The FRCA question bank market has historically been served by a small number of providers, most of which predate the mobile-first, adaptive-learning era. This page compares the current options for anaesthetic trainees.
Primary MCQ
The Primary tests basic sciences — pharmacology (40 per cent), physiology (30 per cent), physics (15 per cent), and anatomy (15 per cent). The pass rate is 55 to 60 per cent, and the most common failure pattern is underweighting pharmacology and neglecting physics.
Anaesthesia UK offers a longstanding question bank with solid content but a dated platform — no adaptive learning, no mobile app. e-LA (RCoA's own) is a learning resource rather than a dedicated question bank. Pastest offers FRCA content with an established interface. iatroX offers over 1,500 questions weighted to the exam blueprint with adaptive learning that specifically addresses the physics neglect problem by maintaining proportional question selection across all four domains.
Final Written
The Final tests clinical anaesthesia and ICU at intermediate level. The SBA component contains 60 questions. ICU content (16 per cent) is the domain where candidates with limited intensive care exposure lose marks.
The same providers cover the Final Written, with similar strengths and limitations. iatroX's adaptive algorithm ensures ICU questions receive proportional emphasis regardless of your clinical comfort zone.
Pricing
A single iatroX subscription at £29 per month or £99 per year covers both Primary and Final Written — plus FFICM and every other exam on the platform. Anaesthetic trainees who will need both Primary and Final preparation at different stages of training get the best value from a single platform that persists across their entire training pathway.