There is a breadth of resources available for the Final FRCA, with the challenge being knowing which resources to use and striking the optimal balance between depth of understanding and the time invested into each area of the exam. The curriculum can feel almost endless at times.
In this article, we’ll go through some of the resources that were helpful while preparing for the exam. With the exam due to change in summer 2027, some of the CRQ books listed here may become less directly applicable, but I expect that they’ll still serve as a useful guide for the breadth of the curriculum and the level of detail expected of you. It is unclear exactly how this will transfer to the SBAs.
Resources for the Final FRCA Written
CRQs for the Final FRCA. Akuji, Martin, Chambers, Thomas
This book may be small, but it contains 10 full CRQ papers (each paper contains 12 questions, 20 marks each). The questions were representative of the level expected on exam day, with mark schemes available to guide assessment and learning. It was well-written with relatively few errors, and will probably still be a useful purchase to help with learning for the SBAs in the future.
Available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/CRQs-Final-FRCA-Ashraf-Akuji-ebook/dp/B07R699S1Z
The Final FRCA Constructed Response Questions. Combeer and Patel.
Another installment of the Masterpass series that remains popular for the Final FRCA, this much weightier book was a valuable purchase. With CRQ examples going back over 10 years, Combeer and Patel’s offering provides coverage of the subspecialties along with a healthy portion of the basic sciences, which remain fair game.
The only drawback is that where the College have repeated questions over the years, Combeer and Patel have only replicated the ‘new’ parts of the question. This can be slightly frustrating when sitting down to do 4 questions (for example) but only 2 of these questions are a full 20 marks.
Altogether, this is a minor issue and I would highly recommend.
Available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Final-FRCA-Constructed-Response-Questions/dp/1032445246
Question Bank
The sticking point of my Final FRCA preparation was the absence of a satisfactory online question bank for the SBAs. I was able to access some through courses (Hull course was excellent) but those commercially available were frustratingly expensive and riddled with errors. This was the motivation behind creating our own, which are available here: https://teachmeanaesthetics.com/sign-up/#final-frca
Resources for the Final FRCA SOE
The Final FRCA Structured Oral Examination: A Complete Guide. Krishnachetty and Sethi.
This book takes you through 10 complete vivas, with basic science, short cases and long cases covering a variety of topics. Of particular use is the inclusion of investigations to test your interpretation.
Although the exam structure is due to change, the underlying principles will remain and this will likely remain a worthy purchase.
Available here: Amazon Link
FRCA Reveal
As reliable as it is for the Primary, FRCA Reveal’s Final FRCA offering is well worth obtaining. It covers a breadth of knowledge in a portable app which makes it ideal for theatre, the coffee room, long journeys and other quiet moments. Helpfully referenced at the end and well-maintained by its owners, it is as close to a ‘must-get’ as can be.
Website here, or apps available through the App Store and Google Play.