Higher FRCS has become synonymous with core revision and success in the FRCS part 1 exam. We have nearly 2000 qs, update our content every 12 months and respond to all feedback resulting in a platform truly maintained by you – surgeons at the peak of their knowledge!
With nearly 2000 questions, you gain access to a resource that will truly prepare you well for the FRCS part 1 exam. Each question was carefully designed using principles from the JCIE question writing guidelines. Our questions are crafted to cover the syllabus using UK and International guidelines as the underlying knowledge base. Feedback from users has highlighted how closely related our questions are to the real exam.
In addition we have formulated the question stems to test knowledge in different ways ensuring the neural pathways that your brain develops during the revision process are solidified. Our inclusion of negative questioning (‘least likely’ or ‘not perform’) encourages focus on key operators and distractors.
We have divided our SBA questions into 4 distinct areas. The first classifies questions according to subject matter allowing for ease of focused speciality knowledge attainment. The second explores questions linked to images with the third section examining cancer protocols; a key framework upon which your cancer knowledge will evolve. Our ongoing and expanding section 4 maps to the syllabus and is at the heart of our collaboration with trainees who want to contribute to the bank.
We have provided an extensive bank of guidelines summarised with the main key points. This will allow you to construct the framework of knowledge needed to pass your exam. This is accompanied by thorough explanations after each question in the bank including why an answer is correct and why the other options are incorrect and less appropriate. Our questions have the option of timing your performance per question and adjust for neurodiversity so you can start pacing yourself from the start.
Our study summaries and summarised operation templates help contextualise your knowledge whilst the tests section demonstrates your understanding in an unfiltered set of questions under timed conditions. Our live tracker can help you gauge where you are in relation to other surgeons revising for the exam. Your performance can then be assessed further on our sister site higherfrcstests.co.uk for free with the option of accessing detailed revision reports.
Our extensive exam revision advice section brings together descriptions of all the revision resources available, in one place along with optimal ways to prepare. Marrying this advice with our curated resources section really will give you a head start to your revision. The resources we have compiled are not random; they have been gathered through extensive discussion with past and present trainees including our own revision experiences. They are therefore reliable and concise with relevant knowledge. We are confident that you will find them pivotal in consolidating your knowledge.
When you join Higher FRCS, you join an entire ecosystem which is designed to support your journey and is supported by ASIT with discounts for our sister sites. At the start of your revision, we offer a starter course to kick start your journey. Combine this with our SBA book and you’ll get 15% off the main question bank. Joining our network gives you free access to Higher FRCS Tests with 600 new questions in a test format with optional personalised revision reports. For those of you who want to revise further Higher Vascular Surgery questions in the bank will give you additional depth to your vascular knowledge.
Joining our network gives you free access to Higher FRCS Tests with 840 new questions in a test format with optional personalised revision reports. For those of you who want to revise further Higher Vascular Surgery will give you additional depth to your vascular knowledge.
We are currently the most cost effective SBA question platform and serves as the central pillar for our ecosystem. Once you pass your Part 1 exam, our Section 2 resources will support your continuing journey. By being part of our ecosystem, you can take advantage of discounts on Higher VIVA site and access our last minute VIVA course. You can explore more on our portfolio page. These resources can be further supplemented by our joint VIVA book with nearly 250 cases and our more extensive North of England FRCS Course.
At the heart of our success is the revision community built around us by you — the surgical apprenitce!
Our cohesive network is most evident on our facebook page/group, X [formerly Twitter] and Instagram. It is also facilitated by the engaging feedback we receive and respond to usually within 24 hours. You can contact us anytime, and I respond personally to all queries as soon as I can which can sometimes be as quick as a few minutes. This responsiveness and engagement is what makes our platform unique.
Our community is also meant that we have developed close relationships with others such as cram surgery, an excellent statistics YouTube channel and other revision providers. Collaborating in this way has meant that for any subscribers of prep medico, surgical minds or grab the FCRS is eligible for a 20% discount on the higherviva.co.uk
We have also partnered with Smart FRCS and Grab the FRCS to create a WhatsApp group you can join here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Gg8harAQd3vCXr5cY4HvpF?mode=gi_t
We also collaborate with relevant supporting bodies such as the Dyslexia Association.
