How to prepare for the Primary FRCA OSCE

The Primary FRCA OSCE is a circuit of up to 16 five-minute stations at the Royal College of Anaesthetists, each after one minute of reading time and marked out of 20. Prepare against the Stage 1 syllabus, practise five-minute pre-operative histories and anaesthetic explanations aloud, and drill anatomy, equipment, hazards and monitoring data.

Step by step

1. 1

   Check your sitting dates and the 2027 CASE transition

   You need a Primary FRCA MCQ pass within the last three years and the Initial Assessment of Competence in Anaesthesia. The 2026-27 OSCE/SOE weeks are 16 November 2026, 1 February 2027 and 17 May 2027; from July 2027 the Primary OSCE and SOE are replaced by the Primary FRCA CASE unless you hold a valid partial pass.

2. 2

   Practise to the exact one-minute read and five-minute station clock

   Outside every cubicle you have one minute to read the station guidance before the bell sounds for a five-minute station, marked out of 20. Practise moving briskly and resetting mentally between stations: examiners stress that a poor performance in one station does not mean you will fail the circuit.

3. 3

   Balance clinical content and communication in actor stations

   In History Taking and Communication stations, the College notes that half of the marks are awarded for the clinical content you elicit or explain and half for your communication skills. Practise focused pre-operative anaesthetic histories and clear explanations of regional blocks, epidural analgesia, peri-operative risks and complications.

4. 4

   Revise applied anatomy and theatre equipment systematically

   The College’s examiners report that anatomy stations are commonly poorly answered. Revise curriculum-based anatomy for airway innervation, brachial and lumbar plexus blocks, neuraxial spaces and central venous access, and be inquisitive in theatre about how every piece of anaesthetic equipment works, its safety features and its pre-use checks.

5. 5

   Drill monitoring waveforms, imaging and theatre hazards

   Practise rapid interpretation of capnography, arterial and central venous pressure traces, spirometry loops, 12-lead ECGs, chest radiographs and blood gases alongside theatre safety topics such as laser airway fires, diathermy, scavenging, blood compatibility and electrical safety.

Official resources

• Primary FRCA OSCE — RCoA

  The Royal College of Anaesthetists page covering OSCE circuit structure, marking, eligibility and dates.

• Primary OSCE Video Series — RCoA

  Run-through videos plus six spotlight videos showing satisfactory and unsatisfactory performance across OSCE station types.

• RCoA Examination Syllabus Stage 1

  The Stage 1 curriculum syllabus setting out what Primary FRCA questions and stations may cover.

• Annual Report: Primary and Final FRCA Examination 2024-2025

  Examiners’ report highlighting common candidate strengths and pitfalls across the Primary OSCE and SOE.

Common mistakes examiners report

• Neglecting anatomy: examiners report that anatomy stations are commonly poorly answered and advise revising anatomy systematically against the Stage 1 curriculum. source
• Focusing only on checklist facts in History Taking and Communication stations, where half of the marks are allocated to communication skills. source
• Allowing one difficult five-minute station to unsettle your performance in the stations that follow. source

Questions candidates ask

Sources

• RCoA: Primary FRCA OSCE
• RCoA: Primary OSCE video series
• RCoA: Examination Syllabus Stage 1
• RCoA: Annual report, Primary and Final FRCA Examination 2024-2025
• RCoA: 2027: Launch of the New FRCA Exams
• RCoA: Primary FRCA Exam Pathways

Checked on 24 October 2026.