Key facts
| Awarding body | Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) |
|---|---|
| Pathway components | Part One, annual promotion assessment, final written examination and final clinical examination |
| Part One format | One paper with 150 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions |
| Final written format | Two papers with 100–125 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions per paper |
| Final clinical format | Eight 10-minute stations: two OSCE and six SOE |
| Eligibility | Part One requires nine months of training and valid registration in a Commission postgraduate program; final written eligibility requires completion of program training and applicable Council requirements |
| Written pass marks | Part One starting pass mark 65% with a possible reduction to 60%; final written starting pass mark 70% with a possible reduction to 65% |
| Clinical attempts | Maximum of three attempts to pass the final clinical exam within the period assigned under SCFHS rules |
| Results | Clinical results are published within 14 business days after the last examination date; approved results are available through Mumaris+ |
| Exam dates | Upcoming available Saudi Board exams can be viewed through the SCFHS website and Mumaris+ |
Saudi Board Anesthesia exam overview
Saudi Board Anesthesia is the postgraduate specialty pathway administered by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) for trainees in its Main Specialty in Anesthesia program. The pathway includes Part One, annual promotion assessment, and a final examination with written and clinical components.
Part One is taken during training. The final clinical examination follows the final written examination, and you must pass the written component before sitting the clinical exam.
Saudi Board Anesthesia exam format
Written examinations
| Examination | Format | Number of questions |
|---|---|---|
| Part One | One paper of single-best-answer (SBA) multiple-choice questions | 150 |
| Final written | Two papers of SBA multiple-choice questions | 100–125 per paper |
The blueprints allow up to 10% unscored items to be added for pretesting or calibration. They do not state the written-paper duration.
Final clinical examination
The final clinical exam has eight graded stations of 10 minutes each: two OSCE stations and six SOE stations. Stations assess integrated clinical or practical encounters; a station may include more than one case or domain. SOE stations use preset questions and ideal answers, with a scoring rubric for post-encounter questions when applicable.
Saudi Board Anesthesia dates and applications
SCFHS makes exam dates available through its Exam Dates page and its Saudi Board exam schedule service. The schedule service states that upcoming available exams can be viewed on the SCFHS website and Mumaris+. Applications are made online when registration opens.
Saudi Board Anesthesia eligibility
Part One
SCFHS requires completion of nine months of training in a Saudi Board program, valid registration in a Commission postgraduate program, any additional conditions set by the Learning and Training Council, and an online application when the application opens.
Final written and clinical examinations
The final written exam requires completion of the program's training period, any additional requirements set by the relevant Scientific Council, and online application during the registration period. Council requirements may include research, publications, cases, lists or procedures. You must pass the final written exam before sitting the clinical exam. SCFHS permits a maximum of three attempts to pass the clinical exam within the period assigned under its rules.
Saudi Board Anesthesia syllabus and blueprint
The SCFHS written blueprints allocate the syllabus as follows. The distribution in each category may vary by up to five percentage points; research, ethics, professionalism and patient safety are integrated across domains.
| Syllabus domain | Part One | Final written |
|---|---|---|
| Core anesthesia | 25% | 10% |
| Medical disorders and anesthesia | 15% | 15% |
| Critical care medicine | 5% | 5% |
| Cardiac, thoracic and vascular anesthesia | 15% | 15% |
| Pain management and regional anesthesia | 10% | 15% |
| Pediatric anesthesia | 7% | 10% |
| Obstetric anesthesia | 10% | 10% |
| Neuro-anesthesia | 8% | 10% |
| Crisis management | 5% | 10% |
The clinical blueprint draws on the same broad specialty areas. It also assesses data gathering, reasoning and analysis, decision-making, and professional attitude.
Saudi Board Anesthesia pass marks and results
Written pass marks
The starting pass mark is 65% for Part One. If fewer than 70% of candidates pass before final approval, SCFHS may lower the cut score one mark at a time to reach a 70% pass rate or a score of 60%, whichever comes first. The starting pass mark for the final written exam is 70%; under the same stated pass-rate condition, it may be lowered one mark at a time, but not below 65%.
