Notes to candidates - Specialty specific
Notes to Candidates
The notes to candidates below provide specialty specific information written by the Senior examiner. Information in the notes to candidates includes the structure of each examination segment and the level of knowledge and expertise expected of candidates.
Cardiothoracic Surgery - Notes to Candidates (PDF 329.51KB)
General Surgery - Notes to Candidates (PDF 189.07KB)
Neurosurgery - Notes to Candidates (PDF 195.59KB)
Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery - Notes to Candidates (PDF 250.82KB)
Orthopaedic Surgery - Notes to Candidates (PDF 310.6KB)
Paediatric Surgery - Notes to Candidates (PDF 209.03KB)
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Notes to Candidates (PDF 251.3KB)Written Examination as a pre-requisite to the Clinical/Viva
All candidates will need to achieve at least one pass in the Written component of the Fellowship Examination in order to progress to the Clinical/Viva component of the exam.
1) Candidates who do not meet the standard for a Pass in two written segments will not progress to the Clinical/Viva exams. These candidates will receive a refund of the examination fee for the Clinical/Viva Component.
2) Candidates who meet the standard for a Pass in at least one Written segment in their specialty will be invited to sit the Clinical/Viva exams. All candidates in Vascular Surgery (only one written paper) will progress to the Clinical/Viva exams.
3) Candidates who progress to the Clinical/Viva exams and fail the overall exam will be advised of their failed segments when they receive their official results letters after the conclusion of the exam.
4) Candidates who fail one written segment and fail the overall exam must re-sit the written component in their next exam attempt.
5) Candidates who pass all written segments but do not pass the overall exam will receive a one-time exemption from sitting the written component at the next scheduled exam, allowing them to progress directly to the clinical/viva component. This exemption only applies to the next scheduled exam and cannot be carried over to any other future exam.