Diplomate Examination (DFPH) Results and Feedback

Please use the drop down menus below to find the relevant information.

Examiners' comments and Specialty Registrar Committee feedback can be found by scrolling further down this page.

Marking process for March 2021

Due to the large number of candidates sitting the March Diplomate Exam, (and limited availability of examiners due to the pandemic), the Faculty Education Committee approved the use of single marking with moderation, rather than double marking, for the March 2021 sitting. Following a calibration process, two markers shared the marking of each question. As in previous exams, the marks are collated and reviewed by the Faculty’s Educational Advisor, who has provided guidance to the examination board on this method. The papers of candidates whose marks are close to the pass mark will be reviewed by a second examiner. This marking method means that about 25% of the scripts will be assessed by two examiners. In all other ways, for example determining the pass mark by standard setting, there has been no change in process.

Standard marking process (Please refer to the above text for March 2021):

Papers are anonymised and marked by examiners working individually.

The process of marking Diplomate examination questions and reaching agreement as to the final mark on each question for each candidate is as follows:

  • For Paper I, two examiners each mark two questions, that is pair A mark questions 1 & 2, pair B mark questions 3 & 4, etc.

  • For Paper II, two examiners each mark Paper IIA and two different examiners each mark Paper IIB.

A total of 14 examiners are therefore involved in marking the examination scripts from each sitting of the Part A. This process ensures that each script is double marked.

Each examiner marks their allotted scripts independently. Questions in Paper I are each marked out of 10, while each section (A & B) of Paper II is marked out of 50. Examiners mark against the mark scheme and initially 'blind' to the pass mark and their colleague examiner's mark.

Only once both examiners have completed their marking are they supplied with (1) the pass mark for each question marked and (2) the marks of their co-examiner.

The paired examiners then discuss and compare their results in order to reach a set of agreed marks for each script. The two agreed marks from each examiner are averaged to derive the final mark for that question for each candidate.

Before submitting their agreed marks, examiners need to ensure that their two separate marks comply with certain rules:

  • In Paper I, the two marks may not differ by more than two points (eg. a five and a seven is satisfactory but not a five and an eight).
  • In Paper II, the two marks may not differ by more than five points (10%).
  • In either paper, the two marks may not constitute a difference between a pass and a fail, ie. they must both be either pass marks or fail marks, eg. 3 & 4, or 5 & 6, but not 4 & 5  (where the pass mark was 5, as an example or in Paper II: 23 & 24, or 25 & 26, but not 24 & 25 (where the pass mark was 25, as an example).

If their individual marks do not meet these rules, the examiners discuss how they reached their marks on those candidates' papers. This may sometimes lead to one or both of the examiners agreeing to change their mark(s) to ensure the rules are met (either by increasing or decreasing), or they may agree to re-mark that candidate's paper. Re-marking is often carried out when the results span the pass/fail borderline. The results following re-marking are again compared and any remaining discrepancies are re-discussed. This process continues until the rules are met, which is usually achieved within two reviews.

The final mark on each paper for every candidate sitting the examination is individually discussed and agreed at the Examinations Board meeting. Candidates must pass both Paper I and Paper II separately in order to pass overall. For further details see the Diplomate marking algorithm used by the Executive Examiners.

If a candidate falls ill (or experiences another extenuating circumstance) during the time near to the examination (e.g. the evening or morning before the exam) they may absent themselves from the exam and submit the application for extenuating circumstances within three working days.

If a candidate is suffering with an infectious illness they should submit an application to withdraw from the exam and not sit the exam or attend any exam venue.

Candidates who are ‘fit to sit’ on entering the examination but become unwell during the exam (or experience another extenuating circumstance) should speak immediately to the invigilator and a member of the examinations team who will include this in a report for the exam board.

If the candidate leaves/decides to end the exam in these circumstances, their answer script/mark sheet shall become null and void irrespective of whether the extenuating circumstances application is successful.

Please note that if the candidate wishes to continue the examination and subsequently submits an application for extenuating circumstances, a successful application will result in their attempt being discounted whatever the outcome.

Please see more information in the full Extenuating Circumstances Policy here.

Examination results will be sent as a PDF to the email address given on the application form during the week following the Results meeting. More specific details will be provided in the candidate pack for the sitting.

A pass list and results summary will also be published on the FPH website on the second Monday following the Diplomate examination (DFPH) results meeting. Examination results will not be given over the telephone. Results are not posted in the FPH premises.

