Prepare for SCE Dermatology, one question at a time.

Choose a topic for focused revision and check your plan against the official specification.

• General dermatology & dermatology in primary health care
• Paediatric and genetics
• Skin oncology
• Skin biology & research
• Cutaneous allergy
• Dermatopathology
• Dressings & wound care
• Formulation & systemic therapy
• Genito-urinary disorders and oral medicine
• Infectious disease
• Skin surgery and cosmetic dermatology
• Photodermatology
• Dermoscopy
• Psychodermatology
• Skin of colour

Distilled from the JRCPTB curriculum, BAD guidelines and item density in iatroX.

• Psoriasis biologics — sequencing TNF inhibitors, IL-17 and IL-23 inhibitors per BAD 2024 guidance; PASI thresholds; comorbidity-driven choice (IBD, latent TB, paradoxical psoriasis)
• Melanoma staging and management — AJCC 8th edition, sentinel lymph node criteria, adjuvant pembrolizumab/nivolumab indications, BRAF-targeted therapy in metastatic disease
• Severe cutaneous adverse reactions — SJS/TEN SCORTEN scoring, DRESS HHV-6 reactivation, AGEP pustular pattern; commonly muddled drug triggers
• Bullous pemphigoid vs pemphigus vulgaris — anti-BP180 vs anti-desmoglein, DIF patterns, first-line therapy choice (potent topical clobetasol vs systemic prednisolone vs rituximab)
• Skin in skin of colour — recognising melanoma in nail and acral sites, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation pitfalls, traction alopecia, central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia
• Atopic eczema biologics and JAKs — dupilumab eligibility, tralokinumab, lebrikizumab, upadacitinib / abrocitinib safety monitoring and TB screening
• Paediatric dermatology — IH (infantile haemangioma) propranolol indications, genodermatoses red flags (ataxia-telangiectasia, NF1, tuberous sclerosis), erythroderma in neonates
• Dermoscopy patterns — pigment network, blue-grey veil, rosettes, dotted vs comma vessels; differentiating Spitz/Reed naevus from melanoma

Observations from dermatology trainees and recent SCE candidates. Verify against current BAD and NICE guidance.

Candidate-reported observations — not official guidance.

1. Biologics — confusing IL-17A (secukinumab, ixekizumab) with IL-17A/F (bimekizumab) and IL-23 (guselkumab, risankizumab) indications and contraindications. Candida and IBD interactions commonly tested.
2. Drug eruption timing — DRESS onset is 2–8 weeks (not days), SJS/TEN onset is 1–4 weeks, AGEP onset is hours to days. Misclassifying eruption tempo costs marks.
3. Skin cancer margins — confusing Mohs criteria with conventional excision margins for BCC, SCC and melanoma in situ. UK BAD margin recommendations differ from US NCCN.
4. Recognition of cutaneous lymphoma — early mycosis fungoides mimics eczema or psoriasis. T-cell receptor clonality and histology features commonly under-prepared.
5. Paediatric exanthems on darker skin — recognising scarlet fever, Kawasaki disease, meningococcal sepsis, EM minor when skin tone obscures classic erythema.
6. Photo-allergic vs photo-toxic drug reactions — the action spectrum (UVA vs UVB) and re-exposure dose dependence is examined directly.
7. Pacing across two papers — practise sustained concentration over 100 questions in three hours. The published blueprint distributes topics across both papers.

An example revision schedule to adapt to your exam date and available study time.

1. Weeks 1–6

   Build coverage across the 15 published blueprint domains. Use specialty questions and explanations, then take difficult reasoning to Tutor. Pair image interpretation with your dermatology reference resources.

2. Weeks 7–11

   Targeted weak-area drilling. Map every BAD guideline (psoriasis 2024, atopic eczema, AKs, hidradenitis suppurativa, melanoma surveillance). Daily dermoscopy practice via published BAD/Dermoscopedia banks.

3. Weeks 12–14

   Use the Paper 1 and Paper 2 mock options: 100 questions and three hours per paper. Review incorrect answers and distinguish first-attempt performance from repeat-question accuracy.

4. Weeks 15–16

   Revisit flagged questions and the domains you have under-practised. Confirm your test-centre booking and examination instructions with the Federation.

Dedicated SCE Dermatology question practice with answer explanations, guided Tutor review and study planning.

• Focused question practice — Choose the relevant bank and use your answers to identify what to study next.
• Guided reasoning — Explore a difficult answer with Tutor, then apply the distinction independently.
• Review and timed practice — Return to important mistakes and choose a timed practice set where available.

Choose the relevant bank and use the official exam guidance to plan your preparation.

Use the dedicated SCE Dermatology bank for question practice and answer explanations. Choose a practice set to see its available count and timing, then use the official specification to plan your wider preparation.

Next SCE Dermatology sitting: 7 October 2027. Applications: 17 June 2027–15 July 2027. Applications open and close at 08:00 UK local time. Confirm booking and delivery arrangements with the Federation.

200 best-of-five questions across two papers of 100 questions. Each paper lasts three hours. The examination is computer-based at a test centre, with no negative marking. Blueprint topics are distributed across both papers.

Most UK dermatology trainees sit during ST5 or ST6 (penultimate year of higher specialty training). There are no formal restrictions on when in training you sit, but CCT requires a pass before completion. International candidates can sit at any time once registered with the Federation.

UK fee is £700; international fee is £875. Fees are non-refundable after the application closing date. From June 2026 all sittings are delivered in-centre at Pearson VUE locations.

The published blueprint includes dermoscopy and dermatopathology, but does not specify an overall image-question percentage or a heavier second paper. Include image interpretation in your revision alongside the other published domains.

Full SCE Dermatology bank access is included in all-access. Up to 10 new sample questions per day are shared across exams, with no account required. A verified free account includes one guided Tutor session; continued Tutor use is included in all-access.