Preparing for PACES can feel overwhelming — but you don’t have to go it alone. Your Pastest subscription is designed to support you at every step, helping you build confidence in your clinical skills, polish your exam technique, and get fully exam-ready.
This guide will walk you through the key areas of your subscription, so you can:
✅ Understand what’s available and how to access it
📈 Track your progress and stay organised
🎯 Focus your time on the cases and content that matter most
Whether you’re just starting out or in the final stretch of prep, this overview will help you make the most of every feature — from expert-led teaching videos and patient cases, to flashcards, spot diagnoses, and progress tracking tools.
🏠 Your PACES Main Page
This is your central hub for everything PACES-related. From here, you can explore all the key areas of your subscription — track your progress, refresh core skills, and dive into real-world patient cases to build your clinical confidence. Use the sections below to get started!
1️⃣ Subscription Name
At the top of your dashboard, you’ll see:
Your subscription title
Expiry date – so you always know how long you have access.
2️⃣ 📊 Case Progress
Track your revision progress at a glance:
View the percentage and total number of cases completed.
Click ‘View Statistics’ to explore your progress in more detail – including which specific areas you've covered and where to focus next.
3️⃣ 🎬 Teaching Cases
Start your revision here with high-yield explainer videos led by our PACES ‘Examiners’. These are perfect for refreshing your clinical knowledge and understanding the specific expectations of the PACES exam format.
Inside this section, you’ll find:
🔍 Filters & Search
Filters – Easily organise your view by revision status:
All, Not Started, In Progress, or Completed
Search bar – Quickly locate a specific case by typing in keywords or system names.
📂 Cases
Each case is displayed as a clickable tile – simply click to begin watching.
Use the three-dot menu in the top-right of any case to:
✅ Mark as Complete when finished
🔄 Mark as Incomplete to revisit later
These features make it easy to stay organised, keep track of your progress, and tailor your learning to suit your pace.
4️⃣ 🧑⚕️ Patient Cases
This section forms the core of your PACES preparation — real patient cases designed to mirror the exam format and build your confidence in recognising clinical signs and presenting findings.
Here’s how to navigate and make the most of it:
🎥 Video Elements
At the top of the case page, the video player is where each case begins.
Below the video, you’ll find several controls:
⏮️ Start from beginning
⏪ Back 30 seconds
▶️ Play / Pause
⏩ Forward 30 seconds
🔵 Progress bar – track how far through the video you are
🔊 Volume slider
⚙️ Cogwheel – adjust playback speed
📺 Picture-in-picture – pop the video out while you view other content
🔲 Fullscreen mode
🗂️ Case Sections
Each case is broken into structured sections to guide your learning:
Patient Examination – observe how to conduct and interpret a full exam
Discussion – a VIVA-style conversation with the examiner, simulating the PACES format
Case Critique – deeper insight into the diagnosis or key clinical signs to watch for
Topic Summary – written content giving background or guidance on the condition or communication scenario
Next Case – move straight on to the next case in the area (if you're not at the last)
ℹ️ Extra Case Information
Below the main video and case sections, you’ll find even more helpful content:
Introduction – a short vignette setting the scene for the case
Case Extras, including:
🖼️ Images of clinical signs
🔊 Sounds related to the case (e.g. murmurs, breath sounds)
🎧 Podcasts of the discussion and critique
📜 Transcripts for both the discussion and critique
⭐ Top Tips relevant to that clinical area
📝 Mark Scheme – a guide on what’s expected in the exam
✍️ Notes Section – jot down your own observations
💬 Feedback – let us know what you thought of the case
⚡ Show Quick Case – a shorter version of the case (available for all except Communication and Clinical Consultation), focused on highlighting clinical signs faster
5️⃣ 🩻 Spot Diagnosis
This section is designed to sharpen your ability to recognise clinical signs quickly and confidently — a key skill for success in PACES.
Each card presents a visual, audio, or video prompt to test your diagnostic instinct. Here's how to get the most from it:
🔽 Drop-down Menu
Use the drop-down at the top of the screen to switch between the 8 different Spot Diagnosis areas.
Your progress in the current section is shown in the top-right corner — this increases each time you flip a card.
🖼️ Image, Video or Audio
Depending on the category, you’ll see an image, video, or audio clip.
For images, click on the card to flip and reveal the diagnosis.
🎮 Actions & Navigation
Use the left and right arrows to move through the pack:
⬅️ Left arrow = go back
➡️ Right arrow = move forward
Know a diagnosis well? Click to hide specific cards, so you only see what you need.
Click Reset Pack to:
Clear your progress
Re-show any hidden cards
A blue arrow on the far right of the card can also be clicked to flip and reveal the diagnosis.
This tool is ideal for quick bursts of revision or testing yourself on-the-go — helping you build speed and accuracy across all areas of the PACES exam.
6️⃣ 🧠 Diagnosis Flashcards
Build your diagnostic recall with these quick-fire flashcards. Each card presents common clinical signs — flip it to reveal the associated diagnosis.
🃏 Diagnosis Flashcards work in the same way as Spot Diagnosis, but instead of images or videos, they list typical signs and symptoms. Use them to sharpen your ability to link presentations with likely conditions — fast.
🎓 You’re Ready to Take On PACES!
You’ve got everything you need at your fingertips — expert-led teaching, realistic patient cases, revision tools to sharpen your clinical judgement, and a clear view of your progress.
Remember, PACES is as much about confidence and structure as it is about knowledge. Use this subscription to build your skills steadily, one case at a time — and don’t be afraid to revisit content when you need a refresh.
We’re here to support you every step of the way.
Believe in your preparation. Trust your training. You've got this.
Good luck — and go smash it! 💪✨