What happens in the Primary FRCA exam
The Primary FRCA OSCE and Structured Oral Examination (SOE) are the two in-person parts of the Royal College of Anaesthetists' Primary FRCA, taken after passing the written MCQ. The OSCE is a circuit of up to 16 five-minute stations, each marked out of 20, with the pass mark set by modified Angoff. The SOE is two 30-minute orals of six questions each; two examiners mark all 12 questions 0, 1 or 2 (maximum 48) and the pass mark is 37. Candidates must pass both to be awarded the Primary FRCA.
Checked against the official sources on 26 September 2026.
The parts, in order
Up to 16 live stations of five minutes each, taken in succession, with one minute to read the guidance outside each station before a bell sounds. In a station an examiner may ask questions on a subject or an artefact, or the candidate may have to demonstrate a technical skill or the use of a piece of equipment, or talk with a patient played by an actor. The College puts the circuit at about 95 minutes.
Three questions in pharmacology and three in physiology and biochemistry, with two examiners.
Three questions on clinical topics, including a critical incident, and three in physics, clinical measurement, equipment and safety, with two examiners.
How it is marked
OSCE: each station is marked out of 20. SOE: two examiners independently mark every one of the 12 questions, giving 2 for a pass, 1 for a borderline performance and 0 for a fail, for a maximum of 48 marks. The OSCE and the SOE each have a pass or fail outcome.
Passing
OSCE: the examiners set a pass mark for each station before the exam by modified Angoff, and the station pass marks are added together to give the pass mark for the whole OSCE. SOE: the pass mark is fixed at 37 out of 48, based on performance data from pre-2009 exams. A candidate must pass both the OSCE and the SOE to be awarded the Primary FRCA.
Worth knowing
- To sit the OSCE and SOE, candidates must have passed the Primary FRCA MCQ in the last three years and have been awarded the Initial Assessment of Competence in Anaesthesia or a recognised equivalent.
- The OSCE and SOE are held in person at the College. Each can be attempted up to six times, and a pass in one component is valid for three years.
- Up to two extra test stations may be included in the OSCE to trial new material; they do not count towards the result.
- The College's preparation advice for the SOE is to practise answering questions under exam conditions, allowing five minutes for each question.
- From July 2027, subject to GMC approval, the OSCE and SOE are replaced by a new exam, the Primary FRCA CASE: one circuit of 13 nine-minute stations. In 2027-28 the OSCE and SOE run only for candidates who have passed one of the two but not both, and no attempts at them will be available after July 2028.
Sources
- Primary FRCA examination | The Royal College of Anaesthetists
- Primary FRCA OSCE | The Royal College of Anaesthetists
- FRCA Primary SOE | The Royal College of Anaesthetists
- RCoA Examination Regulations, section 3: Structure of RCoA Delivered Examinations (published 30 Apr 2026)
- RCoA Examination Regulations, section 10: Marking Criteria and Standards (published 1 May 2026)
- 2027: Launch of the New FRCA Exams | The Royal College of Anaesthetists
- Primary FRCA Exam Pathways | The Royal College of Anaesthetists
Formats change. MedMock is not affiliated with any examining body; always check the current regulations on the official site before you book.
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