Key facts
| Awarding body | The awarding body is the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA), United Kingdom. |
|---|---|
| Current components | The 2026–27 legacy format has an MCQ, OSCE and SOE; all three must be passed. |
| Current format | The current MCQ is 90 SBAs in three hours; the OSCE has up to 16 five-minute stations; the SOE has 12 questions across two 30-minute parts. |
| Upcoming MCQ dates | The next listed MCQ is 2 November 2026, with applications closed; the following sitting is 26 February 2027, with applications 9 November–7 December 2026. |
| Upcoming clinical dates | The next listed clinical week begins 16 November 2026, with applications closed; the following week begins 1 February 2027, with applications 1 September–7 December 2026. |
| Fees | For 2026–27, the MCQ costs £420; OSCE and SOE together cost £775, or £420 for OSCE and £380 for SOE separately. |
| Pass marks | The legacy SOE pass mark is 37/48; MCQ and OSCE standards use modified Angoff methods. |
| Pass validity | A completed Primary pass supports Final FRCA eligibility for seven years; the MCQ pass is valid for three years for clinical entry. |
| Clinical eligibility | Clinical entry requires a recent MCQ pass and IAC or a recognised alternative route; the first clinical attempt must include OSCE and SOE together. |
| Planned format transition | The planned format from July 2027 is two 80-SBA AKT papers and a 13-station CASE, subject to GMC approval. |
What the Primary FRCA assesses
The Primary FRCA is the first part of the Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (FRCA) examination. It assesses the knowledge, clinical skills and professional attributes expected at the end of core-level, or Stage 1, anaesthetic training.
The current examination has three components: a Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) paper, an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and a Structured Oral Examination (SOE). You must pass all three to complete the Primary FRCA. A completed Primary pass supports eligibility for the Final FRCA for seven years.
Primary FRCA exam format
Current format: 2026–27
| Component | Format | Main focus |
|---|---|---|
| MCQ | 90 SBAs in 3 hours; online with remote invigilation | Core sciences and their relevance to practical anaesthesia. The questions broadly cover pharmacology; physiology, related biochemistry and anatomy; and physics, clinical measurement, statistics and data interpretation. |
| OSCE | Up to 16 live stations; 1 minute to read the instructions and 5 minutes in each station | Clinical and communication skills, technical knowledge, equipment, monitoring and measurement, including simulated-patient interaction. |
| SOE | Two 30-minute parts, with six questions in each | Pharmacology; physiology and biochemistry; clinical topics, including a critical incident; and physics, clinical measurement, equipment and safety. |
The MCQ uses SBAs, not multiple true/false questions. The OSCE and SOE are taken in person. The SOE requires candidates to pass both parts, and you need a pass in every component for the overall Primary FRCA.
Planned format from July 2027
The RCoA plans to replace the MCQ with the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT): two papers of 80 SBAs, each lasting 2 hours 20 minutes. The OSCE and SOE are planned to be replaced by the Clinical Anaesthetic Sciences Exam (CASE), a 13-station circuit with 9 minutes per station and 2 minutes to read the station information. The new formats remain subject to GMC approval. See the RCoA’s 2027 format information and transition FAQs.
During 2027–28, candidates with a valid partial pass in a legacy OSCE or SOE may complete the remaining legacy clinical component. Other candidates move to the new clinical format. Legacy clinical components will not be available beyond June 2028.
Primary FRCA dates, application windows and fees
Remaining 2026–27 sittings
| Component | Exam date | Application window | Results | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCQ | 2 November 2026 | Closed | 18 November 2026 | £420 |
| MCQ | 26 February 2027 | 9 November–7 December 2026 | 17 March 2027 | £420 |
| OSCE/SOE | Week commencing 16 November 2026 | Closed | 4 December 2026 | £775 for both |
| OSCE/SOE | Week commencing 1 February 2027 | 1 September–7 December 2026 | 23 February 2027 | £775 for both |
| OSCE/SOE | Week commencing 17 May 2027 | 15 February–29 March 2027 | 8 June 2027 | £775 for both |
A single clinical component costs £420 for the OSCE or £380 for the SOE. MCQ applications open at 09:00 on the first date in the window and close at 17:00 on the final date; clinical-component applications use the same opening and closing times. The November 2026 application windows are closed. For the next MCQ, applications open on 9 November 2026; the application window for the February 2027 clinical week closes on 7 December 2026.
