Book excerpt: Taking a patient's medical history is a vital skill often overlooked by junior doctors and medical students, leading to a worryingly high failure rate in the PACES and OSCE exams. Don't be caught out! This book has been specifically designed to give you invaluable guidance and practice for taking medical histories. It features 50 complete case studies, including referral letters, medical histories, suggested data gathering methods, points to consider, warning signs, management of uncomfortable topics and differential diagnosis. With a focus on the importance and benefits of role-play in revision, this concise and easy to read format provides the study aid for Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) candidates sitting their Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills (PACES) examinations. It is also of great benefit to undergraduates approaching their final year examinations.