FRCS Exam

Application

To be eligible to apply for the FRCS exam, you must:

• Have an Outcome 1 at your ST6 ARCP
• Have passed the Wessex FRCS mock

Applications are made at https://www.jcie.org.uk/.

The TPD and two consultant references are required as part of the application. For full information, follow this link: https://www.jcie.org.uk/content/content.aspx?ID=20.

Part A

Part A of the FRCS exam is taken at Pearson Vue test centres. It consists of two computer-based single best answer examinations, each 2 hours and 15 minutes in duration, with a lunch break in between.

Part B

Part B of the FRCS exam is held at a variable location in the UK depending on the sitting. The whole exam sitting is over three days (usually Sunday-Tuesday). Each applicant will have their clinicals on the Sunday, and will then have their viva stations on either the Monday or Tuesday.

Clinical exams:

Intermediates:

• 1 x Upper limb intermediate: Real patients. 5 minutes history, 5 minutes examination, 5 minutes discussion (you are not alerted at the 5-minute intervals).
• 1 x Lower limb intermediate: Real patients. 5 minutes history, 5 minutes examination, 5 minutes discussion (you are not alerted at the 5-minute intervals).

Shorts:

• 3 x Upper limb shorts: No patients; prompts on paper or tablet. 5 minutes per case, 15 minutes total.
• 3 x Lower limb shorts: No patients; prompts on paper or tablet. 5 minutes per case, 15 minutes total.

Viva stations:

Each section has six 5-minute cases. There is a 5-10 minute break between each section.

• Basic science
• Adult pathology
• Paediatrics & Hands
• Trauma