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ASiT x PrepMedico FRCS General Surgery Preparation Course

Course Summary

09:00 - 16:00
Exchange 5

This focused and highly practical workshop is designed for ST3–ST8 trainees across all surgical specialties who are preparing—or will soon prepare—for the Intercollegiate FRCS (General Surgery) examination.

The programme provides a clear understanding of the FRCS pathway, examination expectations, preparation strategies, and the key skills required to succeed. The workshop covers core principles of exam structure, viva performance, consultant-level reasoning, and academic paper interpretation.

Whether you have just entered higher surgical training or are approaching certification, this workshop will help you understand what the FRCS exam truly assesses and how to build the senior clinical judgement expected of a day-one consultant.

Delivered by the PrepMedico faculty, the day combines structured teaching with practical demonstration sessions and live mock viva exposure.

Delegates: 15
Grade: ST3–ST8

Workshop Objectives

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe the FRCS exam pathway, structure, and assessment domains.

  2. Understand the format of Section 1 and Section 2, including the knowledge and competencies tested.

  3. Apply effective viva communication strategies that demonstrate safe, senior-level clinical judgement.

  4. Recognise the JCIE marking domains and understand how examiners evaluate performance.

  5. Understand what is expected in the academic paper interpretation viva, including study design, methodology, key results, and how to comment on limitations.

  6. Develop a realistic, structured FRCS preparation plan suitable for full-time clinical work.

  7. Gain experience with FRCS-style viva questions through a live, consultant-level demonstration session.

Topics Covered

Understanding the FRCS Examination

  • Overview of the FRCS pathway (eligibility, timings, expectations)

  • Section 1: SBA format, blueprint, question style, common pitfalls

  • Section 2: Viva structure, blueprints, scenario types, common traps

  • What “day-one consultant level” means in the context of the exam

  • How the JCIE marking scheme is applied

Viva Skills to Master the FRCS

  • Structuring a high-scoring viva answer

  • Essential safety statements and prioritisation cues

  • Demonstrating communication, leadership, and decision-making

  • Managing uncertainty and handling difficult exam questions

  • Examples of high-quality vs. poor responses

Academic Paper Interpretation in FRCS

  • What examiners expect from candidates

  • Identifying key study designs and common biases

  • Understanding essential statistics used in surgical research

  • How to summarise a paper safely, clearly, and succinctly

  • Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Preparing for FRCS While Working Full-Time
A short, practical segment covering:

  • How to plan revision timelines

  • Effective use of viva partners, peer groups, and digital platforms

  • High-yield resources and evidence-based study strategies

  • How to balance clinical workload with consistent exam preparation

Practical FRCS Viva Demonstration (Afternoon Session)
Live demonstration of FRCS-style stations including:

  • Emergency & trauma surgery scenarios

  • General surgery elective scenarios

  • Radiology-integrated scenarios

  • Real-time examiner commentary explaining how marks are awarded

  • Audience interaction and structured feedback

Programme:

09:00 - 09:10 Welcome & Introduction - Overview of the ASiT–PrepMedico collaboration and workshop aims.
09:10 - 10:00  Session 1 – Understanding the FRCS Examination
                        Pathway, structure, Section 1 and Section 2 expectations, and marking principles.
10:00 - 10:50  Session 2 – Viva Skills to Master the FRCS
                        Answer structuring, safety, communication, and common pitfalls. 
10:50 - 11:05  Coffee Break
11:05 - 11:35  Session 3 – Academic Paper Interpretation: What Is Expected
                       A concise, practical guide to academic paper interpretation in the FRCS.
11:35 - 12:00  Q&A Panel – Preparing for FRCS While Working Full-Time
                       Realistic strategies, tips, and preparation frameworks.
12:00 - 13:00  Lunch Break
13:00 - 16:00  Afternoon Practical Session – FRCS Mock Viva Demonstration
                       Live consultant-level scenarios with emergency, general surgery, and radiology components.                             Includes examiner-led feedback and marking insights.

Room: Exchange 5