FRCS Tr & Orth - Exam Information

5/11/25 (application closes 29/5/25)

4/2/26 (application closes 3/10/25)

4/2/26 (application closes 30/10/25)

The FRCS (Tr & Orth) Part 1 exam is the first component of the Intercollegiate Specialty Board Examination in Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery. It is a single-day written examination, designed to assess the candidate’s applied clinical knowledge and ability to make safe, evidence-based decisions across the breadth of orthopaedic practice.

The exam consists of two separate multiple-choice papers, each lasting two hours:

Each paper includes 120 Single Best Answer (SBA) questions. In this format, candidates are asked to choose the most appropriate answer from five options. Only one answer is correct, although several may appear plausible. There is no negative marking, but unanswered questions score zero.

Both papers are taken on the same day, with a short break for lunch between sessions. The exam is computer-based and typically delivered at designated Pearson VUE testing centres across the UK and internationally.

The FRCS Part 1 tests the application of knowledge in the context of clinical scenarios. It spans the orthopaedic curriculum, aligned with the JCST’s (Joint Committee on Surgical Training) syllabus and ISCP (Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme) framework. The key content domains include:

• Applied Basic Sciences: anatomy, physiology, pathology, biomechanics, pharmacology, theatre design, critical appraisal and statistics relevant to orthopaedics.

• Orthopaedic Subspecialties:
• Trauma
• Shoulder
• Elbow
• Hip
• Knee
• Spine
• Paediatrics
• Foot and ankle
• Oncology
• Hand and wrist

The questions are constructed by a panel of orthopaedic surgeons and educators, with emphasis on relevance to real-world clinical practice. Candidates are expected to apply knowledge, not just recall facts.

Candidates apply via the Intercollegiate Specialty Boards (ISB) website, specifically under the JCIE (Joint Committee on Intercollegiate Examinations) portal. Applications are done online and are accompanied by relevant documents (evidence of training, registration details, CV, references) and payment.

• Medical qualification recognised by the GMC of the U.K. or the Medical Council of Ireland
• Qualified for a minimum of 6 years
• Three structured references in the format prescribed by the Joint Committee on Intercollegiate Examinations (JCIE).

Full details about the application and relevant forms can be found here:

https://www.jcie.org.uk/content/content.aspx?ID=22

You can have up to 4 attempts within a 2 year period from the first attempt.

This is a stressful period of your life, look after yourself and people close to you. Take confidence from the information you've learnt during your career to date.

With any of the exams you've done in your career, there is of course the need for some basic factual recall, particularly in anatomy and basic science, but overall the exam tests your understanding of common clinical problems, in addition to rarer things you shouldn't miss.

The exam is tough, but it's fair. The questions aren't there to trick you. Work hard and then learn to accept that you don’t and can’t know everything. Although, this question bank will set you up very well!