MRCEM and FRCEM Exam Information

MRCEM Primary – Previously FRCEM Primary

This examination covers the basic sciences curriculum, ensuring a solid foundation in the basic sciences that underpin emergency medicine (EM) care. It can be taken at any point after registration as a medical practitioner. The exam consists of 180 questions, which must be answered in three hours.

MRCEM Intermediate SBA – Previously FRCEM Intermediate SAQ

This exam samples the RCEM Clinical Syllabus and tests the candidate’s understanding of a broad range of conditions and presentations that may occur in the Emergency Department (ED). It assesses how well the trainee synthesizes and interprets data and clinical findings to make decisions and formulate management plans. The exam consists of 180 questions, answered over four hours, divided into two papers of 90 questions each, with two hours per paper, both taken on the same day.

MRCEM OSCE

This exam consists of 16 OSCE stations that assess the clinical and communication skills of trainees, ensuring they are at the level required for Higher Training. The stations cover various areas, including history taking, examination, communication, decision-making, managing challenging situations, and resuscitation scenarios, using medium-fidelity simulation.

FRCEM SBA – Previously FRCEM Final SAQ

This examination is mapped to the advanced clinical elements within the SLOs and the RCEM Clinical Syllabus. In addition to specific knowledge-based competencies, exam content may be derived from guidance or recommendations published by healthcare organizations such as the RCEM, NCEPOD, NICE, SIGN, and NPSA. The public expects doctors to stay up to date with important developments, and such material may be examined under the umbrella of ‘professionalism.’ This exam can be taken from the start of ST5 and consists of 180 questions, with a total testing time of four hours, divided into two papers taken on the same day.

FRCEM OSCE

The FRCEM OSCE is a face-to-face, multi-station examination. It is blueprinted to assess the complex and challenging situations an emergency medicine (EM) clinician will encounter, including leadership and support roles within the ED. These areas are covered in SLOs 3 and 7-12.

The exam consists of 16 stations and involves simulated patients and medium-fidelity simulation equipment. It focuses on the ‘evaluating and analysing’ levels of Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy, where the college places more emphasis on the trainee’s reasoning process rather than simply reaching a reasonable conclusion or taking an appropriate action. Reflection-in-action is considered a more reliable predictor of future performance than a single correct response to a challenge.