The result for all candidates will be sent to Faculty Advisers and Programme Directors.

All candidates who are unsuccessful in the examination will receive feedback on their examination performance in the form of marks as well as examiners' general comments about overall question performance. Candidates will not receive detailed individual feedback.

 

It is possible to 'bank' papers at the Diplomate examination (DFPH). This means that if the candidate does not pass the examination but has passed an individual paper, this result can be banked so that the candidate need not sit this paper again. This is feasible due to the explicit separation of knowledge and skills between Papers I and II.

Please note the following:

  • An individual paper (I or II) may be banked only when it has been passed.

  • As of January 2017, FPH no longer stipulates that candidates who bank a paper at a sitting must then sit the remaining paper at each subsequent examination. The limit on holding a banked paper is now one year (two sittings). For example, if a candidate banks a paper in June 2019, they can miss the following January 2020 sitting and resit their remaining paper in June 2020.

  • The banked paper will still be valid if the candidate fails the remaining paper again, as long as they keep sitting for the remaining paper either in every subsequent exam or every other subsequent exam. This is limited to six attempts in total.

  • If the candidate requires longer than a year to resit the remaining paper they should submit a statement from their educational supervisor or training programme director which will be considered by the Chair of Diplomate Examiners. This is because any longer than a year is likely to impact on training progress.

  • There will be no change in the examination fees for sittings of individual papers.

  • Candidates must continue to take both parts (papers) of the examination at the same sitting, unless a paper has been banked previously.

Candidates who wish to appeal against their examination results should consult the appeal procedures and guidance document.

Please note that marks/results will not be altered to reflect individual circumstances.

 

Latest Results

March 2022

Results summary  Paper I Paper II
Candidates who sat the exam 82 82
Candidates who passed 47 62
Candidates who failed 35 20
Exam Pass Rate %  57% 76%
     
Candidates who sat the exam in UK public health training 59
Candidates who passed 47
Candidates who banked a paper 7
% who banked a paper or passed 92%

Please note that the results table has been adjusted from previous sittings to add clarity to the pass rate. Previously the overall pass rate was published for both papers. The table now shows the pass rate by paper which more accurately reflects the number of candidates sitting and passing the exam.

 Successful candidates 
(Please note that this list does not include those candidates who have opted not to have their names published)
Ms Sara Bainbridge Dr Claire Keene
Mrs Sophie Baird  Dr Ciaran Kennedy
Dr Amy Bannerman Dr Alice Kociejowski
Mr Kazim Beebeejaun Dr Vasiliki Kyriakidou
Ms Rebecca Best Dr Stephanie Lacey
Ms Talia Boshari Dr Wenhua Lin
Dr Philip Broadbent Ms Emily Loud
Dr Kathryn Bush Dr Annie Lowe
Dr Anna Candfield Dr Iona Lyell
Mrs Susan Cooke Ms Sophie Maule
Dr Charles Dearman Dr Luke McGeoch
Dr Thilagawathi Deivanayagam Dr Shaun McGill
Dr Christina Downham Dr Dmitri Nepogodiev
Dr Evangelie Dunn Dr Clare Oliver-Williams
Dr Jessica Dunphy Dr Pallavi Patel
Dr Azza Elnaiem Dr Emily Reed
Dr Stefanie Gissing Dr Elliot Roy-Highley
Ms Astrid Grindlay Dr Chetna Sharma
Dr Jack Haywood Dr Faye Sheldon
Dr Ho Sin Ying Dr Shilpa Sisodia
Miss Emma Hunter Dr Michael Taylor
Mr Joseph Jasperse Dr Wong Jessica
Dr Laura Keast  

 

October 2021

Results summary  Paper I Paper II
Candidates who sat the exam 58 59
Candidates who passed 27 33
Candidates who failed 31 26
Exam Pass Rate %   47%  56%
     
Candidates who sat the exam in UK public health training 39
Candidates who passed 28
Candidates who banked a paper 5
% who banked a paper or passed 85%

Please note that the results table has been adjusted from previous sittings to add clarity to the pass rate. Previously the overall pass rate was published for both papers. The table now shows the pass rate by paper which more accurately reflects the number of candidates sitting and passing the exam.