Understanding the exam format is one of the most important steps in preparing effectively. Here, we outline the number of sections, the type of questions you’ll encounter, the marking scheme,
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Membership at higherfrcs.co.uk grants you exclusive, free access to higherfrcstests.co.uk—a premium platform originally designed for deaneries and personal subscribers across all grades to hone in on all specific exam techniques and weaknesses
A true collaboration between qyology.com, smartfrcs.com, grabthefrcs.com, FRCS guide and higher FRCS offering 960 brand new questions in a test format
Analyze every answer, uncover your gaps, and, most importantly, understand the critical reasoning behind each question. Your journey culminates with a Personal Performance Report—a detailed, data-driven analysis of your responses.
Everyone revises slightly differently and so you have to have insight as to the best way that you work. In terms of revision we would certainly recommend you starting with an area that is familiar to you because psychologically it will help and motivate you during this period of study. Have a particular deadline for finishing the area that you know well and then move to more challenging areas that you’re not familiar with, commonly transplant and skin.
The FRCS is probably one of the most difficult exams you will do. Part of the challenge lies in the stage of life you are at and juggling family, friends, work and need to operate. It’s really important that all of those around you are onboard with what you are trying to achieve and understand the pressures on you to attain those objectives.
A good way to approach this is by starting early typically 3-6 months before the exam and really do your best. Don’t use an attempt as a trial because you only have 4 attempts, and they go really quickly.
Another great way of maximizing your time is by creating a thorough timetable factoring in your personal and work time aswell, identifying dead time such as waiting for the computer to load or walking from one ward to another. I would also recommend getting a group together for moral support during the journey and have sessions where you discuss the questions that you’re not quite sure on. The JCIE have some sample questions that are useful but dissimilar to the exam, so be mindful of that. You can access them at this link:
You may have heard a lot of people talk about marginal gains when referencing the exam and this is very true. Often people will fail by 1 mark and that can be really gutting. A recount or reassessment of your paper usually doesn’t lead anywhere and is expensive. Furthermore, the final positive outcome is that you void your attempt rather than have your marks changed which makes the process less than worthwhile unless you’re on your last attempt. Make sure that when you create your timetable every area is covered on the syllabus, and this will maximise your chances for success. You can read more about available resources here.
One key aspect of revision is to assess where you are on you learning curve. By this point in your career the time for textbooks is over and the way you revise will have a direct impact on how you perform. Take a single subject like breast or colorectal and then use all the available resources like the books to consolidate. Adjunct your knowledge by reviewing guidelines and discussing with colleagues and then contextualising the knowledge into the question stem. Assess your performance using timed tests about a month before the exam to gauge how close you are to peak performance.
A useful method of early revision is the Pomodoro technique and is one that many of my colleagues including myself have used. It involves focussing on study for 25 minutes and then take a minute break. Remember this is a marathon not a sprint. This technique is particularly useful for starting a study topic where motivation may be low or reviewing explanations and can be easily combined with the Blocking technique described above.
Higher FRCS membership gives you complete access to all our question banks, exam-style practice papers, progress tracking tools, and exclusive resources. Designed by surgeons, for surgeons, our platform ensures that you are fully prepared for your exams. Whether you’re starting early or revising at the last minute, our membership provides flexible, structured, and effective preparation. When you join the 6 month subscription we offer a discount on the starter course and you just need to email us for a code!
We know it can sometimes be hard finding the right resources and our exam advice page gives some great insight into that. Over the years we have collated notes and guidelines that you may find beneficial. Our Cancer PDF protocols are available to view and act as a framework for you to build your knowledge on. An example of this is for GIST; the framework is relatively simple and resection is dependent on size and if not you can use imatinib but as you revise you will identify the nuances such as kras wt and use of sumitinib.
Notes courtesy of Mr Umar Wale, Surgelight & Behind The Knife.
Our resources section has some great links to resources and notes. In particular we asked Behind The Knife to send us their statistics cheat sheet which you can access too. We have highlighted areas and topics that have come up in the exam and useful video links for cancer drugs, transplant principles and transplant rejection. CramSurg Videos offer an excellent set of statistical videos which you can also access directly from the resources section. We would be more than happy to add further resources that you have come across to benefit candidates too.
