FRCOphth Exam Details and Pattern

Where are these exams conducted?

Part 1 FRCOphth and Part 2 Written Exam – Conducted online via remote proctoring, allowing candidates to sit for them from any country
Part 2 FRCOphth Oral and Refraction Certificate Exams – Conducted in the UK, India, Trinidad and Tobago, Egypt, Singapore, and Malaysia

What is the format of the Part 1 FRCOphth exam?

Tests basic sciences, optics, and refraction
Consists of two multiple-choice papers (each with 90 single best answer questions)
Total of 180 questions over two 2-hour papers

What is the format of the Part 2 FRCOphth written exam?

Consists of two multiple-choice papers with 90 single best answer questions in each.
Total of 180 questions.
Conducted twice a year and can be taken as an online proctored examination from home.

What does the Refraction Certificate examination involve?

A timed skill-based Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) with 10 stations

What does the Part 2 FRCOphth oral exam consist of?

Structured Viva – Assesses clinical decision-making
OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) – Evaluates clinical and communication skills

How many attempts are allowed for each exam?

Part 1 FRCOphth and Refraction Certificate Exam: Maximum six attempts. Attempts before August 2013 are not counted
Part 2 FRCOphth Written and Oral Exams: Maximum four attempts

What is the examination fee for each of these?

Examination	2024 Fee
Part 1 Fellowship Examination	£650
Refraction Certificate	£830 (UK) £1385 (Singapore) £1385 (Malaysia) £1330 (Trinidad and Tobago) £1040 (India) £1040 (Egypt) £1040 (Pakistan)
Part 2 Fellowship Written Examination	£650
Part 2 Fellowship Oral Examination	£875 (UK) £2900 (Singapore) £2780 (Trinidad and Tobago) £2295 (India) £2295 (Egypt) £2295 (Pakistan) £1725 (Athens)