 Successful candidates 
(Please note that this list does not include those candidates who have opted not to have their names published)
Dr Louise Catling Dr Aboyowa Popo
Mrs Victoria Cooling Ms Emily Robinson
Ms Rachel Crossley Ms Nerissa Santimano
Ms Maeve Gill Dr Michael Saunders
Dr Ben Hall Dr Benjamin Silberberg
Ms Carla Hobart Ms Anna Starling
Dr Roshni Janarthanan Dr David Stoye
Dr Luke Johnson Ms Lucy Vanes
Dr Daniel Jones   Mr Lee Watson
Ms Bryony Lloyd Miss Karielle Webster
Dr Florence Lock Ms Philippa Williams
Ms Poppy Middlemiss  Ms Yaolin Zheng
Dr Emily Moseley   

 

March 2021

                                       Results summary                                                            
Candidates who sat the examination 101
Candidates who passed* 74
Candidates who failed 16
Candidates who banked Paper I 6
Candidates who banked Paper II 5
Pass rate* 73%
   
Candidates who sat the examination in UK public health training 77
Candidates who passed* 63
Candidates who banked a paper 10
% who banked a paper or passed* 95%
Pass rate for those in UK public health training schemes* 82%
* Please note that this includes candidates who have passed as a result of banking a previous paper
                    Successful Candidates                                                                     
(Please note that this list does not include those candidates who have opted not to have their names published)
Dr Natalie Adams  Dr Richard James 
Dr Nina Amedzro Dr Tan Sui Kwan
Ms Olivia Ashmore Dr Rachael McCarthy
Mr Steven Barlow Mr Karim Mitha
Dr Vickie Braithwaite Dr Gabriella Morley
Ms Charlotte Cadwallader Ms Elizabeth Murray
Dr Avirup Chowdhury Dr Hadjer Nacer-Laidi
Dr David Collyer Dr Charlotte Parbery-Clark
Dr Megan Corder Dr Shruti Patel
Dr Emer Cullen Ms Danielle Plowman
Dr Susan Cummins Dr Sadie Regmi
Dr Kate Dun-Campbell Mr Luke Robertshaw
Ms Georgia Faherty Mrs Fiona Simmons-Jones
Dr Thomas Falconer Hall Dr Kerrie Stevenson
Dr Abigail Foster Dr Rebecca Symes
Mrs Dhanya Gardner Dr Samuel Tweed
Ms Chloe Gay Dr Nicola Vousden
Ms Una Geary Mrs Helen Watson
Ms Catherine Hefferon Dr Lucy Williams
Dr Nga Sze Ho Dr Hannah Wilson
Dr Gemma Hobson Dr Jaimee Wylam
Mrs Katherine Holburn Dr Jin-Min Yuan
Dr Anna Humphreys Mrs Gina Zelent
Dr Thomas Inns  

 

November 2020

                                       Results summary                                                            
Candidates who sat the examination 83
Candidates who passed* 55
Candidates who failed 10
Candidates who banked Paper I 10
Candidates who banked Paper II 8
Pass rate* 66%
   
Candidates who sat the examination in UK public health training 66
Candidates who passed* 49
Candidates who banked a paper 12
% who banked a paper or passed* 92%
Pass rate for those in UK public health training schemes* 74%
* Please note that this includes candidates who have passed as a result of banking a previous paper
                    Successful Candidates                                                                     
(Please note that this list does not include those candidates who have opted not to have their names published)
Mrs Anna Ashman Dr Hannes Hagson
Dr Rosie Baker Mr Simon Harvey
Dr Jessica Banks Dr Vageesh Jain
Mrs Elizabeth Blundell Dr Kalonde Kasengele
Mrs Elizabeth Capper Dr Suzanne McFall
Miss Ying Crystal Chan Dr Paul McGurnaghan
Miss Hannah Charles Dr Anne McKirdy
Dr Emily Clark Miss Katrina McLarty
Dr Bronagh Clarke Mr Matthew Missen
Dr Neil Cockburn Mr Fatai Ogunlayi
Dr Peter Davey Dr Ana-Catarina Pinho-Gomes
Dr Claire Ferraro Dr Imran Sajid
Mrs Joanne Freedman Dr Elizabeth Smout
Dr Hong Chung Fu Mr Ho Sum Sammer Tang
Ms Lucy Furby Dr Sarah Wattley
Dr Harriet Gliddon Ms Jennifer Wilburn
Dr Anya Gopfert Mr Oliver Williams
Mr Matthew Greensmith Ms Katherine Yorke

 

