FRCR 2B Viva
FRCR 2B oral (viva): format, marking and how to practise
On this page
In short: The oral component of the Final FRCR Part B is two 30 minute sessions, each with a different pair of examiners and six cases, in which you describe images out loud, commit to a diagnosis and justify management. It is marked on five domains and double marked. This page explains the format and how to practise.
CR2B oral component: the facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Duration | Up to 60 minutes: two 30 minute sessions |
| Examiners | A different pair in each session, four in total |
| Cases | Six per session, 12 in total, balanced across subspecialties |
| Marking | Knowledge, observation, clinical reasoning, and clinical safety and management scored per case; communication scored per session; double marked |
| Platform | risr/Assess, with a broadcast mode for window, zoom, pan and scroll |
| Result | Pass each of the three CR2B components, or two of three plus additional criteria in the RCR scoring system |
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.
What the oral asks of you
The examiners are not testing whether you can spot the finding. They are testing whether you can describe it in order, reason to a differential, choose one diagnosis and say what happens next. The structure that scores is the same as a good report: observation, interpretation, principal diagnosis, differential where needed, then further investigation or management. The RCR publishes a scoring system document, sample images and generic examiners' reports; read them before you start practising.
How to practise the oral
- Speak every answer out loud. Fluency under observation is a separate skill from knowing the answer.
- Use the same order every time: findings, interpretation, principal diagnosis, short differential, next step.
- Practise on full studies, not key images. The exam lets you scroll, window, pan and zoom, and the examiners watch what you look at.
- Rehearse recovery. Practise what you say when the examiner points you back to something you missed.
- Book mock orals with consultants from the start of preparation, and watch the RCR simulated oral video.
What you practise
- Structure: speaking in the order examiners expect, under time pressure
- Clinical reasoning: building and justifying a differential rather than pattern matching
- Next steps: further imaging, management, urgent communication
- Recovery: what to say when you have missed something and the examiner points you back to the image
Common questions
How long is the FRCR 2B viva?
Up to 60 minutes in total: two sessions of 30 minutes, each with a different pair of examiners, six cases per session and 12 in total.
How is the FRCR 2B oral marked?
Four domains per case plus a communication domain for each 30 minute session, double marked, with a pass mark set by standard setting.
How should I structure a viva answer?
Findings first, most significant to least. Then interpretation, a short differential, one committed diagnosis, and management or further imaging. Say it in that order every time.
Can I practise the FRCR viva without a consultant?
Partly. Practising aloud on full studies, alone or with a peer, trains structure and fluency. Mock orals with consultants remain essential for calibration.
What are the FRCR 2B oral marking domains?
The RCR assesses five clinical skill domains: radiology knowledge, observation, clinical reasoning, clinical safety and management, and communication. Communication is scored once per 30 minute session; the other four are scored for each case.