FRCR 2A MCQs
FRCR 2A exam: format, curriculum areas and SBA practice
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In short: The Final FRCR Part A (CR2A) is two papers of 120 single best answer questions, three hours each, sat in the same sitting. It covers the whole clinical radiology curriculum. The pass mark is set per sitting by a modified Angoff method. There is no negative marking, so every question should be answered.
FRCR 2A: the facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | Two papers, 120 single best answer (SBA) questions each, five options per question |
| Duration | 3 hours per paper, both papers in the same sitting |
| Marking | One mark per correct answer, no negative marking |
| Standard setting | Modified Angoff, finalised by the Hofstee compromise method. No pass or fail per paper; the 240 questions are one assessment |
| Provided | Reference sheet of normal ranges and abbreviations. No calculator needed |
| Delivery | Workstation, Speedwell platform |
| Sittings | Twice a year, normally April and November |
| Eligibility | Both First FRCR modules passed and at least 22 months in a relevant training post by the month of the exam. UK residents need Training Programme Director support |
Exam facts on this page were checked against the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) candidate guidance, exam dates pages and clinical radiology exam regulations on 23 September 2026. The RCR sets and runs the FRCR examinations. Confirm dates, fees and format on rcr.ac.uk before you book.
Upcoming 2A sittings
| Sitting | Papers | Member and resident doctor booking opens | Booking closes | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | 3 and 4 November 2026 | 2 February 2026 | 4 September 2026 | 26 November 2026 |
| April 2027 | 20 and 21 April 2027 | 20 October 2026 | 19 February 2027 | 13 May 2027 |
| November 2027 | 2 and 3 November 2027 | 2 February 2027 | 3 September 2027 | 25 November 2027 |
UK fees for 2027 sittings: £562 to £668 for RCR members, £889 for non members. Non member booking opens a week after member booking. Source: RCR CR2A dates, fees and venues, checked 23 September 2026.
Curriculum areas in the 2A papers
The RCR groups questions into six areas. Both papers draw from all six.
- Cardiothoracic and vascular
- Musculoskeletal and trauma
- Gastrointestinal (including hepatobiliary and pancreatic)
- Genitourinary, adrenal, obstetrics and gynaecology, and breast
- Paediatric
- Central nervous system and head and neck
The RCR does not publish a percentage split between these areas; any site that quotes one is guessing. Physics, anatomy and technique questions appear where they are relevant to a clinical scenario. The RCR publishes the curriculum, specimen questions, SBA format advice, the candidate reference sheet and a TNM staging note; use them.
RCR CR2A page: guidance notes, specimen questions and SBA format advice
How SBA questions work
Each question has a stem and five options. More than one option may be defensible. You are asked for the single best. The skill is ranking, not recognition. Common patterns: the most likely diagnosis given a classic constellation, the next most appropriate investigation, the most appropriate management, and the classification stage from described findings (BI-RADS, LI-RADS, Bosniak, Fleischner and BTS nodule guidance, TNM staging).
How to prepare
- Read systematically by subspecialty. Grainger and Allison, or a shorter revision text, chapter by chapter.
- Answer questions in bulk. Volume exposes the topics you have never seen.
- Learn the classification systems cold. They are the easiest marks in the paper.
- Read explanations, then read around the wrong answers. The distractors are often next sitting's correct answers.
- Sit 120 question timed papers. Three hours of concentration is a skill in itself. Do not leave blanks.
Common questions
How many questions are in the FRCR 2A exam?
Two papers of 120 single best answer questions, 240 in total, three hours per paper.
Is there negative marking in FRCR 2A?
No. Answer every question.
What is the pass mark for FRCR 2A?
It is set for each sitting by a modified Angoff method and finalised after the exam with the Hofstee compromise method. There is no fixed pass percentage and no separate pass for each paper.
When can I sit FRCR 2A?
Once you have passed both First FRCR modules and spent at least 22 months in a relevant training post by the month of the exam.
When is the next FRCR 2A sitting?
The next sittings are 3 and 4 November 2026, 20 and 21 April 2027 and 2 and 3 November 2027. The exam runs twice a year, normally April and November.
What is the pass rate for FRCR 2A?
RCR published data: 62.3% of all candidates passed in November 2025 and 59.8% in April 2025. UK first attempt candidates passed at 74.2% in November 2025.
How many subspecialties does FRCR 2A cover?
The RCR lists six curriculum areas. Question banks often split these further into nine or more subspecialties for revision.
Practise the format
The Radiology Academy 2A bank contains 5,200+ published single best answer questions, maintained by clinical contributors, with tutor, exam and 120 question mock modes and subspecialty performance insights. Ten questions are free without a card.
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