Assessment Strategy for 2021 Anaesthetics Curriculum

The Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (FRCA) examinations are an integral part of the RCoA’s programme of assessments. The FRCA examinations provide trainee anaesthetists with the opportunity to demonstrate at critical progression points the required outcomes of their training programme. The FRCA examinations comprise a programme of summative assessments in two parts, Primary and Final. Each part uses validated assessment methods to test a broad-spectrum of knowledge, understanding, skills, behaviours and attitudes, as defined by the anaesthetic training curriculum.

The Primary FRCA examination consists of three components: a Multiple Choice Question examination (MCQ), an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and a Structure Oral Examination (SOE). All Primary examination components are blueprinted to Stage 1 of the anaesthetic curriculum. Questions used in each component are tagged to the Primary examinations syllabus. The High Level Outcomes (HLOs) and the capabilities relevant to each domain of learning are set out in the assessment blueprint. Successful completion of all three Primary examination components is required to complete Stage 1and proceed to Stage 2 of the anaesthetic training programme.

The Final FRCA examination consists of two components: a Written examination in 2 parts (part 1 is a MCQ examination and part 2, a Constructed Response Question (CRQ) examination), and a SOE. The examinations used in the Final FRCA are blueprinted to Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the anaesthetic training curriculum. The questions used in the Final FRCA examinations are tagged to the FRCA Primary and Final examinations syllabuses. The High Level Outcomes (HLOs) and the capabilities relevant to each domain of learning are set out in the assessment blueprint. Successful completion of the Final FRCA examination allows progression to Stage 3 of anaesthetic training.