The Digital FaMED Exam: Computer Interface, Video Stations & Typing Tips

Unlike traditional chamber exams where you sit across a table from physical examiners in an Ärztekammer meeting room, the FaMED exam is conducted digitally in authorized testing centers (developed based on medical didactic research at LMU Munich and booked via famed-test.de).

For many candidates, this computer-based format creates unexpected anxiety: How do the video stations work? Is there a German QWERTZ keyboard? What happens if the video finishes early?

Understanding the technical environment before exam day eliminates surprises and lets you focus 100% on your medical communication.

The Testing Center Setup: What to Expect

When you enter an authorized FaMED testing center (e.g., in Mainz, Kassel, Nürnberg, or Munich), you will be assigned an individual testing cubicle equipped with:

A high-resolution monitor displaying the exam portal.
A standardized headset with an integrated noise-cancelling microphone.
A standard German QWERTZ keyboard and optical mouse.
Scratch paper and a pen provided by the proctor.

Station-by-Station Digital Workflow

Station 1: Patient Anamnese & Aufklärung

You communicate via high-definition audio/video link with a trained standardized patient actor located in an observation studio.
An on-screen digital countdown clock displays your remaining minutes and seconds.
You can take handwritten notes on your scratch paper during the conversation.

Station 2: Doctor-to-Doctor Handover (Arzt-Arzt-Kommunikation)

You present your two assigned cases.
Depending on the testing setup, this conversation is either conducted live with a medical assessor via video link or recorded digitally for blinded multi-rater evaluation.
Blinded recording ensures that your score is evaluated by calibrated raters without personal or unconscious bias.

Station 3: Digital Documentation (Schriftliche Station)

You watch a pre-recorded clinical encounter or simulated patient scenario on screen.
You can pause, rewind, or re-watch segments of the video within your allotted time.
An integrated text editor opens where you type your medical discharge summary (Arztbrief).
At the end of the 20 minutes, the editor automatically submits your text.

4 Technical Survival Tips for the Digital Test

1. Master the German QWERTZ Keyboard Layout

If you usually type on an English (QWERTY) or foreign keyboard, practice typing on a German keyboard before your exam:

Note the inverted positions of Z and Y.
Practice typing umlauts (ä, ö, ü) and the sharp S (ß) fluently without hunting for keys.
Capitalize all German nouns ("der Patient", "die Schmerzen", "das Abdomen").

2. Prepare Your Scratchpad Before the Timer Starts

The moment you sit down, draw your structural grid on your scratch paper:

Write the letters OPQRST vertically for anamnesis.
Write S-B-A-R for the doctor presentation.
As the patient talks, jot down keywords in the corresponding quadrant rather than writing full sentences.

3. Audio Clarity and Microphone Etiquette

Position your headset microphone approximately two finger-widths away from the corner of your mouth.
Speak in a measured, calm baritone. Fast or hushed speech degrades audio quality during recorded evaluations.
Articulate word endings cleanly (-ung, -heit, -keit, -tion).

4. Digital Time Management

In Station 3, do not spend more than 5 minutes watching and re-watching the video.
Begin typing your Objective findings and Assessment by minute 7.
Always finish typing by minute 18 to allow 2 minutes for orthography and grammar checks.

Resources 📚

📖 FaMED Protocol Book: FaMED Protokoll 2026 Book — Complete real exam case protocols and model answers
💻 FaMED App & Digital Simulation: FaMED App — Practice digital stations and OSCE timers
💬 Telegram Study Community: Join the FaMED Study Group

Ready to Start? 🚀

📱 Download the FaMED App for instant access to test simulations
📚 Order the FaMED Protokoll 2026 Book with complete case transcripts
👥 Join our FaMED Study Community to prepare with fellow doctors

Viel Erfolg! (Good luck!) 🍀