Key facts
| Awarding body | Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA), United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Components | Final Written examination (MCQ and CRQ papers) plus SOE; both components must be passed |
| Written format | 90 SBA questions in a three-hour MCQ paper; 12 CRQs in a separate three-hour paper |
| SOE format | In-person SOE lasting 88 minutes: two 26-minute parts followed by a 36-minute part |
| Next SOE sitting | Next listed SOE: week commencing 30 November 2026; applications close 19 October 2026 at 17:00 |
| Next written sitting | Next written sitting: CRQ on 3 March and MCQ on 5 March 2027 |
| Eligibility | Primary FRCA or accepted exemption within seven years, plus an eligible training or employment route and component-specific registration requirements |
| Attempt limit | Maximum six attempts per component |
| Pass standard | Modified Angoff standard setting for written papers; approved standard setting, including borderline regression, for the SOE |
| Fees | £620 for the Final Written sitting; £735 for the SOE |
| Planned format change | New Final AKT and FCPE formats are planned from July 2027, with transition rules for 2027–28 |
Final FRCA overview
The Final FRCA is the second part of the Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists examination. It has two separately passed components: the Final Written examination and the Structured Oral Examination (SOE). The written examination contains an MCQ paper and a Constructed Response Question (CRQ) paper, sat on different days. You must pass the written component before applying for the SOE, and the written pass remains valid for three years.
The examination is aligned to the core and intermediate levels of UK anaesthetic training. Most questions relate to Stage 2, but Stage 1 knowledge, applied basic sciences and professionalism can also be tested. Preparation therefore needs both clinical breadth and the ability to apply knowledge clearly.
Final FRCA exam format
Current examination format
| Component | Format | Duration and delivery |
|---|---|---|
| MCQ | 90 Single Best Answer (SBA) questions | 3 hours; online with remote invigilation |
| CRQ | 12 multi-part constructed response questions; all 12 must be attempted | 3 hours; online with remote invigilation |
| SOE | SOE 1: two consecutive 26-minute parts. SOE 2: a clinical long case followed by two unrelated short cases | 88 minutes in total; in person |
The MCQ has five options per question, awards one mark for each correct answer and has no negative marking. Its broad, non-exclusive distribution is 45 questions in general anaesthesia, 10 in perioperative medicine, 10 in regional anaesthesia and 25 from other curriculum domains. Applied basic sciences may appear across sections.
SOE 1 has two consecutive parts, each lasting 26 minutes. Each part contains two clinical short cases, each linked to a clinical science question. SOE 2 lasts 36 minutes: candidates have 10 minutes to view clinical material, 13 minutes for a two-section long case and 13 minutes for two short cases. Two examiners mark the 12 SOE questions independently.
Planned format from July 2027
The RCoA plans to replace the Final Written examination with a three-hour Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) containing 100 SBAs and no CRQ paper. The SOE is planned to become a Final Clinical Performance Exam (FCPE): a circuit of 12 nine-minute stations, with two minutes to read each station. During the 2027–28 transition year, the transition rules determine which format applies; candidates with a valid partial pass may be able to complete a remaining legacy component.
Final FRCA dates, application windows and fees
The September 2026 written sitting has passed. Applications open at 09:00 on the listed opening date and close at 17:00 on the listed closing date.
| Sitting | Application window | Examination date | Results date | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final SOE, November 2026 | 24 August–19 October 2026 | Week commencing 30 November 2026 | 17 December 2026 | £735 |
| Final Written, March 2027 | 2 November 2026–4 January 2027 | CRQ: 3 March; MCQ: 5 March 2027 | 13 April 2027 | £620 |
| Final SOE, June 2027 | 8 March–16 April 2027 | Week commencing 21 June 2027 | 14 July 2027 | £735 |
For the November 2026 SOE, the application window closes at 17:00 on 19 October 2026.
Final FRCA eligibility and attempt limits
Entry requirements
For the Final Written examination, candidates need full UK General Medical Council (GMC) registration, a pass in the Primary FRCA or an RCoA-recognised exempting qualification within seven years of the sitting’s published start date, and an eligible training or employment route. Routes include current UK and Irish anaesthesia trainees, some former trainees, and eligible specialty, staff-and-associate-specialist, Medical Training Initiative and non-UK trainee candidates. Some routes require UK National Health Service employment and a satisfactory appraisal.
For the SOE, candidates need the required GMC or equivalent registration, a recognised RCoA or Faculty membership category, a Primary FRCA pass or valid exemption, and a Final Written pass within the preceding three years. The training or employment conditions also apply.
A Stage 1 certificate is not a formal entry requirement. The RCoA recommends Stage 1 training or equivalent and strongly recommends starting Stage 2 before attempting the SOE.
Attempts
Candidates may attempt each component up to six times. A sixth attempt requires an Additional Educational Training form (AET1) in advance, at least three months before applying, and a mandatory guidance interview.
Final FRCA syllabus
What the syllabus covers
The RCoA Stage 2 syllabus includes perioperative medicine and health promotion; general and regional anaesthesia; resuscitation and transfer; procedural sedation; pain; intensive care medicine; professional behaviours and communication; management and professional and regulatory requirements; safety and quality improvement; safeguarding; and research and managing data.