Published 2027–28 calendar
| Component | Exam date | Application window | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| AKT | 8 and 10 September 2027 | 26 May–14 July 2027 | 6 October 2027 |
| AKT | 1 and 3 March 2028 | 1 December 2027–5 January 2028 | 29 March 2028 |
| CASE | Week commencing 11 October 2027 | 5 July–16 August 2027 | 17 November 2027 |
| CASE | Week commencing 7 February 2028 | 1 November–13 December 2027 | 15 March 2028 |
| CASE | Week commencing 5 June 2028 | 28 February–10 April 2028 | 12 July 2028 |
These revised-format dates are subject to the approval process for the new exams.
Primary FRCA eligibility and attempts
MCQ eligibility
Candidates need full registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) or an equivalent overseas medical council, and registration with the RCoA or Faculty in a recognised membership category. Eligible routes include approved UK anaesthesia, ACCS, ICM or Foundation training; anaesthesia training with the College of Anaesthetists of Ireland; and specified practising-anaesthetist or former UK/Irish trainee routes. Foundation trainees may sit the MCQ only. The College recommends completing the IAC before taking the MCQ.
OSCE and SOE eligibility
Clinical entry requires a current eligible registration route, an MCQ pass within the three calendar years before the sitting, and the IAC or a recognised equivalent. The regulations also provide for specified alternatives, including recognised overseas competency, a qualifying NHS appraisal or an RCoA Medical Training Initiative route. At the first clinical attempt, candidates must take the OSCE and SOE together. The College strongly recommends waiting until at least halfway through Stage 1 training before sitting the clinical components.
Candidates may attempt each component a maximum of six times. For a sixth attempt, they must discuss suitability with their College Tutor or equivalent, submit an Additional Educational Training form at least three months before the exam and attend a guidance interview. Read the RCoA eligibility regulations and attempt requirements before applying.
Primary FRCA syllabus
The Primary FRCA syllabus is mapped to Stage 1 anaesthetic training. For the MCQ, questions broadly sample three areas: pharmacology; physiology, related biochemistry and anatomy; and physics, clinical measurement, statistical methods and data interpretation. The syllabus extends beyond those written-paper groupings to clinical practice and professional capabilities.
The OSCE tests clinical and communication skills alongside applied technical knowledge of equipment, monitoring and measurement. The SOE tests basic sciences, clinical reasoning and the principles and safety of equipment used in Stage 1 training. Use the current RCoA Primary FRCA syllabus as your topic checklist.
Primary FRCA pass mark and results
Each legacy component is reported as pass or fail, and all three components must be passed for an overall Primary FRCA pass. The MCQ awards one mark per correct answer and has no negative marking. Its pass mark is set using a modified Angoff method; the OSCE standard is also based on modified Angoff scores across the live stations.
The SOE has a maximum of 48 marks: each of its 12 questions is scored 0, 1 or 2, and the pass mark is 37. There is no single fixed percentage for the MCQ or OSCE that applies to every sitting. Results are available through the My RCoA membership portal on the dates in the examination calendar.
How to prepare for the Primary FRCA
Build revision around the syllabus and the way the examination samples it. Rotate through the three broad MCQ areas, use timed SBA sets, and review the reasoning behind both the best answer and the distractors. Keep basic science connected to clinical anaesthesia rather than learning isolated facts; the paper tests the science in relation to practice.
