FRCR Part 2A, officially the Final FRCR Part A, is the knowledge exam of the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) Fellowship. Trainees in the UK sit it, and so do many radiologists in Pakistan, India and the Middle East who want an internationally recognised qualification. It is a test of breadth: 240 questions across every system, with no negative marking. That makes it very winnable for candidates who practise SBAs systematically.
Where FRCR 2A fits in the FRCR pathway
| Stage | What it tests |
|---|---|
| First FRCR (Part 1) | Anatomy and radiation physics |
| Final FRCR Part A (2A) | Knowledge of all clinical radiology, plus physics, anatomy and techniques, through SBA papers |
| Final FRCR Part B (2B) | Image interpretation and reporting skills, with rapid reporting, reporting and an oral |
Check the eligibility rules for your training route on the RCR website before you book. Booking windows open months ahead, and members and UK trainees can usually book before non-members.
FRCR 2A exam format
- Two papers of 120 single best answer (SBA) questions, so 240 questions in total.
- Three hours per paper, which works out at 90 seconds a question. Paper 1 and Paper 2 are sat on consecutive days.
- Five options per question (a to e), with one best answer.
- A reference sheet of normal ranges and abbreviations is provided, and no calculator is needed.
- Two sittings a year, normally in November and April.
The questions are drawn from six topic areas:
| RCR topic area | Includes |
|---|---|
| Cardiothoracic & vascular | Lungs, mediastinum, heart, great vessels, interventional vascular |
| Musculoskeletal & trauma | Bone and soft tissue tumours, arthropathies, trauma, spine |
| Gastro-intestinal | Luminal GI, liver, biliary tree, pancreas, spleen |
| Genito-urinary, adrenal, O&G and breast | Kidneys, bladder, prostate, adrenals, obstetrics, gynaecology, breast |
| Paediatric | All paediatric systems, including neonatal and non-accidental injury |
| Central nervous system and head & neck | Brain, spine, orbits, ENT, neck |
How FRCR 2A is marked, and what the pass mark is
- No negative marking. A correct answer scores +1 and a wrong answer scores 0, so never leave a question blank.
- One combined result. The 240 questions are treated as a single assessment, with no separate pass or fail for each paper. A weaker Paper 1 can be balanced by a stronger Paper 2.
- The pass mark is not fixed. It is set using a modified Angoff method, in which examiners estimate how a just-passing candidate would perform on each question, and finalised after the exam with the Hofstee method. Questions found to be ambiguous or flawed are removed.
- Attempts: no candidate is automatically allowed more than six attempts at any FRCR exam.
Sitting FRCR 2A from Pakistan
The RCR lists Pakistan as one of its global exam venues, together with Egypt, Hong Kong, India (Hyderabad) and Singapore, so you don't need to travel to the UK for Part 2A. At the time of writing, the RCR lists the following fees:
| Sitting | RCR members | Non-members |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | £659 | £877 |
| April 2027 and November 2027 | £706 | £939 |
Book as soon as the window opens, because overseas venues can fill quickly. Fees, venues and dates change, so always confirm on the RCR FRCR 2A page.
Many Pakistani candidates prepare for FRCR 2A and FCPS Part II at the same time. The knowledge overlaps heavily, so one good plan serves both.
Best resources for FRCR 2A
- Dähnert, Radiology Review Manual: list-based and dense with differentials, signs and facts, which is ideal for SBAs that hinge on one discriminating feature.
- Chapman & Nakielny, Aids to Radiological Differential Diagnosis: the classic differential diagnosis lists that FRCR candidates have used for decades.
- Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology: the reference text for topics you need to understand rather than memorise.
- Radiopaedia.org: free articles and cases, and the quickest way to check a fact while reviewing questions.
- The RCR curriculum: use it as a checklist so that no area, especially paediatrics, is left uncovered.
- Thousands of SBAs: the most important resource of all, because this is a question-answering exam.
2,000 clinical vignette SBAs
The Radiology Q Bank is referenced to Dähnert's Radiology Review Manual across 14 units. Every answer is explained, with why each distractor is wrong and a page reference.