The written examination draws on the syllabus, with the CRQ assessing mandatory curriculum areas. The SOE is aligned to the intermediate curriculum and assesses clinical anaesthesia with applied clinical science. Its topic selection includes at least two general duties topics, at least four topics from the six essential units and up to one topic from an optional unit. Stage 1 material and professionalism may also appear in the Final FRCA.
Final FRCA pass standards and results
There is no single fixed percentage pass mark for the written papers and SOE. For the MCQ, the pass standard is set using a modified Angoff method. Each CRQ question is marked out of 20; examiners set the question pass marks using a modified Angoff method, then sum them for the paper. The SOE has 12 questions, each independently scored by two examiners from 0 to 2, for a maximum of 48 marks; its pass standard uses RCoA-approved methods, including borderline regression.
The written component and SOE are separate assessments. You must pass both to complete the Final FRCA.
How to prepare for the Final FRCA
Start with the Stage 2 syllabus, then identify gaps in applied basic sciences, Stage 1 knowledge and professionalism. Give extra attention to areas you cannot yet explain clearly, rather than dividing revision time evenly across every topic.
For the written papers, practise SBAs under timed conditions and review the reasoning behind the best answer. Rehearse the CRQ format separately: attempt every question, follow the requested structure and give only the number of responses asked for. When an answer line is provided, adding extra alternatives to that line will not earn additional marks.
Practise SOE cases aloud. Work on listening to the question, organising your answer and explaining clinical decisions and their scientific basis. Speaking coherently under examination conditions is a different skill from writing a concise response. For a broader study plan and topic discussions, continue with the Final FRCA preparation article.
More preparation advice: Mastering the Final FRCA Exam: A Comprehensive Preparation Guide
Practise for the Final FRCA with Anesthesia Zone
The Final/Advanced anesthesia MCQ/MTF bank contains 1,281 questions: 855 in anaesthesia subspecialties, 260 in critical care medicine, 102 in pain management and 64 in regional anaesthesia. It includes MCQ, MTF, SBA and MBA formats, so use SBA items for SBA-style practice without treating the bank as an exact replica of the RCoA paper.
The Final/Advanced anesthesia Short Answer Questions (SAQ) bank contains 1,135 questions. It supports concise written-recall practice, but SAQs are not the same format as the RCoA’s multi-part CRQs.
For spoken practice, the Final/Advanced Anesthesia Structured Oral Examination (SOE) bank contains 229 questions across clinical anaesthesia and pain management.
- Final/Advanced anesthesia MCQ/MTF 1,281 questions
- Final/Advanced anesthesia Short Answer Questions (SAQ) 1,135 questions
- Final/Advanced Anesthesia Structured Oral Examination (SOE) 229 questions
Frequently asked questions
What are the components of the Final FRCA?
The current format has a written component comprising a 90-question MCQ paper and a 12-question CRQ paper, sat on different days, followed by an in-person Structured Oral Examination (SOE). You must pass the written component and the SOE separately.
How many questions are in the Final FRCA written exam, and how long is it?
The written component has 90 Single Best Answer (SBA) questions in a three-hour MCQ paper and 12 multi-part Constructed Response Questions (CRQs) in a separate three-hour paper. The papers are sat on different days.
When is the next Final FRCA exam?
The next listed sitting is the SOE in the week commencing 30 November 2026; applications close at 17:00 on 19 October 2026. The next written sitting is the CRQ on 3 March 2027 and the MCQ on 5 March 2027.
Who is eligible to sit the Final FRCA?
Eligibility depends on the component and your training or employment route. In general, candidates need the Primary FRCA or an RCoA-recognised exemption within its validity period, the required registration and membership, and an eligible training or employment route; SOE applicants must also hold a valid written pass.
Is there a fixed pass mark for the Final FRCA?
There is no single fixed percentage that applies across the examination. The MCQ and CRQ standards use modified Angoff methods; the SOE uses an RCoA-approved standard-setting method.
How long is a Final FRCA written pass valid?
A written pass is valid for three years. You must pass the written component before applying for the SOE.
Will the Final FRCA format change in 2027?
The RCoA plans to introduce a 100-SBA, three-hour Final Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) and a 12-station Final Clinical Performance Exam (FCPE) from July 2027. Transition rules determine which format applies during 2027–28; a valid partial pass may allow a candidate to complete a remaining legacy component.
References
Show 9 references
- Final FRCA examination
- Final FRCA Written examination
- Final FRCA SOE
- 4. Eligibility and Exemptions (effective 2026-04-30)
- 10. Marking Criteria and Standards (effective 2026-05-01)
- Examination Syllabus Stage 2 (effective 2024-10-22)
- Examinations Calendar 2026-2027
- 2027: Launch of the New FRCA Exams (effective 2027-07-01)
- 3. Structure of RCoA Delivered Examinations
Exam rules, dates and fees change. Always confirm the details with the awarding body before you apply.