Background: Conventional Practical Examination (CPE) or Viva only tests the overall performance of the students (cognitive domain) but other domains like psychomotor skills, comprehension and interpretation ability etc. remain overlooked. So Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE) is developed as a tool to overcome these limitations of CPE. Aims & Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE) with Conventional Practical Examination (CPE) as an assessment tool in pathology subject among 2nd year MBBS students. Materials & Methods: OSPE along with CPE were conducted in the subject of pathology among 123, 2nd year MBBS students during the year 2014. Results of both the methods were compared to each other for their effectiveness as an assessment tool in pathology practical examination. Results: Students got better results in OSPE as compared to CPE. Mean marks obtained in OSPE were 8.6 while 2.9 in CPE out of 10. Most frequently obtained marks in CPE were 2 while in OSPE its 9.SD (Standard Deviation) is 1.3 in OSPE as compared to 1.7 in CPE. Conclusion: OSPE is a reliable, objective, valid and effective method as compared to CPE for assessment of medical student’s performance in pathology practical examination. However, OSPE should be used judiciously to complement CPE rather than totally replacing it.

Keywords: Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE); Conventional Practical Examination (CPE); Pathology; MBBS.