Overarching assessment

The overarching assessment (OA) is conducted remotely via video call and will last up to two hours. An assessor will use case scenarios, images, field plots and questions to assess your competence in 13 overarching elements of competence.

You and your supervisor will be emailed the outcome of your assessment and will be able to view the results in your My College area within one week of completing both the DO and OA sections of Stage Two.

Preparing for the overarching assessment

The OA assessment probes your knowledge and understanding of optometry and how you can apply that to a given clinical situation. 

Case scenarios are used as a springboard for discussion during the assessment. The assessor will also use images, field plots, clinical examples and questions. 

Preparation tips:

  • Review the stage one competencies. Which areas are you confident in? Which topics still feel difficult? 
  • Use reliable sources to revise from. Check your knowledge with active recall.
  • Can you apply your theoretical knowledge to a clinical situation? For example, if you look at a visual field loss can you identify where the lesion is on the visual pathway?
  • Practise talking out loud about what you have learned- even if it is to yourself!
  • Ask your supervisor or other optometrists to ‘put you on the spot’ with questions, possibly online to simulate the assessment.
  • Use your logbook to review your own clinical records. What have you learned since you saw that patient? What would you do differently?
  • Pick out a few of the case scenarios from the bank and consider:
    • What other questions would I ask the patient?
    • What other tests would I do to investigate further?
    • Are the results what I would expect?
    • How would I manage the patient?
    • How would I manage the patient if they were older/younger?
    • How would I communicate the findings to the patient?
    • Is the scenario complete and are all details recorded fully?

You have access to a bank of over 100 case scenarios for advance preparation. The case scenarios are not designed to be perfect examples, but will provide the platform to explore your understanding further.

This matrix illustrates which overarching element of competence is covered by each scenario. You will be assessed in 13 different elements of competence. The elements of competence are the same as at Stage One.

On the day of the overarching assessment 

  • Make sure that you have a private room with good internet access. This can be in your practice or at home.
  • You must have access to a computer or a tablet with a working camera and microphone.
  • You will need a form of photo ID which the assessor will check at the beginning of the assessment.
  • Your assessor will contact you through the College messaging portal 60 minutes ahead of the scheduled assessment time with Zoom details and the eight case scenarios you will use.
  • If you have not received your email with the assessment details 50 minutes before your assessment, please contact us at education.help@college-optometrists.org.
  • Your assessor will introduce each scenario. They will ask you to describe the case and assess your understanding. The assessment will use a minimum of 4 of the case scenarios that have been sent to you.

When discussing any scenario your assessor can ask questions beyond those competencies listed in the matrix. For example, if a scenario covers 5.1.1 (soft contact lens fit), you could also be asked how you would approach a spectacle dispense for this patient.

Competencies will be assessed using at least two forms of evidence. One form will be a case scenario, but field plots, additional images and questions may also be used.

Assessment integrity

Your assessor will check your ID and ask you to show a sweep of the room to ensure that you are on your own and that you do not have access to a phone or electronic device other than the one you are using for the video call.

If you turn off your screen your assessor cannot be assured of the integrity of the assessment and will stop the assessment. Tell your assessor if you need a break – you will need to leave your screen on throughout the break.

You are permitted to use reference material during the assessment. However, the questions are intended to be answered without needing to refer to notes or looking things up. If you rely on doing so you will run out of time. 

You must not collude with anyone to complete this assessment or use any other unfair means in an attempt to enhance performance. Any attempt do this will be considered cheating and dealt with as per the Scheme for Registration Regulations.