[RESIDENCY EXAMINATIONS - THE ACTIVITY OF THE HIGHER EXAMINATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL FOR THE TRAINING OF THE NEXT GENERATION ISRAELI PHYSICIANS].

Examinations are an integral part of the process of medical specialization in the State of Israel and a resident cannot receive an expert degree without passing the exams. The Scientific Council is the body responsible for the physician's training process, and the Higher Examinations Committee for the exams. Professional examinations committees are subject to the professional guidance by the Higher Examinations Committee. The residency exams are performed in two phases: Stage A (written examination) and Stage B (oral examination). Changes in Stage A exams, Stage B exams, and in the process of appeals to the exam results, are conducted after thorough thinking and testing procedures and under the guidance of professionals. During the course of the current Higher Examinations Committee, a number of significant changes were made in Stage A exams, including: 1. Reducing the number of questions in the surgical fields exams; 2. Consolidating the two parts of the exam in General Surgery, Urology, Vascular Surgery, Plastic Surgery, and Pediatric Surgery. 3. Exposing the questions and answers after the examination and altering the appeals process. There have also been changes in some specialties in Stage B exams according to the following rules: 1. Aspiration for multi-test stations; 2. Two examiners in each station; 3. Structured and unified content on all exam stations; 4. Structured evaluation forms; 5. Filling out the evaluation form by the examiners without consulting between them; 6. Automatic calculation of scores based on the percentage of accumulated points that the examinees accumulated from the maximum possible points; 7. An upfront decision on the passing score. The Higher Examinations Committee of the Scientific Council works, and will act constantly, for the construction of professional, fair, reliable and valid residency examinations.