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# What are the different roles in group practice mode?


### What are the different roles in Group Practice Mode?

The OSCE Stations platform is ideal for **group practice**, with support for multiple roles. Group Practice Mode is available to both free and paid users.

🔗 [Learn how to set up Group Practice Mode here](/en/article/how-do-i-set-up-group-practice-mode-for-stations-and-circuits-87k6bf/)

Please note: Virtual patients and virtual examiners are **not available** in Group Practice Mode.

|| You need at least **two people** to start: a **candidate** and an **examiner** (the examiner can also act as the patient).

When you join a session, a short introduction explains what your role involves.
---

## The Candidate

The candidate is the person being assessed, practising their OSCE skills.

### Preparation
* You'll be taken to the **candidate instructions**, along with a preparation timer
* Use this time to review the scenario details (e.g. station type, setting, brief patient summary)
* A notes box is available to jot down key points

### During the Station
* Interact with the patient while the examiner times the station
* If practising remotely, make sure you're on Zoom or in the group **chat room** so you can hear each other
* Your group can choose whether to include the examiner **Questions** at the end

### After the Station
* Once the examiner completes the station, you'll see your **station results**
* You'll receive checklist-based scoring, global impression feedback, and optional patient feedback
* Your results are laid out in tabs - Summary, Checklist, Questions, Feedback and Resources
* Feedback can be delivered verbally, viewed on-screen, shared using **Copy link to share**, or saved with **Download as PDF**
---

## The Patient

The patient answers the candidate's questions or acts as the model for examination.

### Preparation
* After selecting your role, you'll be taken to the **patient instructions**
* Instructions vary by station type — they may be detailed (e.g. history-taking) or brief (e.g. examinations)
* Some details are marked to be revealed only **if directly asked**, so review carefully

### During the Station
* Respond appropriately to the candidate's questions or actions
* Join the group **chat room** or your video call if practising remotely
* Remember: it's the candidate being assessed, not you
* The examiner is responsible for timing

### After the Station
* You can offer basic feedback on the candidate to the examiner - for example, whether you would be happy to be treated by this candidate
* You will not see the detailed examiner feedback
---

## The Examiner

The examiner assesses the candidate and manages timing.

|| If you're in a group of two, you'll also act as the **patient** - you'll find the patient script alongside the checklist.

### Preparation
* You'll have access to the **full station content**, including candidate and patient instructions, the checklist, diagnosis (if relevant), and the optional examiner **Questions**
* There's a preparation timer you can manage if the candidate prefers not to do it themselves

### During the Station
* Start the timer at the beginning of the station
* Make sure everyone is on your video call or in the **chat room** if practising remotely
* Mark the candidate using the OSCE checklist
* You can ask the optional examiner **Questions** at the end

### After the Station
* Inform the group that the station has ended
* Complete the feedback, including: OSCE checklist results, global impression, patient feedback and optional free-text comments
* If the station has examiner questions, click **Continue to questions** - this locks your marking and moves the group on
* When you're finished, click **Complete station**
* You'll see the **station results**, which the candidate can also view

You can:
  
* Give feedback verbally  
* Share a link using **Copy link to share**
* Save a copy using **Download as PDF**

### Running a circuit
* Click **Next station** to move everyone on to the next station together
* You'll then see **Roles for the next station**, where we suggest new roles to mix things up fairly. You can change them, or click **Restore previous roles** to keep the same roles as the last station

|| Only the host can end a station. If someone needs to leave early, they should let the host know first - their progress is saved. If the host disconnects, another member of the group is made host automatically.
---

## The Observer

The observer can view the station and learn by watching others.

* You can view **candidate** and **patient** instructions
* If you'd like access to the checklist, open the station separately (outside Group Practice Mode), but note you won't be part of the group session
* You can help run timers if needed
* Observers cannot view the examiner's feedback

|| On our premium stations, observers need their own access to that station collection.
