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Have you ever wondered what people really mean when they talk about “communication skills” in the AMC Clinical Exam?
Today, I’m going to show you six of the most common communication mistakes that happen in the AMC Clinical Examination — and how you can avoid them.
These mistakes don’t come from ignorance. They happen even to experienced doctors when the pressure is on. I’ve seen them, I’ve made them, and I’ve coached candidates through them.
Let’s get clear so you don’t have to learn the hard way.
You’re not just being assessed on what you say.
You’re being assessed on how you say it — and who you’re saying it to.
The AMC Clinical Exam isn’t a theory test. It’s a patient-centered communication exam wrapped inside a clinical case.
The way you talk to a patient or examiner is the exam.
Have you ever seen or heard a recall where a frustrated clinical candidate says, “I did all the right things. I gave the exact diagnosis and differentials” — and yet they still failed that station?
They fail because:
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Their words don’t land where they should
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Their tone misses empathy
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They’re saying too much… or too little… to the wrong audience
In the heat of the moment, small habits cost big marks.
Good communication is simple, clear, empathetic — and intentional.
The 6 Common Communication Mistakes
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Using medical jargon with patients
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Speaking to the examiner instead of the patient
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Using lay terms with the examiner
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Talking too much, not checking understanding
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Failing to address emotional cues or concerns
- Giving false reassurance or avoiding difficult topics
Let's unpack each one.
1. Using Medical Jargon with Patients
This is the classic mistake.
Almost every candidate I’ve met knows they shouldn’t use technical terms — but under pressure, anxiety pushes them back into automatic, clinical language.
Example:
❌ Doctor says: “Your ECG shows ischemic changes in this area (pointing at the anterolateral leads). This is called a heart attack.”
✅ Better: “Your heart tracing shows some changes that suggest reduced blood flow to your heart muscle.”
“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
— George Bernard Shaw
Your job isn’t just to say the words — it’s to make sure they land.
2. Speaking to the Examiner Instead of the Patient
This happens more often than candidates expect.
They answer as if it’s an oral viva, instead of a consultation. They pivot to the examiner when they should be facing the patient.
Example:
❌ Turning to examiner: “I’d order cardiac enzymes and a chest X-ray.”
Better:
✅ Facing patient: “We’ll do some blood tests and a chest scan to check your heart and lungs.”
Remember: the examiner wants to see your communication with the patient.
3. Using Lay Terms with the Examiner
Here’s a subtle one: after using lay terms with the patient, candidates stay in lay language when switching to the examiner.
Example:
❌Examiner asks: “What’s your differential?”
Candidate answers: “Well, I think it’s a blocked artery.”
✅ Better:
“My top differential is an acute myocardial infarction.”
Don’t dilute your clinical clarity. Switch back to professional terminology when speaking to the examiner.
4. Talking Too Much, Not Checking Understanding
Candidates sometimes flood the patient with information, forgetting to pause or check if the patient is following.
Example:
❌Doctor talks non-stop for 4 minutes about diabetes management.
✅Better:
“So far, does that make sense? Do you have any questions before I continue?”
Break the conversation into digestible steps. Communication is two-way, not a lecture.
5. Failing to Address Emotional Cues or Concerns
This is a silent mark-loser.
The patient shows distress, sadness, or fear — and the candidate skips over it, staying 'super' task-focused.
Example:
Patient: “I’m really scared this could be cancer.”
❌ Doctor: “Okay, we’ll arrange some tests.”
✅Better:
“I can see this is really worrying you. I want you to know we’ll go step by step and I’ll explain everything along the way.”
“Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself.”
— Mohsin Hamid
Acknowledging emotions is part of clinical competence.
6. Giving False Reassurance or Avoiding Difficult Topics
Trying to “make the patient feel better” by minimizing concerns, avoiding bad news, or offering false hope is a critical error.
Example:
Patient: “Is this cancer?”
❌ Doctor: “Amy, let’s not worry about that now.”
✅Better:
“That’s a very valid concern. Right now, we’re still waiting for test results. Once we have more information, we’ll discuss the next steps together.”
Avoiding hard conversations doesn’t protect the patient — it weakens trust.
“We are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more from imagination than from reality.”
— Seneca
Every candidate knows communication matters.
But not every candidate practices how it matters.
Each of these six mistakes is small in isolation.
But under exam conditions, they add up.
Avoiding them takes conscious practice.
Role playing isn’t optional — it’s the training ground where you learn to speak, pause, listen, connect.
That’s all for now. I’ll see you in the next fortnight.
