2026 Edition
Guide to the Standardized Training Module Assessment: https://www.kdocs.cn/l/ckfclo5d2fml
Examination Schedule
The exam is expected to take place during the first half of the second semester of the second year of graduate studies. For the Class of 2023, it will be held on April 26–27, 2025 (see details in Notice on the Module Assessment for the Class of 2023 Standardized Training Residents at Dongzhimen Hospital, 2025.pdf (79.1 KB)).
Specific arrangements will be confirmed by official notice; however, notices are typically issued approximately one month prior to the exam.
Test-Taking Strategies
Review using materials prepared for the Licensed Physician Qualification Examination. Exam content remains largely consistent year-to-year, but always refer to the official notice issued for the current year.
Compulsory TCM Components:
- Tongue diagnosis: One tongue image randomly selected on-site.
- Pulse diagnosis: One pulse pattern randomly selected on-site.
- Acupuncture: One meridian’s pathway and three acupoint locations randomly selected on-site.
- Tuina: One tuina technique randomly selected on-site.
Each of these four components is assessed individually.Elective TCM Components:
- Techniques include acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, herbal plaster application, auricular seed therapy, splint fixation, and Colles’ fracture management. One technique is randomly selected on-site for assessment.
Compulsory Western Medicine Components:
- Skills include cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), endotracheal intubation, electrical cardioversion/defibrillation, thoracentesis, paracentesis, lumbar puncture, and bone marrow aspiration. One skill is randomly selected on-site for assessment.
See Notice on the Module Assessment for the Class of 2023 Standardized Training Residents at Dongzhimen Hospital, 2025.pdf (79.1 KB) for full details.
- Other topics may be reviewed intensively just before the exam (attend standardized training practical sessions as much as possible—hands-on experience helps reinforce memory and enables rapid recall).
- Meridians (
must be recited verbatim—no points awarded for self-composed versions ) and acupoints cannot be crammed effectively; begin memorizing early and review repeatedly.
Each subject is graded independently. Failure in any subject requires retaking only that subject. The most commonly failed component is meridians and acupoints.
If you fail, don’t worry—you may retake the exam multiple times. Among the ~400 residents of the Class of 2023, the number of initial failures was as follows:
- Elective TCM techniques: 41
- Meridians and acupoints: 155 (this component is indeed highly prone to failure)
- Compulsory Western medicine skills: 68
- Tongue and pulse diagnosis: 22
- Tuina techniques: 42
Must-Read Resources
- Electronic version of the Skills Assessment Handbook—review according to scoring criteria: https://www.kdocs.cn/l/cehk8C3IZqS7
- List of acupoints and pulses actually tested—do not memorize all: https://www.kdocs.cn/l/ckO5QmiNSukM
Additional Resources (possible overlap)
- Related materials: https://www.kdocs.cn/join/gdgsc5h