The Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists is the postgraduate qualification required for independent anaesthetic practice in the UK. The examination consists of two stages — Primary and Final — each with multiple components. This page provides a complete overview.
The Primary examination
The FRCA Primary tests basic sciences applied to anaesthesia. It consists of three components sat separately.
Primary MCQ: 90 SBA questions in three hours. Tests pharmacology (40 per cent), physiology (30 per cent), physics and clinical measurement (15 per cent), and anatomy (15 per cent). There is no negative marking. Three sittings per year — February, September, and November. This is usually the first component attempted.
Primary OSCE: structured clinical examination testing anatomy (including prosected specimens), equipment handling, clinical examination, and technical skills. Two to three sittings per year.
Primary SOE: structured oral examination testing pharmacology, physiology, and physics through viva-style questioning. Two to three sittings per year.
You must pass all three components to complete the Primary. They can be sat in any order, though most candidates sit the MCQ first. There is a time limit — you must complete all three components within a set window (currently 18 months from the date of your first Primary attempt).
The Final examination
The FRCA Final tests clinical anaesthesia and intensive care at intermediate curriculum level. It consists of two components.
Final Written: SBA paper (60 questions, three hours) and CRQ paper (constructed response questions, sat on a separate day). Three sittings per year — March, July, and October. The SBA and CRQ papers are scored separately but results are combined.
Final SOE: structured oral examination testing clinical anaesthesia across all subspecialties. Two to three sittings per year. You must have passed the Final Written before sitting the Final SOE.
The training pathway
The FRCA Primary is typically completed during CT1 to CT2 (basic anaesthetic training). The FRCA Final is typically completed during ST3 to ST5 (intermediate anaesthetic training). Both must be passed before completing higher training and achieving CCT.
Pass rates
The Primary MCQ has a pass rate of approximately 55 to 60 per cent. The most common failure pattern is underweighting pharmacology (which accounts for 40 per cent of the paper) and neglecting physics (which accounts for 15 per cent but is the domain with the lowest average scores). The Final Written has a pass rate of approximately 60 to 65 per cent, with ICU content (16 per cent of the SBA paper) being the domain where candidates with limited ICU exposure lose marks.
How to prepare
The FRCA Primary MCQ requires three to four months of dedicated basic sciences revision. Standard textbooks (Peck Hill & Williams for pharmacology, Power & Kam for physiology, Al-Shaikh & Stacey for equipment) combined with extensive question bank practice. The FRCA Final Written requires a similar revision period focused on clinical anaesthesia and ICU guidelines.
iatroX offers dedicated question banks for both FRCA Primary and Final Written, each containing over 1,500 SBA questions weighted to match the exam blueprint. Adaptive learning identifies your weakest domains. Full mock exams simulate the real format. All included at £29 per month or £99 per year.