OSCE I

Assessment Type ¹: Clinical performance evaluation Indicative Time on Task ²: 10 hours Due: Week 7 Weighting: 25%

The OSCE will assess competency in performing the neurological examination.

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Perform the clinical neuromusculoskeletal history taking and examination competently
• Draw on acquired theoretical knowledge in order to tailor the physical examination to the clinical presentation of the patient, and from this develop a differential diagnosis and clinical management plan.
• Demonstrate well developed clinical reasoning skills and the ability to diagnose conditions that are suitable for chiropractic care, and identify conditions that are contraindicated for chiropractic care including conditions of non-musculoskeletal origin.
• Acquire knowledge to evaluate conditions, research these cases further using appropriate reference material and communicate findings
• Develop a respect and empathy for patients, and an ethical and professional attitude to health care. In this regard, you should develop a commitment to remain informed and up-to-date in your profession

VIVA and OSCE II

Assessment Type ¹: Clinical performance evaluation Indicative Time on Task ²: 10 hours Due: Week 13 Weighting: 25%

The OSCE will assess competency in applying the Clinical Decision Framework to a case study, skill in differential diagnosis, and performing the neurological examination 

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Perform the clinical neuromusculoskeletal history taking and examination competently
• Draw on acquired theoretical knowledge in order to tailor the physical examination to the clinical presentation of the patient, and from this develop a differential diagnosis and clinical management plan.
• Demonstrate well developed clinical reasoning skills and the ability to diagnose conditions that are suitable for chiropractic care, and identify conditions that are contraindicated for chiropractic care including conditions of non-musculoskeletal origin.
• Acquire knowledge to evaluate conditions, research these cases further using appropriate reference material and communicate findings
• Develop a respect and empathy for patients, and an ethical and professional attitude to health care. In this regard, you should develop a commitment to remain informed and up-to-date in your profession

Final written examination

Assessment Type ¹: Examination Indicative Time on Task ²: 20 hours Due: Official Exam Period Weighting: 50%

The final exam tests your knowledge of the theory, and the ability to connect that knowledge to real life situations (e.g. case studies, clinical presentations). 

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Draw on acquired theoretical knowledge in order to tailor the physical examination to the clinical presentation of the patient, and from this develop a differential diagnosis and clinical management plan.
• Demonstrate well developed clinical reasoning skills and the ability to diagnose conditions that are suitable for chiropractic care, and identify conditions that are contraindicated for chiropractic care including conditions of non-musculoskeletal origin.
• Acquire knowledge to evaluate conditions, research these cases further using appropriate reference material and communicate findings

¹ If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

• the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
• the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

² Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.

All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.

Students will be awarded a final grade and a mark which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure (clause 128).

To pass this unit, you must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.

Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.

Late Submissions

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (OF THE TOTAL POSSIBLE MARK) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.

For example:

Number of days (hours) late Total Possible Marks Deduction Raw mark Final mark

1 day (1-24 hours) 100 5 75 70

2 days (24-48 hours) 100 10 75 65

3 days (48-72 hours) 100 15 75 60

7 days (144-168 hours) 100 35 75 40

>7 days (>168 hours) 100 - 75 0

Special Consideration

If you are unable to complete an assessment task on or by the specified date due circumstances that are unexpected, unavoidable, significantly disruptive and beyond your control, you may apply for special consideration in accordance with the special consideration policy. Applications for special consideration must be supported by appropriate evidence and submitted via ask.mq.edu.au.

Examinations

The Semester 1 University Examination period is from: 9-26 June, 2026

You are expected to present yourself for examination at the time and place designated in the University examination timetable. The timetable will be available in draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of the examinations and in final form approximately four weeks before the commencement of the examinations:

http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/exam

The only exception to not sitting an examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these circumstances you may wish to consider applying for special consideration. The University’s Special Consideration Policy can be found at:  https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration. Information can also be found at https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

Students with a pre-existing disability/health condition or prolonged adverse circumstances may be eligible for ongoing assistance and support.  Such support is governed by other policies and may be sought and coordinated through Campus Wellbeing and Support Services.

If a supplementary examination is granted as a result of special consideration, the examination will be scheduled after the conclusion of the official examination period.

If you receive special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled in the interval between the regular exam period and the start of the next session.  By making a special consideration application for the final exam you are declaring yourself available for a resit during the supplementary examination period and will not be eligible for a second special consideration approval based on pre-existing commitments.  Please ensure you are familiar with the policy prior to submitting an application. You can check the supplementary exam information page on FSE101 in iLearn (bit.ly/FSESupp) for dates, and approved applicants will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of their supplementary examination.

NOTE: Supplementary exams may be in a different format to the exam set in the normal examination period.

You are advised that it is Macquarie University policy not to set early examinations for individuals or groups of students. You are expected to ensure that you are available until the end of the teaching semester that is the final day of the official examination period.

Delivery mode

This unit is characterised by a moderate degree of flexibility. It incorporates a variety of learning tools and media. It will comprise:

For further details on class time and locations for this unit follow the link below:

http://students.mq.edu.au/student_admin/timetables

Unit Web Page

You can log in to iLearn System via the link listed below:

https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/MQ/

All lecture materials will be posted on ilearn, and there is also a link to ECHO360 for recordings of the lectures.

Required and recommended resources

Required:

1. CHIR8511 – Clinical Neurology Tutorial Course Manual 2026 – This has been uploaded to iLearn. Please be sure to either download, print and bind the manual, or have an iPad or laptop to access the manual during the tutorial.

Recommended: 

• Blumenfeld H (2010) Neuroanatomy through Clinical Cases. 2^nd ed. Sinauer Associates Inc, Massachusetts. Distributed by Palgrave Macmillan, Victoria, Australia.
• Souza TA (2005) Differential diagnosis and management for the chiropractor 3^rd ed. Jones & Bartlett Pub, Massachusetts.

Required Diagnostic Equipment (Neurological Diagnosis Kit):

1. A diagnostic set with otoscope and ophthalmoscope
2. A tailor’s measuring tape
3. A 128Hz or 256Hz (vibration) and also a 512Hz (auditory) tuning fork
4. Neurotips
5. Long stem cotton tips/long cotton swabs
6. Disposable tongue depressors
7. Tomahawk reflex hammer
8. A number of tactile items e.g., key, coin etc
9. A mathematical set divider

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others based on their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief. All staff and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone.

In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses.

As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions including clinical, practical, laboratory, work-integrated learning (e.g., PACE placements), and team-based learning activities. Some learning activities are recorded (e.g., face-to-face lectures), however you are encouraged to avoid relying upon such material as they do not recreate the whole learning experience and technical issues can and do occur. As an adult learner, we respect your decision to choose how you engage with your learning, but we would remind you that the learning opportunities we create for you have been done so to enable your success, and that by not engaging you may impact your ability to successfully complete this unit. We equally expect that you show respect for the academic staff who have worked hard to develop meaningful activities and prioritise your learning by communicating with them in advance if you are unable to attend a small group interactive session.

Another dimension of professionalism is having respect for your peers. It is the right of every student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please arrive to all learning activities on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please join activity as quietly as possible to minimise disruption. Phones and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class. Where your own device (e.g., laptop) is being used for class-related activities, you are asked to close down all other applications to avoid distraction to you and others. Please treat your fellow students with the utmost respect. If you are uncomfortable participating in any specific activity, please let the relevant academic know.