January 2020

                                       Results summary                                                            
Candidates who sat the examination 89
Candidates who passed* 31
Candidates who failed 37
Candidates who banked Paper I 19
Candidates who banked Paper II 2
% who banked a paper 24%
% who banked a paper or passed* 58%
Pass rate* 35%
Candidates who sat the examination in UK public health training 66
Candidates who passed* 30
Candidates who banked a paper 20
% who banked a paper or passed* 76%
Pass rate for those in UK public health training schemes* 45%
* Please note that this includes candidates who have passed as a result of banking a previous paper
                    Successful Candidates                                                                     
(Please note that this list does not include those candidates who have opted not to have their names published)
Dr Clare Baker Dr Andrew Irvine
Ms Helen Benson Mrs Clare Jackson
Mr Steven Bow Miss Tabitha Kavoi
Ms Anna Brook Dr Katherine Phillips
Mrs Marimba Carr Dr Manuj Sharma
Mr Nathan Davies Miss Carolyn Sharpe
Ms Helen Fahie Ms Rebekka Shenfine
Dr Doaa Farag Dr Madhumita Shrotri
Ms Rosanna Fforde  Dr Sebastian Walsh
Dr Samantha Field  Miss Natalie Wareham
Miss Tessa Hewitt Mr Simon Watts
Ms Alison Iliff  

 

June 2019

        Results summary                                                            
Candidates who sat the examination 79
Candidates who passed* 37
Candidates who failed 31
Candidates who banked Paper I 6
Candidates who banked Paper II 5
% who banked a paper 14%
% who banked a paper or passed* 61%
Pass rate* 47%
Candidates who sat the examination in UK public health training 59
Candidates who passed* 35
Candidates who banked a paper 6
% who banked a paper or passed* 69%
Pass rate for those in UK public health training schemes* 59%
* Please note that this includes candidates who have passed as a result of banking a previous paper
                    Successful Candidates                                                                     
(Please note that this list does not include those candidates who have opted not to have their names published)
Dr Emily Broadis Dr Victoria Kirkby
Mrs Lisa Burn Dr Lai Kwan Queenie Leung
Ms Francesca Bury Dr Bethan Loveless
Dr Alexandra Cockburn Mrs Megan MacPherson
Dr Natalie Elkheir Dr Malcolm Moffat
Dr James Fagg Ms Claire Mulrenan
Mrs Beverley Griggs Dr Kamal Patel 
Ms Emily Grundy Dr Rishi Patel
Dr Kirsten Hainey Dr Lewis Peake
Dr Robert Hayward Dr Carla Robinson
Dr Benjamin Holden Dr Hardeep Singh-Lalli
Ms Emily Humphreys Dr Amy Stevens
Dr Jessica Jarvis  Dr Alasdair Wood

January 2019 

Results summary                                                            
Candidates who sat the examination 72
Candidates who passed* 40
Candidates who failed 18
Candidates who banked Paper I 10
Candidates who banked Paper II 4
% who banked a paper 19%
% who banked a paper or passed* 75%
Pass rate* 56%
Candidates who sat the examination in UK public health training 56
Candidates who passed* 37
Candidates who banked a paper 10
% who banked a paper or passed* 84%
Pass rate for those in UK public health training schemes* 66%
* Please note that this includes candidates who have passed as a result of banking a previous paper
                    Successful Candidates                                                                     
(Please note that this list does not include those candidates who have opted not to have their names published)

 

Dr Michael Allum Dr Hannah Jary
Dr Janani Arulrajah Miss Karen Lau
Dr Hannah Barnsley Mr John Lewis
Dr Elizabeth Biscoe Dr Sarah Milligan
Mrs Emma Booth Dr Sally O'Brien
Dr Kathryn Clare Dr Julia Pakpoor
Dr Shelui Collinson  Dr Emma Pearce
Dr Harriet Edmondson Dr Alison Pye
Dr Megan Evans Dr Anna Ray
Dr Wai Fong Dr Rebecca Russell
Dr Megan Gingell Ms Lucy Rutter
Mrs Louise Gray Dr Fiona Scott
Dr Robert Green Dr Andrew Turvey
Dr Grace Grove Dr Gabrielle Woolf
Dr Adam Holland  

 

