Part I (MCQ's & EMQ's)

Although there is a general feeling that everybody passes the part I (MCQ's & EMQ's) of the exam without a problem, the statistics do not always agree. The pass percentage varies and is anywhere between 70 and 85%. The cut-off pass mark is also dependent on the difficulty level of the paper (it was around 70% when I took the exam in July 2008). Like everyone else who prepared for the exam, I felt that the material that is available is either too little (in case of EMQ's) or superfluous but not appropriate (in case of MCQ's) for the UK exam. The main reason for this is that, this format of the exam is relatively new. Hence, although there are well established courses at different places for clinicals and vivas, there are very few, if any courses available for the written part.
This was very clearly evident when I went for the exam. Many guys (including trainee SpR's) were not aware the exact number of questions that would be asked in the each section of the exam and how to manage thier time appropriately.
I was lucky to have attended the only available course at that time which considerably improved my performance on the day of exam.

Hi Everybody

Hi friends,

My name is Veda Gowda and I have just passed the FRCS(Tr&Orth) exam (Birmingham - November 2008).
I would like to share my experience with the exam with more emphasis on part - I.