FRCS Plast Surg practice

What happens in the FRCS Plast Surg exam

Section 2 of the FRCS (Plastic Surgery) is the clinical part of the exam, taken after passing the written Section 1. It has three 30-minute clinical sessions: long cases, in which two volunteer patients are seen, medium cases, in which three are seen, and short cases, in which five clinical scenarios are discussed. There are also three 30-minute orals, each covering three themes: trauma, burns and the adult upper limb; acute head and neck tumours, congenital anomalies and trunk and perineal reconstruction; and generic techniques, complex wounds, vascular anomalies and aesthetics, skin cancer and sarcoma, and general professional capability. Examiners mark against the JCIE's marking descriptors on a scale of 4 to 8, and the pass standard is set at the level of a day one consultant in the generality of the specialty.

Checked against the official sources on 27 September 2026.

The parts, in order

Clinical: Long Cases30 minutes

One 30-minute session in which two volunteers are seen. Volunteers are past or present patients relevant to the specialty, recruited by the host examiner.

Clinical: Medium Cases30 minutes

One 30-minute session in which three volunteers are seen.

Clinical: Short Cases30 minutes

One 30-minute session in which five clinical scenarios are discussed.

Oral: Trauma / Burns / Adult Upper Limb30 minutes

Three themes in one 30-minute oral: the assessment, resuscitation and initial management of burns, their surgical management and the management of complications; all aspects of upper limb trauma and the management of acute and chronic upper limb pathology; and facial soft tissue injuries, craniomaxillofacial trauma and lower limb trauma.

Oral: Acute Head & Neck Tumours / Congenital Anomalies / Trunk & Perineal Reconstruction30 minutes

Three themes in one 30-minute oral: excisional surgery for benign and malignant head and neck disease, major head and neck reconstruction and facial palsy; cleft lip and palate, craniofacial deformities and congenital hand and ear deformities; and perineal and genitourinary reconstruction (including hypospadias), breast and chest wall reconstruction and pressure sores.

Oral: Generic Techniques, Complex Wounds, Vascular Anomalies & Aesthetics / Skin Cancer & Sarcoma / General Professional Capability30 minutes

Three themes in one 30-minute oral: generic plastic surgery techniques, complex wound management and aesthetics; skin cancer, sarcoma and vascular anomalies; and ethical and medico-legal issues: consent, critical incident management, complaint management, safeguarding and colleague issue management.

How it is marked

Examiners use the JCIE marking descriptors, a rating scale from 4 to 8 covering basic knowledge, higher order processing, clinical skills and professionalism. A 4 describes poor basic knowledge and a lack of understanding to a level of concern; a 6 describes competent knowledge, no major errors and safe practice; an 8 describes excellent basic knowledge and knowing the breadth and depth of the topic.

Passing

The JCIE states that the pass mark is set at the level of a day one consultant in the generality of the specialty. It does not publish a numerical pass mark for Section 2 or how the marks are combined.

Worth knowing

  • Candidates must reach the required standard in Section 1 (two written papers of 120 single best answer questions) before they can sit Section 2.
  • The Plastic Surgery examiners' mission statement says they assess whether each candidate has the core knowledge and the practical abilities in diagnosis and planning of care to practise safely and competently as a consultant in plastic and reconstructive surgery in the UK and Ireland.
  • Section 2 is held at pre-selected host centres in the UK and Ireland, and candidates have a maximum of four attempts at it.
  • The JCIE's published sample oral questions for plastic surgery each set a clinical scenario, such as a man with 34% burns after his clothes caught fire, then ask an introductory question followed by two further questions (for example on management, then on complications of management).
  • The JCIE's guidance for oral question writers asks for open, higher order questions that follow a logical progression, increasing in complexity and mimicking the tasks expected of a day one consultant, rather than simple recall.
  • Section 2 results are available within two weeks of the exam, and the result letter includes a breakdown of your performance.

Sources

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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