June 2018  

Results summary
Candidates who sat the examination 73
Candidates who passed* 54
Candidates who failed 6
Candidates who banked Paper I 12
Candidates who banked Paper II 1
% who banked a paper 18%
% who banked a paper or passed* 92%
Pass rate* 74%
Candidates who sat the examination in UK public health training 52
Candidates who passed* 44
Candidates who banked a paper 8
% who banked a paper or passed* 100%
Pass rate for those in UK public health training schemes* 85%
* Please note that this includes candidates who have passed as a result of banking a previous paper
Successful Candidates
(Please note that this list does not include those candidates who have opted not to have their names published)
Dr Nicole Ahmed Dr Sally MacVinish
Dr Alexander Allen Miss Fiona Maxwell
Mrs Melissa Brown Dr Ana Llamas Montoya
Dr Thomas Callender Dr Claire Neill
Dr Chan Pui Yee Mrs Elizabeth Pierce
Dr Nadeeka Chandraratne Dr Alison Potts​
Ms Helen Crabbe Dr Mark Pritchard
Dr Natalie Daley Mr Andrew Rideout
Mr Thomas Dunn Dr Matthias Rohe
Mr Christopher Emmerson Dr May Van Schalkwyk
Dr Hannah Emmett Miss Wendi Shepherd
Mrs Joanna Garner Dr Danielle Solomon
Dr Isaac Ghinai Miss Rachel Staniforth
Dr Claire Gilbert Dr Bethan Stoddart
Dr Rachel Handley Miss Laura Stoll
Mrs Victoria Hepworth-Putt Dr Suzanne Tang
Dr Deborah Jenkins Dr Ahimza Thirunavukarasu
Dr Alice Kadri Dr Tsui Kwan Yee
Ms Katherine Korner Dr Eleanor Turner-Moss
Mr Jonathan Lawler Dr Amoolya Vusirikala
Mr David Leeman Mrs Sarah Weir
Dr Li Wing Sum Dr Wong Hoi Kei
Dr Ravi Lukha  Dr Sarah Woodhall


Examination date: January 2018

Results summary
Candidates who sat the examination 75
Candidates who passed* 51
Candidates who failed 17
Candidates who banked Paper I 2
Candidates who banked Paper II 5
% who banked a paper 9%
% who banked a paper or passed* 77%
Pass rate* 68%
Candidates who sat the examination in UK public health training 64
Candidates who passed* 46
Candidates who banked a paper 4
% who banked a paper or passed* 78%
Pass rate for those in UK public health training schemes* 72%
* Please note that this also includes candidates who have passed as a result of banking a previous paper
Successful Candidates
(Please note that candidates have received official notification by post and that this list does not include those candidates who have opted not to have their names published)
Mrs Nicola Ainsworth Miss Claire Mawditt
Dr Emma Baird Dr Anna McKeever
Mrs Rachel Bath Dr Chloe Montague
Mr Sebastien Baugh Dr Lois Murray
Dr Martin Bewley Dr Antiopi Ntouva
Mrs Kate Bisset Dr Clarissa Oeser
Dr Claire Blacklock Dr Arrthi Pangayatselvan
Dr Anna Blennerhassett Ms Rebecca Perrin
Dr Rebecca Briscoe Mrs Rachel Perry
Miss Miriam Bullock Dr Eleanor Powers
Dr Chan Hong Lam Dr Steven Senior
Dr Hayley Coleman Mr Daniel Stewart
Ms Anna Collins Ms Louise Sweeney
Mr Liam Crosby Ms Jamie-Rae Tanner
Dr Marc Davies Dr Hannah Taylor
Dr Clare Foster Mr Andrew Trathen
Dr Sarah Gentry Dr Anna Trelfa
Dr Catherine Guy Dr Andrew Turner
Mr Samuel Hayward Mrs Anna Varela-Raynes
Mrs Sandra James Dr Sarah Wallace
Ms Helen Johnston Dr Sarah Webb
Dr Jenny Mack Dr Anne Whittington
Miss Elizabeth Marchant Dr Natalie Wright
Dr Rachael Marsh  

Diplomate Exam Monitoring and Performance

In parallel with the introduction of modified Angoff standard setting of our Diplomate examination in January 2017, the Diplomate exam team also introduced robust exam review by an independent external educationalist at each diet (sit).  This has allowed the Chair/deputy Chair and Board to understand at an exam and question level, how the examination is performing at that diet, which is over and above simple monitoring of pass/fail rates.

Please click here for the full report.

 

Examiners' comments

Please use the drop down menus to find examiners' comments.

This feedback gives general points to support candidates preparing for each section of the exam in future sittings.

Specialty Registrars (SpR) Committee feedback and response from the Chair and Deputy Chair of Examiners

Please use the drop down menus to find the SpR Committee feedback and the letter of response for each sitting.

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