Give the oral components their own preparation time. Practise answering SOE questions aloud in five-minute blocks, explaining the mechanism and its clinical relevance clearly. For the OSCE, practise reading instructions in one minute and completing focused five-minute stations. Include communication, equipment and measurement tasks as well as clinical reasoning. The RCoA advises candidates to prepare meticulously for the oral exam rather than concentrating only on the MCQ.
The Primary FRCA preparation article offers a separate study-planning resource. The site’s anesthesia calculator covers drug doses, fluid requirements, ETT sizes and other perioperative calculations.
More preparation advice: Ultimate Guide to Preparing for the Primary FRCA Exam
Practise Primary FRCA written questions
The Primary/Basic anesthesia MCQ/MTF bank contains 1,463 questions across physiology and pharmacology (680), clinical anesthesia (335), physics, equipment and monitoring (290), anatomy (127), and ethics, statistical methods and data interpretation (31). Its listed formats include MCQ, MTF, SBA and MBA. Because the current Primary FRCA MCQ is SBA-only, prioritise SBA practice for the written paper. Use separate practice for the OSCE circuit and SOE answers aloud. New accounts receive a 3-day free trial after email verification.
- Primary/Basic anesthesia MCQ/MTF 1,463 questions
Frequently asked questions
What are the next Primary FRCA dates?
The next MCQ is 2 November 2026; its application window is closed. The following MCQ is 26 February 2027, with applications from 9 November to 7 December 2026. The next clinical week begins 16 November 2026, with applications closed; the following week begins 1 February 2027, with applications from 1 September to 7 December 2026.
How many questions are in the Primary FRCA written exam?
Through June 2027, the MCQ is 90 single best answer (SBA) questions in three hours. The planned format from July 2027 is two Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) papers of 80 SBAs each, lasting 2 hours 20 minutes per paper; the new format remains subject to GMC approval.
What is the Primary FRCA pass mark?
The legacy Structured Oral Examination (SOE) pass mark is 37 out of 48. The MCQ and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) pass standards use modified Angoff methods, so there is no single fixed percentage that applies to every sitting.
Can I sit the Primary FRCA OSCE and SOE without passing the MCQ?
No. Clinical entry requires an MCQ pass within the preceding three calendar years and an Initial Assessment of Competency in Anaesthetics (IAC) or a recognised equivalent route. At your first clinical attempt, you must take the OSCE and SOE together.
What does the Primary FRCA syllabus cover?
It is mapped to Stage 1 anaesthetic training. The written and oral components cover pharmacology, physiology, biochemistry, anatomy, physics, clinical measurement, statistics and data interpretation, alongside their application to anaesthesia; the OSCE also assesses clinical, communication and technical skills.
How long is a Primary FRCA pass valid?
A completed Primary FRCA pass is valid for seven years as part of eligibility for the Final FRCA. The MCQ pass is valid for three years for entry to the clinical components; a pass in an individual clinical component is also valid for three years.
Is the Primary FRCA changing in 2027?
The RCoA plans to introduce two AKT papers and the Clinical Anaesthetic Sciences Exam (CASE) from July 2027, subject to GMC approval. During 2027–28, candidates with a valid partial pass in a legacy OSCE or SOE may complete the remaining legacy component; other candidates move to the new clinical format.
References
Show 12 references
- Primary FRCA examination
- FRCA Primary MCQ examination
- Primary FRCA OSCE
- FRCA Primary SOE
- Examinations Calendar 2026-2027
- 4. Eligibility and Exemptions (effective 2026-04-30)
- 10. Marking Criteria and Standards (effective 2026-05-01)
- Primary-FRCA-Syllabus-2021 (effective 2026-01-19)
- 2027: Launch of the New FRCA Exams
- New Exam Format FAQs
- Examinations Calendar 27-28 FRCA .xlsx
- 6. Attempts (effective 2026-05-01)
Exam rules, dates and fees change. Always confirm the details with the awarding body before you apply.