About the exam
The FRCEM Primary Examination tests candidates’ knowledge of the key basic sciences that underpin the practice of Emergency Medicine. The exam consists of 180 single best answer questions (SBAQs) where the candidate must pick one correct answer out of five potential others
Passing this exam requires a broad and detailed knowledge of the basic medical sciences as presented in the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) Basic Sciences Curriculum, along with a sound understanding of how these relates to emergency medicine.
What We Offer
Learn in class
Our exam revision course aims to help candidates pass this very challenging examination. Practice exam papers containing SBAQ /’best of five’ questions will be completed throughout the duration of the course and we will give a series of exam focused lectures from our experienced and knowledgeable faculty. All the important domains of knowledge are covered – anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, microbiology and statistics/evidence based medicine – and all lectures and teaching materials updated to closely follow the RCEM Basic Sciences Curriculum.
The course lead, Dr Ian Stell, is a retired Emergency Physician with a strong interest in basic sciences (PhD/MD holders) and has been teaching the RCEM Basic Sciences curriculum for over 12 years. Other faculty have previously included Professor Harold Ellis (author of ‘Clinical Anatomy’), Dr Robert Whitaker (author of ‘Instant Anatomy’).
Due to the covid situation we will be offering a one day intensive MCQ session on 1st and 15th July 2020. You can choose to join us in class or attend online live streamed. Our three day course will be back in October and November for the December exam.
Next Course: 15th July 2020 – One day of intensive MCQs with interactive question discussions. Currently all papers will be posted to you before the course.
Course Fee: £175 online and £275 in person
Venue: St Olav’s Court, 25 Lower Road, Canada Water, London, SE16 2XB
Course Times: 9.00am – 5.30pm
Study Online
The 32 webinars available have been recorded by our experienced faculty and closely follow the Royal College of Emergency Medicine Basic Sciences Curriculum to cover in detail the domains of knowledge required for the exam.
Advantages of our FRCEM primary webinar package include:
- Over 30 hours of basic sciences lectures and practice questions
- online access on a rolling month to month basis until cancelled
- wider coverage of the curriculum than is possible on a face to face course
- study in your own time and at your own pace
- rewind and replay the recordings as many time as you want
- streamed to your own computer or device wherever you are (internet connection is required)
We have given a great deal of thought to this package and believe that it covers the overwhelming majority of subjects likely to be encountered in this exam, and that it sets out the material in a way that can be readily understood and learnt from.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT OUR COURSES
“Excellent course; effectively covers a lot of ground and I’m sure will have made my subsequent revision much easier.”
FRCEM Primary, May 2019
“Useful overview, flagged gaps in knowledge, triggered memory of concepts.”
FRCEM Primary, May 2019
“Well organised, great faculty, online course material also extremely useful.”
FRCEM Primary, May 2019
FRCEM Primary Blog
Core anatomy: What’s upper and lower about the brachial plexus?
Question. A 15yr old boy suffers a lower brachial plexus injury as a result of grasping at a branch while falling out of a tree. Which of the following statements is correct regarding this boy’s injury? a. the C5 and [...]
Core pharmacology: Acute digoxin poisoning – fast or slow?
Question. A patient attends the ED with an acute ingestion of digoxin and markedly raised serum digoxin levels 8hrs post ingestion. The following are clinical features you would expect to see in this patient EXCEPT which one? a. hyperkalaemia b. [...]
Core physiology: What can be measured by spirometry?
Question. Which one of the following lung volumes and capacities CANNOT be measured using a spirometer? a. vital capacity (FVC) b. functional residual capacity (FRC) c. forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) d. tidal volume e. inspiratory reserve [...]
Core physiology: The ins and outs of stroke volume.
Question. Which one of the following is correct regarding stroke volume in a healthy person? a. it is the amount of blood expelled from the ventricle in one minute b. it is proportional to left ventricular end diastolic volume [...]
Microbiology essentials: Neisseria meningitides – pairs in petechiae.
Question. An 18yr old female is seen in the ED with suspected meningococcal meningitis. Which one of the following is true regarding Neisseria meningitidis? a. it is a gram-negative diplococcus bacterium b. it is carried in the axilla and [...]
Core anatomy: O TOM CAT in the cavernous sinus!
Question. A 60yr old man with widespread malignancy and sinusitis presents with severe headache, fever and proptosis. He is diagnosed with the cavernous sinus syndrome. All of the following structures are at risk of compression in this man EXCEPT [...]
Endocrine essentials: Is it pallor and pigmentation in Addison’s disease?
Question. A 56yr old woman with vitiligo becomes hypotensive and generally unwell and is diagnosed with primary adrenocortical insufficiency (Addison’s disease). Which one of the following statements is true of this condition? a. cortisol is released from the chromaffin [...]
Core anatomy: Winding round to foot drop – which nerve is the culprit?
Question. A 40 yr old pedestrian hit by a car and has suffered a fracture to the proximal fibula. On examination, it is noted that he has foot drop and reduced sensation over the lateral lower leg and lateral [...]