Passing the GSSE

Passing the Generic SSE requires the fulfilment of two criteria:

1. a candidate must reach the minimum required score for each component (Anatomy, Pathology and Physiology) of the examination and
2. a candidate must reach the minimum required overall score (generated by combining the Anatomy, Pathology and Physiology scores) of the examination.

The minimum required scores for each component and overall are reviewed and adjusted to account for differences in exam difficulty and to maintain standards. This may result in slight variations in the minimum required scores per exam.

View the Passing the GSSE diagram (PDF 91.47KB) which explains the requirements to pass the GSSE.

The minimum required score for each component of the exam represents the absolute lowest score that a candidate can reach in a component to be able to pass the exam. If a candidate does not reach the minimum required score for any component (a component failure), they have failed to demonstrate an acceptable level of knowledge in a key component of surgical training and will therefore fail the examination regardless of the overall score achieved.

The weighting of each component is approximately anatomy 50 per cent, pathology 25 per cent, and physiology 25 per cent. The exact percentage of each component varies slightly and depends on review of the examination.

A candidate who meets all three minimum component score requirements, but fails to meet the overall score requirement will fail the examination. However, the candidate will be eligible for a Minimum Standard Pass in a subsequent examination if their overall score is within one error width of the minimum overall score.

A candidate will be elevated to a pass (minimum standard) only if they achieve this result again at a subsequent attempt.