Clinical results
The clinical blueprint does not give a numerical pass mark. It states that results will be published within 14 business days after the last examination date. SCFHS notifies trainees when a Saudi Board result is approved, and the result can then be viewed in Mumaris+.
How to prepare for Saudi Board Anesthesia
Use the blueprint to set your priorities, then keep every domain in rotation. Part One gives the greatest weighting to core anesthesia, followed by medical disorders and cardiac, thoracic and vascular anesthesia. In the final written blueprint, medical disorders, cardiac/thoracic/vascular anesthesia, and pain and regional anesthesia each carry 15%.
A six-week plan
- Weeks 1–2: Build a blueprint map. List the domains and mark areas you cannot yet explain clearly. Give more study time to higher-weight sections, but schedule at least one review of every domain.
- Weeks 3–4: Practise and repair gaps. Work through mixed single-best-answer question sets. For each error, write down the concept or clinical reasoning gap and revisit it; do not rely on memorising the correct option.
- Week 5: Practise clinical reasoning aloud. Use short scenarios to rehearse the sequence of gathering relevant information, identifying immediate needs, comparing management options and explaining a safe plan. Include risks, benefits and likely complications.
- Week 6: Rehearse the formats. Use timed question blocks for written practice. For the clinical exam, practise six 10-minute oral stations and two 10-minute OSCE-style tasks with a colleague. Work on clear, structured answers and professional communication as well as clinical knowledge.
A common preparation trap is knowing isolated facts but failing to connect them to a management decision. In clinical practice, make your reasoning explicit: what information matters, what needs attention first, what options are reasonable, and why your plan is safe.
Practise for Saudi Board Anesthesia with Anesthesia Zone
For Part One, Primary/Basic anesthesia MCQ/MTF offers 1,463 questions across physiology and pharmacology, clinical anesthesia, physics and equipment, anatomy, and ethics, statistical methods and data interpretation. For the final written exam, Final/Advanced anesthesia MCQ/MTF has 1,281 questions across anesthesia subspecialties, critical care medicine, pain management and regional anesthesia. Final/Advanced Anesthesia Structured Oral Examination (SOE) provides 229 oral-exam questions for practising structured responses; it is an SOE resource, not a dedicated OSCE mock. Use these resources alongside the SCFHS blueprint. New accounts receive a three-day free trial after email verification.
- Primary/Basic anesthesia MCQ/MTF 1,463 questions
- Final/Advanced anesthesia MCQ/MTF 1,281 questions
- Final/Advanced Anesthesia Structured Oral Examination (SOE) 229 questions
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in Saudi Board Anesthesia Part One?
Part One has one paper with 150 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions. Up to 10% unscored pretest items may be added.
What is the format of the final written exam?
The final written exam has two papers, each with 100–125 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions. Up to 10% unscored items may be included for calibration.
What is the format of the final clinical exam?
It has eight graded stations, each lasting 10 minutes: two objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) stations and six structured oral examination (SOE) stations.
What is the Saudi Board Anesthesia pass mark?
The starting pass mark is 65% for Part One and 70% for the final written exam. The written blueprints allow the cut score to be lowered under specified pass-rate conditions; the clinical blueprint gives no numerical pass mark.
Where can I find Saudi Board Anesthesia exam dates?
SCFHS provides an exam-dates page and a service for viewing upcoming Saudi Board exams. The schedule service says exam dates are available on the SCFHS website and Mumaris+.
Who is eligible to sit the exam?
Part One requires completion of nine months of training in a Saudi Board program, valid registration in a Commission postgraduate program, and online application when registration opens. The final written exam requires completion of the training period and any applicable Scientific Council requirements; you must pass it before sitting the final clinical exam.
How long are the written exam papers?
The written blueprints specify the number of papers and questions but do not state a paper duration.
References
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Exam rules, dates and fees change. Always confirm the details with the awarding body before you apply.