1. Ms Rebecca Lewis, Surgical registrar
The FRCS Exam
Ms Rebecca Lewis, Surgical registrar

2. THE APPLICATION Apply online at www.jcie.org.uk
Apply and start revision at least six months before your expected sitting
You need to submit
3 references – one must be your TPD CV
Logbook summary

3. The initial cost is £1849 which must be paid upfront
This is £536 for part 1 and £1313 for part 2
The cost of any retakes will be added on
Both exams are 3 times a year

4. Section 1 There are two papers in this exam The morning – 2 hours SBAs
The afternoon – 2.5 hours EMQs
You may only take this exam a maximum of four times regardless of extenuating circumstances
It is taken on a computer in the test centre of your choice throughout the UK

5. How to revise for section 1
There is no clear advice available regarding revision
You are expected to know the entire curriculum (on ISCP) in detail and much of the exam is not relevant to surgical practice
Revise for at least 6 months
The best starting point is the two online databases (over 2000 questions)

6. There are also several books available which are helpful – look on Amazon
Some people go through the entire Companion Series – this is not necessary but helpful if you can remember a lot of information
Also consider books that are aimed at US doctors taking the USMLEs – they have a lot of the basic sciences and critical care that comes up in the exam
Recently there has been a trend towards more general and emergency surgery questions
Statistics and clinical governance also feature heavily
Make sure you know the up to date NICE guidelines

7. REMEMBER
Four times seems like a lot of tries to pass, however most people don’t pass the first time and you use up your chances quickly
A large amount of marks for any paper can be on specific topics that are unexpected, therefore passing is strongly dependent on luck
Do not attempt to sit the exam if you are not ready – you will be wasting a sitting
If you fail twice, consider there may be other reasons you are failing
Try and revise with other candidates as well to make sure you are studying along the right lines

8. Section 2
Made up of clinicals and vivas – again only 4 sittings are allowed
Takes 1.5 days either:
One day of vivas and half a day of clinicals

9. •VIVAS
–Academic (20 mins plus 1hr prep time)
–Emergencies & Critical care (15 mins each)
–General Surgery & Sub-speciality (15 mins each)
CLINICALS
–2 examiners take you through at least 3 stations
–1 general & 1 sub-speciality (each 30 mins)

10. Preparation for section 2 involves practicing with other candidates to become more fluent
Syllabus is the same as for section 1
There are 2 main courses that are aimed at section 2 revision – the Whipps Cross course and the Alpine course
Make sure you know the important trials in breast surgery, ABS guidelines, NICE guidelines, recent developments
Much more relevant and easier to pass than part 1

11. GOOD LUCK