FRCEM Primary
FRCEM Primary
FRCEM Primary
The FRCEM Primary is a daunting and notoriously difficult prospect and also represents the first step towards achieving a training post in Emergency Medicine and ultimately entering the Specialist Register. The FRCEM Primary examination is sat twice yearly.
The paper is three hours long and comprises 180 SBA questions. Each SBAQ will consist of a question followed by five choices, of which only one will be correct.
The main emphasis of the FRCEM Primary examination is the RCEM basic sciences curriculum. The following areas are tested in the following proportions:
- Anatomy (60 questions)
- Physiology (60 questions)
- Pharmacology (27 questions)
- Microbiology (18 questions)
- Pathology (9 questions)
- Evidence-Based Medicine (6 questions)
The 2021 FRCEM Primary examination dates are shown below (taken from the RCEM website):
Diet |
Closing Date |
Exam Date |
Summer 2021 |
16th April 2021 |
24th June 2021 |
Winter 2020 (New MRCEM primary) |
17th September 2021 |
1st December 2021 |