Final Written Examination DESCRIPTION [appears as part of Panel page]

Online application and payment for examinations 

We are now able to accept online bookings for FRCA exams; to do so, simply click here, register, and follow the instructions. 

Please be aware that your eligibility is based on information that you must provide to the college in advance of an applicationand so, if we have not received copies of certain documents you will be unable to complete an online application.  These documents include: Initial Assessments of Competency (IACs) and Basic Level Training Certificates (BLTCs) or their equivalents, such as MTI supervisor’s reports, NHS appraisals or ICM Stage 1 certificates.  The documents that should be submitted in advance are outlined in the exam regulations.

If you need to submit your certificates, or have any other query, then please don’t hesitate to contact us on onlineservicesexams@rcoa.ac.uk.

For further information about on-line applications please visit the FAQ page

Structure of the Final Written

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
90 MCQ Examinations (60 x Multiple True False and 30 Single Best Answers in three hours)

Short Answer Questions (SAQs)
12 compulsory questions in three hours normally comprising of:

• Six questions from mandatory units: anaesthetic practice relevant to neurosurgery, neuroradiology and neuro-critical care, cardiothoracic surgery, intensive care medicine, obstetrics, paediatrics and pain medicine.
• Six questions from the remaining part of the curriculum.  This includes general duties (airway management, day surgery, critical incidents, general/urology/ gynaecology surgery, ENT/maxillo-facial/dental surgery, management of respiratory and cardiac arrest, non-theatre duties, orthopaedic surgery, regional anaesthesia, sedation practice, transfer medicine, trauma and stabilization practice), optional units (ophthalmic surgery, plastics and burns surgery, vascular surgery), advanced sciences (anatomy, applied clinical pharmacology, applied physiology/biochemistry, physics/clinical measurement and statistical basis of clinical trial management) and professionalism in medical practice.  There will be a maximum of one question from the optional units.

When and where

• The Written exam is held twice a year in September and March
• The SAQ paper normally runs from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm and the MCQ from 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm.
• The exam is held at a number of venues across the UK.  Currently; London, Birmingham, Manchesther, Sheffield,
  Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast.

Number of attempts
A maximum of six attempts, you must submit an AET FORM1 at least three months before the sixth attempt.

Validity
A pass in the Final Written is valid for three years measured to the published start date of the examination being applied for.

Results and Statistics

Details of results and statistics for all FRCA exams can be found here.

Guidance for unsuccessful candidates
Guidance interviews are offered after failure on request.

Eligibility
A quick eligibility check is set out below. You must:

The full eligibility for this exam is listed at Section 7 Paragraph 17 of the Examination Regulations.

The Chairman of the SAQ Core Group releases a report of the SAQ exam around two months after the exam date, see related links below for the latest report. Further reports and SAQ papers can be found on the examination Publications page.

FRCA Final Witten Candidate Advice
Advice on how to complete both the MCQ and SAQ sections of the FRCA Final written can now be found in the related downloads section below.

FRCA SAQ Example Questions
Example questions are available below, see related downloads.