
Grammatical and lexical errors. As mentioned earlier, your conversational and medical German needs to be at a high level.
Using Latin medical terminology when speaking to the patient. This can lower your score since the actor "doesn't know" these words and will ask for clarification each time.
Asking the patient the same question twice about something they’ve already mentioned. This can result in lost points.
Not paying attention to what the patient says. Missing key information can distort the clinical picture, which may lead to an inaccurate report to the examiners, reflecting poorly on your clinical reasoning skills.
Part 2: Completing a Medical Form
Common mistakes include lexical and grammatical errors. It's important to use the correct medical terminology and conditional forms when reporting what the patient has said.
Part 3: Doctor-Doctor Dialogue
One error here stems from mistakes made in Part 1. Specifically, imagining or adding missing information is a big mistake. When preparing a report about the medical history in FSP, it's crucial to only include information provided by the patient. Speculating or making things up that the patient didn’t mention is a grave error, which can lead to doubts about your competence and understanding of the German language.
4. Stress and Nervousness
Stress, especially in a foreign country, can have a significant impact on your performance. Nervousness can prevent you from remembering important terms or answering questions correctly, often leading to failure.
To minimize the effects of stress, it’s recommended to simulate key elements of the FSP during preparation, such as gathering medical history, writing medical letters under time pressure, and presenting the collected information using the correct medical terminology.
5. Memorizing Materials with Mistakes
Another mistake can be memorizing errors from others. Many FSP protocols are available online, but in addition to useful information, you may also learn many grammatical (and other) errors. If you're just starting your preparation, it might be hard to spot these mistakes.
We recommend being very cautious with online FSP materials. It’s advisable to consult a teacher to verify the correctness of the information.
6. Questionable Educational Materials
There are many courses and materials available for FSP preparation, but not all of them will truly help you pass the exam on the first try.
What should you avoid?
Courses that don't have any doctors as instructors. Unfortunately, such courses won’t be effective because they won’t focus on the specific medical aspects that are present in the exam.
When choosing a course or instructor, we recommend looking for one with real medical experience in Germany. Such experts can help you develop skills in conditions closely related to actual work, pinpoint weaknesses, and adapt your preparation to the real exam conditions.
To successfully pass the FSP, it’s necessary to consider multiple factors, from your German language skills and medical knowledge to managing your emotions and practical preparation. By adopting a comprehensive approach, you’ll significantly improve your chances of passing the exam and starting your medical career in Germany.