PANE tests content that no medical exam tests — because doctors are not tested on escalating to themselves.
Uniquely PA content: Escalation criteria (when to involve the supervising doctor), scope boundaries (what PAs can and cannot do independently), MDT role and working with other professionals, PA professional standards under GMC, supervision models.
Why medical Q-banks miss this: Medical exams assume the doctor is the final decision-maker. PA exams test the ability to recognise when the decision exceeds your scope and requires escalation.
Where to prepare: Plabable, PassPa, RCP Revise, MyPANotes — all PA-specific tools cover scope and escalation.
Weight in PANE: A minority of questions — but enough to affect pass/fail if completely neglected. More importantly, these questions test professional judgment that defines safe PA practice.
Cannot be supplemented by medical Q-banks. This content requires PA-specific resources.
iatroX covers clinical medicine. PA Q-banks cover scope and escalation. You need both — iatroX is free.