FRCS

 

 

                                                                                                   

 

 

Usually taken following successful Outcome 1 and curriculum checklist satisfaction at ST6 ARCP.

The exam is regulated by the Joint Committee on Intercollegiate Examinations (JCIE).

Can be booked via http://www.intercollegiate.org.uk/

 

 

FRCS Section 1

 

Candidates will have a two year period from their 1st attempt with a maximum of 4 attempts with no re-entry. This section must be passed to gain eligibility to proceed to FRCS Section 2 (vivas).

 

Paper 1         120 Single Best Answer [SBA] (2 hours 15 mins)

Paper 2         120 Single Best Answer [SBA] (2 hours 15 mins)

 

 

The exams can be taken at dedicated centres around the UK, usually local driving test centres.

 

Recommended reading list/on line questions banks:

 

• Companion Series (particularly Emergency surgery and declared sub-specialty books)
• ATLS Manual
• Bailey and Love’s Short Practice for Surgery
• FRCS General Surgery: 500 SBAs and EMIs
• www.efrcs.com/frcs (£35 for 4 month subscription)
• www.onexamination.com (£72 for 3 month subscription)

 

Overall pass mark varies each year but is approximately 70% for NTN trainees and 40% for non-NTN trainees.

 

 

FRCS Section 2

 

Only taken following success at FRCS Section 1. Takes place over two days.

 

Clinical Vivas:     General Surgery Clinical – 2 x 10 minutes cases & 1 x 20 minutes case  

                             Special Interest Clinical – 2 x 10 minutes cases & 1 x 20 minutes case

 

Orals Vivas:     4 x 30 minutes oral examinations

 

• Emergency Surgery/Trauma/Critical Care (6x 5 minute cases)
• General Surgery Principles & Clinical Practice (6x 5 minute cases)
• Special Interest Surgery Clinical Practice (6x 5  minute cases)
• Special Interest Surgery Basic Principles and Academic station (3x Base questions with 15 minute review of paper. Candidates have 30 minutes to read paper prior to starting this station.

From February 2021 the Special Interest paper will be replaced by a generic paper that will be relevant to the wider field of General Surgery. Interpretation of radiographs may be included in any of the orals.

 

Recommended reading list/on line questions banks:

 

• Cracking the Intercollegiate Exam in General Surgery
• Companion Cases for the Intercollegiate Exam in General Surgery
• Landmark Papers in General Surgery
• An Introduction to the Symptoms and Signs of Surgical Disease

 

Courses include:

 

•      Alpine Course
•      Whipps Cross
•      The Christie
•      Liverpool Course
•      GenSurg FRCS

 

Ensure to attend regular update meetings and conferences on your chosen sub-specialty. Pre-conference courses often have viva sessions for trainees coming up to FRCS examinations. 

 

Attend/setup journal clubs and sign up to surgical journals, in particular BJS and Annals of Surgery, in order to practice critiquing papers for the academic viva station. 

 

Ensure to get your consultants to viva you as much as possible during your daily clinical commitments. Arrange viva sessions and attend clinics with consultants of other specialties to get a breadth of knowledge in all general surgical sub-specialties. 

 

East of England teaching days include invaluable viva sessions from consultants based on sub-specialty themes.