Anaesthetics (Primary FRCA SOE)
Sit your Primary FRCA viva after rehearsing every answer out loud
Rehearse Primary FRCA Anaesthetics viva scenarios out loud against a senior examiner who probes your reasoning. Get instant, examiner-style feedback on every answer — as many times as it takes to sound fluent.
What is the Primary FRCA viva, and how do you practise for it?
The Primary FRCA viva is an oral exam where you defend your clinical reasoning out loud to a senior examiner. The most effective preparation is repeated spoken rehearsal — with MedMock you practise viva-style questioning against an AI examiner and get instant, examiner-style feedback on every answer.
Last reviewed June 2026
You can know the medicine and still freeze in the room
The Primary FRCA viva rewards fluency under pressure. It is not enough to know the answer — you must articulate it clearly and in a structured way, while a senior examiner interrupts and probes further.
That ability comes only from rehearsing out loud against someone who challenges you. Yet willing seniors are scarce, mock vivas are rare, and rehearsing silently develops none of the fluency you need on the day.
Primary FRCA viva practice, on demand
The Primary FRCA Structured Oral Examination — two 30-minute sections under the RCoA 2021 curriculum testing pharmacology, physiology and biochemistry, clinical anaesthesia, and physics / clinical measurement / equipment / safety. Two examiners mark each question independently.
MedMock gives you a senior examiner who probes your reasoning, available 24/7. Pick a question, have a genuine spoken conversation, and get instant, examiner-style feedback the moment you finish — scored against what genuinely matters in the Primary FRCA. No rota conflicts, no study partner, no waiting your turn. Simply practise whenever you have ten minutes.
How it works
Choose a question
Pick from the real Primary FRCA questions — all 2 of them, or let MedMock surprise you the way exam day will.
Have the conversation
Speak naturally, out loud. The AI examiner listens, follows up and probes further, exactly like the viva.
Get instant feedback
The moment you finish, you get specific, examiner-style feedback and a score — what you did well, what cost you marks, and precisely what to fix before the next attempt.
Why candidates practise with MedMock
Practise out loud, any time
No study partner, no booking, no rota clash. Open MedMock at 6am or midnight and run a full question in minutes.
All 2 questions, endless variations
You will never simply memorise answers. Each run is different, so you build the real skill — adapting in the moment.
Examiner-level feedback in seconds
Know exactly where you lost marks and how to address it, instead of guessing why a mock session went poorly.
Turn nerves into muscle memory
By the time you sit the Primary FRCA, the format feels familiar — because you have already done it dozens of times.
A fraction of the cost of courses
Avoid the hundreds of pounds you would spend on a one-off exam course, and practise unlimited scenarios instead.
Practise anywhere, from your phone
On a break, during the commute, between jobs on the ward — your preparation goes wherever you do.
Practise every station
MedMock covers the questions you will face in the Primary FRCA viva. Rehearse each one until it feels routine.
Basic Sciences Section
30-min oral covering three pharmacology questions plus three physiology and biochemistry questions. Two examiners mark every question independently. Assesses the basic-science foundations of anaesthetic practice per the RCoA Primary FRCA syllabus.
Clinical & Equipment Section
30-min oral covering three clinical topics (including a critical incident) plus three physics, clinical measurement, equipment and safety questions. Two examiners mark every question independently. Assesses Stage 1 anaesthetic decision-making and the safety principles of anaesthetic equipment.
Example scenarios
A sample of the scenarios you will practise — each plays out as a live, spoken conversation, not a script to read.
“Describe the mechanism of action of propofol, its principal cardiovascular side effects, and the features and risk thresholds of propofol infusion syndrome.”
“Walk me through the physiology of oxygen transport, the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve, and the factors that shift it.”
“You are anaesthetising a 42-year-old for elective hernia repair. Five minutes after induction her end-tidal CO2 drops, airway pressures climb and her BP collapses. Talk me through your management.”
“Name the safety mechanisms on a modern anaesthetic machine that prevent delivery of a hypoxic gas mixture.”
Primary FRCA practice — your questions answered
How realistic is MedMock's Primary FRCA practice?
Every scenario is built around the real Primary FRCA viva format and the domains examiners assess. You speak out loud and the AI examiner probes your reasoning, so it feels far closer to the day than reading notes or rehearsing silently.
How does the feedback work?
As soon as you finish a question, MedMock gives you instant, examiner-style feedback and a score — highlighting what you did well, what cost you marks, and exactly what to work on next.
Can I practise specific Primary FRCA questions?
Yes. You can pick any of the 2 questions to drill a weak area, or run a mixed set to simulate the real exam.
Do I need a study partner or a fixed time slot?
No. That is the point — MedMock is available 24/7 and you practise alone, out loud, whenever it suits you. No coordinating diaries, no waiting for a course date.
Is MedMock right for me if I am sitting the Primary FRCA?
If your Primary FRCA exam involves speaking — defending your reasoning to an examiner — then spoken rehearsal is exactly what MedMock is built for.
How much does it cost?
Far less than a one-off exam course, with unlimited practice. Everyone starts with a free trial — no card required — so you can see how it works before paying. See current options on our pricing page.
Disclaimer: National medical recruitment formats and Royal College examination criteria are subject to change annually. While Medmock strives for absolute accuracy based on the latest HEE/NHS England cycles, always consult your official applicant handbook or Royal College website for the definitive, up-to-date station requirements for your specific cohort.
Ready for your Primary FRCA viva?
Rehearse real Primary FRCA scenarios out loud and get instant, examiner-style feedback.
- Instant, personalised feedback
- Real voice-to-voice conversation
- Unlimited attempts, endless variations
Be ready for your Primary FRCA viva before you walk in
Start rehearsing Primary FRCA viva scenarios out loud today, get instant feedback, and turn exam-day nerves into something you have already done a hundred times.
Practise the Primary FRCA viva