Try 10 questions freeA 12-week FRCR 2A study plan
This plan covers all six RCR topic areas in eleven weeks and leaves the last week for mock papers. Each week, read the topic in Dähnert or Chapman, do every question in the matching unit, and review all the explanations. Ten minutes of daily flashcards from the free FRCR rapid review keeps earlier topics fresh.
| Week | Focus | RCR area | Q bank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chest | Cardiothoracic & vascular | Unit 6 |
| 2 | Cardiac & vascular | Cardiothoracic & vascular | Unit 8 |
| 3 | Bone tumours, arthritis, metabolic bone | MSK & trauma | Unit 1 |
| 4 | Trauma & spine | MSK & trauma | Units 1, 2 |
| 5 | Bowel, oesophagus, stomach | Gastro-intestinal | Unit 10 |
| 6 | Liver, biliary, pancreas, spleen | Gastro-intestinal | Unit 9 |
| 7 | Kidney, adrenal, bladder, prostate | GU, adrenal, O&G, breast | Unit 11 |
| 8 | Obstetrics, gynaecology & breast | GU, adrenal, O&G, breast | Units 12, 7 |
| 9 | Paediatrics (all systems) | Paediatric | Mixed |
| 10 | Brain | CNS and head & neck | Unit 3 |
| 11 | Orbit, ENT, neck | CNS and head & neck | Units 4, 5 |
| 12 | Nuclear medicine, contrast + full mock papers | All | Units 13, 14 |
In the last four weeks, add one timed mixed block a week: 120 questions in 3 hours. This builds the stamina and pacing that the real exam needs.
SBA technique for FRCR 2A
- Pace yourself at 90 seconds a question. Answer, flag and move on. Your first pass should leave 30–40 minutes for flagged questions.
- Never leave a blank. With no negative marking, an educated guess can only help.
- Read the question line first. "Most likely diagnosis", "next investigation" and "most specific sign" each need a different kind of answer.
- Look for the discriminator. Age, location, fat, calcification, enhancement pattern and diffusion restriction narrow the differential to one answer.
- "Best" means most specific or most common. Several options may be true; choose the one that best fits this patient.
- Only change an answer for a clear reason, such as a detail you misread. Don't change it on a vague feeling.
Try a sample question
A 39-year-old man with gastrointestinal symptoms is referred for a barium small bowel follow-through. Which appearance classically indicates malabsorption?
- Thumbprinting of the colon
- Small bowel dilatation with flocculation and segmentation of barium and fold thickening (sprue pattern)
- String sign in the terminal ileum
- Cobblestone mucosa with fistulas
Show answer
B. Coeliac sprue shows jejunal dilatation, a reversed jejunoileal fold pattern ("jejunisation" of the ileum), the moulage sign and transient intussusceptions. Thumbprinting (A) suggests colitis or ischaemia, while the string sign (C) and cobblestoning with fistulas (D) are features of Crohn disease.
FRCR 2A vs FCPS Part II: what's different?
| FRCR 2A | FCPS Part II (theory) | |
|---|---|---|
| Awarding body | Royal College of Radiologists, UK | College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan |
| Question type | Single best answer, 5 options | Best choice questions (BCQ) |
| Papers | 2 × 120 questions, 3 hours each | 2 theory papers |
| Next stage | Final FRCR Part B (2B) | TOACS and viva |
| Recognition | UK and international | Pakistan and many regional health systems |
Both exams reward the same core knowledge, so the same question bank and flashcards serve both. Read our FCPS Part II preparation guide for the CPSP side.
Frequently asked questions
What is the format of the FRCR 2A exam?
FRCR Part 2A (the Final FRCR Part A) consists of two single best answer papers of 120 questions each, 240 questions in total. Each paper lasts three hours, and each question has five options. The exam covers all of clinical radiology plus the basic sciences of physics, anatomy and techniques.
Is FRCR 2A negatively marked?
No. Each correct answer scores one mark and an incorrect answer scores zero, so you should answer every question. The two papers are treated as one 240-question assessment, with no separate pass or fail for each paper.
What is the pass mark for FRCR 2A?
There is no fixed pass mark. The Royal College of Radiologists sets it for each sitting using a modified Angoff method, in which examiners judge how a just-passing candidate would perform on each question. The mark is then finalised after the exam using the Hofstee method.
Can I sit FRCR 2A in Pakistan?
Yes. The RCR lists Pakistan among its global exam venues, alongside Egypt, Hong Kong, India and Singapore. Check the RCR website for the exact venue, booking windows and fees for your sitting.
How many times a year is FRCR 2A held?
The exam is normally held twice a year, in November and April. Paper 1 and Paper 2 are sat on consecutive days.
How many attempts are allowed for FRCR 2A?
No candidate is automatically permitted more than six attempts at any FRCR examination. A seventh attempt requires evidence of additional educational experience.
How many questions should I practise for FRCR 2A?
There is no official number, but most successful candidates complete at least one or two large SBA banks, 2,000 or more questions in total, and review every explanation. Timed mixed papers of 120 questions in three hours are essential in the final month.
Start practising today
Try free SBAs, then unlock every question for PKR 10,000 (US$50) a year.
Try the Q bank free Free FRCR rapid review