+ MRCEM Primary
The MRCEM Primary examination is the new name for the FRCEM Primary examination from August 2021.
The MRCEM Primary examination is mapped to the RCEM Basic Sciences Curriculum (June 2010) and 2021 Emergency Medicine curriculum. All applicants for the MRCEM Primary examination are strongly advised to familiarise themselves with the Basic Sciences Curriculum in preparation for sitting the examination.
The MRCEM Primary examination consists of a three hour, multiple choice question (MCQ) paper of 180, single best answer questions (SBAQ).
Please see the MRCEM Primary Regulations and Information pack (November 2023) for detailed information for this examination component.
Glossary of terms used in RCEM examinations (April 2023)
The MRCEM SBA examination replaces to the FRCEM Intermediate SAQ examination from 1 August 2021.
The MRCEM SBA examination is mapped to the 2021 Emergency Medicine curriculum. All applicants for the MRCEM SBA examination are strongly advised to familiarise themselves with the 2021 curriculum, paying particular attention to the SLOs assessed in this examination.
The MRCEM SBA consists of 180 single best answer (SBA) questions delivered in two 120 minute papers with 90 questions per paper.
Please see the MRCEM SBA Regulations and Information pack (November 2023) for detailed information on this examination.
Glossary of terms used in RCEM examinations (April 2023)
The MRCEM OSCE consists of an Objective Structure Clinical Examination of 16, eight minute stations. An additional one minute of reading time is provided for candidates between each OSCE station.
Please see the MRCEM OSCE Regulations and Information Pack (November 2023) for detailed information on the MRCEM OSCE examination.
Membership by Examination is awarded to candidates who pass three required examination components:
From 1 August 2021, MRCEM achieved after 1 August 2012 is recognised for entry to HST and eligibility for FRCEM Final examinations.
From 1 August 2021, FRCEM consists of the following components:
Please see the FRCEM Regulations and Information Pack (November 2023) for detailed information for these examination components.
The FRCEM Critical Appraisal and FRCEM QIP have been withdrawn as formal examination components contributing to the award of Fellowship. The skills and knowledge tested in each of these components will be assessed within the wider programme of assessment as defined in the 2021 curriculum. Candidates who have passed the FRCEM Final SAQ (after August 2016) and FRCEM Final OSCE within a seven year window (and meet other eligibility requirements) but have not passed either the FRCEM QIP or Critical Appraisal, will be awarded Fellowship in September 2021.
Glossary of terms used in RCEM examinations (April 2023)
+ Cancellation Policy and Fees
We know that unforeseen circumstances can sometimes arise, and candidates may need to request to withdraw from their exam for various reasons.
The below outlines where charges may apply in different circumstances.
Candidates can request to withdraw from their exams at any point before their exam by emailing exams@rcem.ac.uk.
Exams fees are refundable providing the process has been followed.
An administration fee of 15% of the cost of the exam will be charged for all 2024 exams (including those with application windows in 2023) to help cover the costs associated with processing withdrawals and refunds, unless it falls under one of the exceptions outlined below.
The exam fee, less the 15% administrative charge, will be refunded to the original payment method. Refunds can only be made to the original payment method, unless the payment card has expired, or the bank account has been closed. In such cases, refunds can only be made to accounts under the name of the candidate.
Applications cannot be transferred to future exam sittings. Candidates who withdraw from an exam will be required to submit a new application during the next relevant exam application window.
Candidates who withdraw from their exam by emailing exams@rcem.ac.uk within the respective application window or within one week of the close of the respective application window will not be subject to any administrative charge.
Certain exceptional circumstances, including, but not limited to: serious illness, military deployment, bereavement, or some geopolitical events, may mean that candidates can no longer sit exams as planned.
In such cases, candidates should request to withdraw from their exam by emailing exams@rcem.ac.uk including their RCEM ID and providing any available supporting evidence, e.g. a medical certificate.
Requests to withdraw from an exam citing exceptional circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis and, if approved, will not be subject to any administrative charge.
Exceptional circumstances for which supporting evidence is not available, such as geopolitical events, will also be considered on a case-by-case basis and, if approved, will not be subject to any administrative charge.
For 2024 exams, an administrative charge of 15% of the respective exam fee will be applied for candidates withdrawing from their exams in all other circumstances which fall outside of the above. The following list shows some examples where charges will still be applied. Please note this list is not exhaustive:
Candidates who do not attend an exam will forfeit their exam fee. In exceptional circumstances, for matters beyond the candidate’s control, the Head of Exams will consider requests for refunds after an exam subject to receipt of suitable written documentation (e.g. a detailed medical certificate) within 20 working days from the date of the exam. Such requests are considered on a case-by-case basis and any refunds approved after the date of the exam will be subject to the 15% administration fee.
By virtue of entering an examination candidates are deemed to have understood and agreed to abide by all examination regulations and policies, including the code of conduct for candidates and applicants (applicable from 1 January 2020)
Any allegations of misconduct raised by an invigilator, examiner or fellow candidate will be investigated and acted upon in accordance with the Misconduct Policy for MRCEM and FRCEM Examinations (Updated December 2023).
Candidates who are dissatisfied with any aspects of the service we deliver have the right to complain in line with our Complaints Policy. All complaints will be investigated thoroughly, fairly and objectively in line with this policy. Candidates can submit written complaints by emailing Exams@rcem.ac.uk.
Places in OSCE examinations are limited and, as the number of applications sometimes exceeds the number of spaces available, we allocate candidates using Oversubscription Criteria agreed by the Examinations Sub-Committee.
Candidates are allocated to spaces in the MRCEM OSCE examination in order of the following criteria:
Candidates are allocated to spaces in the FRCEM OSCE examination in order of the following criteria:
Reasonable adjustments to exam sittings
The College is committed to ensuring candidates have fair opportunities at undertaking exams. Candidates wishing to request a reasonable adjustment for their exam sitting must indicate so within their application form and provide supporting evidence from a relevant professional outlining their specific needs and the adjustments recommended. All requests must be submitted with the exam application and will be reviewed as part of the application process. Each request will be considered on a case by case basis by the College and candidates will be notified the outcome of their application in writing. Exam adjustments which may be approved with the appropriate supporting evidence include:
Candidates who will be pregnant or have given birth within the prior 26 weeks at the time of the examination can request reasonable adjustments according to their specific needs and these will be considered on an individual basis. Candidates requiring facilities to breastfeed or express (for children of any age) while they are at their examination centre should contact the Exams Department so that arrangements can be facilitated as best as possible.
Full details of reasonable adjustments and the process can be found in the regulations for each exam.
