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Overview of the FRCR Clinical Oncology examinations

• August 05, 2022

If you are an international Clinical Oncologist and you are planning to work at Registrar level within the UK – you will need to obtain FRCR Clinical Oncology and a pass in IELTS or OET.

To obtain FRCR Clinical Oncology, you will need to pass FRCR Oncology Part 1, FRCR Oncology Part 2A and FRCR Oncology part 2B.

Did you know that an estimate of 1 in 2 people in the UK are likely to be diagnosed with a malignancy in their lifetime? For this reason, the NHS needs both Medical and Clinical Oncologists now more than ever.

Cost of FRCR Clinical Oncology

1. FRCR part 1 - (£144 (members) £176 (non-members)

2. FRCR Part 2 - £400 (members) £488 (non-members)

3. FRCR Part 2B - £571 (members) £697 (non-members)

FRCR Part 1 Examination Format

The First FRCR Examination expects candidates to have acquired a broad knowledge of those subjects that relate to the investigation and management of patients with cancer. 

The First FRCR Examination comprises four papers of single best answer (SBA) questions. The written papers for the four subjects are held twice a year over two consecutive days. Further general information on the examination shows in the guidance notes for candidates. 

Module	No. Of Questions	Duration
Day one
Cancer Biology & Radiobiology	50	2.5 hours
Clinical Pharmacology	40	2 hours
Day Two
Physics	50	2.5 hours
Medical Statistics	40	2 hours

FRCR First Examination Resources

Single-Best Answer Questions

Examiners’ Report
 

FRCR Part 2

The Final FRCR (Part A) Examination expects candidates to have a wide knowledge of malignant disease and the management of patients with cancer. The main emphasis is on radiotherapy and drug therapy, but a good knowledge of general medicine, surgery and gynaecology is expected. The Final FRCR (Part A) Examination comprises two papers of 120 single best answer (SBA) questions

Modules

The content of each paper is listed below:

Paper 1	Tumour type	Number of questions
	Respiratory	24
	Urology	24
	Head and Neck	24
	Skin	12
	CNS	12
	Gynaecology	24

Paper 2	Tumour type	Number of questions
	Breast	24
	Lower Gastrointestinal	24
	Upper Gastrointestinal	12
	Haematology	12
	Miscellaneous	38
	Image-based	10

You will be examined against the training curriculum for clinical oncology and the clinical oncology syllabus.

Resources

Single-Best Answer Questions

Examiners’ Report
 

Final FRCR part 2B

The Final FRCR (Part B) Examination expects candidates to have a wide knowledge of malignant disease and the management of patients with cancer. The main emphasis is on radiotherapy and drug therapy, but a good knowledge of general medicine, surgery and gynaecology is expected. 

The Final FRCR (Part B) Examination comprises a clinical and an oral examination. Despite the change in clinical examination delivery, candidates’ revision for both components should remain the same. All responses given to examiners should reflect a non-COVID-19 environment.

Clinical Exam

 

The purpose of this exam is to test your ability to examine patients appropriately and detect the presence or absence of physical signs. You will be required to interpret physical signs and to develop an appropriate differential diagnosis and management plan.

You can sit the exam in Edinburgh, Hong Kong, India, London, Manchester and Singapore.

Oral Exam

The purpose of the oral exam is to test your ability to discuss complex issues and observe your performance of complex procedures such as the interpretation of radiological images, pathology reports, other clinical material and modify radiotherapy treatment plans.

Sample Oral Questions

Revision Resources

Books

Molecular Biology of Cancer: Mechanisms, Targets and Therapeutics

Radiobiology for the Radiologist

Walter & Miller’s Textbook of Radiotherapy: Radiation Physics, Therapy and Oncology

Principles and Practice of Oncology (Cancer: Principles & Practice (DeVita)

Khan’s Lectures: Handbook of the Physics of Radiation Therapy

Online Resources

FRCR Oncology Revision Notes

FRCR Clinical Oncology

Question Banks

Cambridge Cancer Medicine Online

How can we help?

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