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Advice for the FRCR Part 1

Tips and preparation advice prepared by one of the SRT regional representatives.


FRCR Part 1

By Dr Prateek Hongal, (SRT South Wales Representative at time of writing)

Published 15/12/2024.



The most essential starting point for preparing for the first FRCR exam is the FRCR Part 1 (Radiology) section on the Royal College of Radiologists' website, specifically the ‘Candidate Resources’ subsection. This section provides vital information about the structure of the exam, including the format, marking scheme, and standard-setting process. It also outlines the key topics covered in the syllabus and includes a few sample questions to familiarise candidates with the style of the exam.

 

Having passed the FRCR Part 1Exam in March 2024, I’d like to share the resources and strategies that I found most helpful, including key textbooks, question banks, courses, and articles. Since some books have remained unchanged over the years, it might be wise to ask senior colleagues for copies or check with your department before purchasing new ones.

 

PHYSICS


Textbooks / Notes

The textbooks and notes provide a solid foundation by breaking down complex physics concepts into digestible sections, ensuring clarity and understanding. Each resource approaches the material differently. This includes a mix of paragraphs explaining key concepts, diagrams to aid visual understanding, and bullet points for concise revision.

 

  1. Farr's Physics for Medical Imaging, 3rd Edition.

    • Cost – GBP 45 on Amazon UK.

    • A must-read book for FRCR preparation.

    • Covers most of the essential information required for the exam.

    • Dense content that encourages critical reading and attention to detail.

    • Each paragraph is packed with potential exam questions.

    • Includes the latest radiation protection guidelines, aligning with current practices.

 

  1. FRCR Physics Notes on Radiology Café

    • Cost – Free on the Radiology Café website. Hardcover available for GBP 50 on Amazon UK.

    • User-friendly web version, making navigation seamless.

    • Includes clear, high-quality diagrams for better visual understanding.

    • End-of-chapter bullet points provide an excellent tool for quick revision.

    • Online version is regularly updated and refined to stay current.

 

  1. R-ITI modules

    • Cost - Free

    • Comprehensive coverage of the FRCR syllabus.

    • Questions closely resemble those encountered in the actual exam.

    • End-of-module questions help consolidate knowledge and practice key concepts.

    • Easy-to-navigate platform for efficient learning.

 

Question Banks

Doing as many questions as possible is highly beneficial, as it helps to identify knowledge gaps, improve time management, and become familiar with the style of questions you’ll encounter. It’s worth noting that many of the available books are older, and while still relevant, they may not fully reflect the latest updates in radiation protection laws or include the most up-to-date questions on those topics. The list of question banks I used in no particular order as follows:

 

  1. Scientific Basis of the Royal College of Radiologists Fellowship: Illustrated Questions and Answers (IOP Expanding Physics) – GBP 85 on Amazon UK.

  2. MCQs for the First FRCR (Oxford Specialty Training: Revision Texts) - GBP 35 on Amazon UK.

  3. Succeeding in the FRCR Part 1 Exam: Over 1000 Practice MCQs with Comprehensive Revision Notes (Developmedica) (Succeeding in Your Membership Exams) – Unavailable on Amazon at the moment. Used copies available for purchase online.

  4. Get Through First FRCR: MCQs for the Physics Module – GBP 35 on Amazon UK.

  5. Physics MCQs for the Part 1 FRCR – GBP 40 on Amazon UK.

  6. FRCR Physics MCQs in Clinical Radiology – GBP 45 on Amazon UK.

  7. FRCR Exam Prep online question bank. Subscription based model with cost varying depending on number of months subscribed.

 

Courses

Several courses are available to support your preparation for the FRCR Physics Exam, offering structured teaching and additional resources. A significant advantage of many of these courses is that they include mock exams, which help improve time management, build confidence, and identify areas that need more attention. The answers to the mock exam are discussed by the course instructor, explaining the rationale behind why some answers are correct and others are not. It is possible to use the study budget for these courses.

 

  1. FRCR Part 1 Mersey Physics Online Course

    • Cost – GBP 150

    • Two-day virtual course

    • Delivered by physicist

    • Notes / slides provided by the course

    • Mock is very similar to the actual exam

  2. FRCR part 1 physics preparation course- Organised by BIR

    • Cost – GBP 150

    • Two-day virtual

    • Delivered by physicist

    • Useful mock with extensive explanations provided during discussion

  3. SRT - Crack the FRCR Physics Exam Course

    • Cost - Free

    • Delivered by senior radiology registrar with helpful ways to remember concepts

    • Mock and explanations are easy to follow and clear

  4. BMUS - Physics FRCR Part 1 Revision

    • Cost: Free

    • Half day course

    • Important topics including doppler and safety are discussed

 

Articles

  1. US Artefacts – Radiographics

  2. Artifacts in CT: Recognition and Avoidance – Radiographics  

  3. BMUS - Guidelines for the safe use of diagnostic ultrasound equipment

 

  • Tips for the physics exam:

  • Book the exam early to secure your preferred date and location.

  • Attempt both physics and anatomy in one sitting if possible; it’s manageable.

  • Start revision well in advance to cover the syllabus thoroughly.

  • Study in groups to clarify concepts, share resources, and stay motivated.

  • Focus on topic-wise reading and questions for better understanding.

  • Make concise notes for quick revision and summarising key points.

  • Pay close attention to the questions to avoid errors, especially with double negatives or complex wording.

  • Attempt all questions as there is no penalty for incorrect answers.

  • Avoid looking for answer patterns; all questions in a stem can be true or false.

  • Practise under timed conditions to build confidence and manage time effectively.

  • Stay updated on radiation protection laws and syllabus changes.

  • Ensure adequate rest to maintain focus and performance on exam day.


 

ANATOMY


For anatomy revision, the most effective approach I found was practising questions and learning directly from cases during clinical work. Engaging with real-life imaging not only reinforced my understanding but also helped me visualise anatomical structures in context. Alongside this hands-on experience, I used a few key resources to supplement my learning, which I will share to help guide your preparation.

 

Learning Resources

  1. IMAIOS e-Anatomy

    • Cost: Approx 80 GBP

    • Accessible online and via a mobile app for convenient use.

    • Features interactive, scrollable images for engaging learning.

    • Allows segregation of anatomy by category (muscles, bones, vessels) for focused practice.

    • Provides images in all three planes (axial, coronal, sagittal), aiding both exam and clinical preparation.

    • Includes short, relevant text for each structure, helpful for applied anatomy (e.g., vessel supply, muscle insertions).

  2. Weir & Abrahams' Imaging Atlas of Human Anatomy

    • Cost: GBP 50 on Amazon UK

    • High-quality imaging examples across multiple modalities.

    • Comprehensive coverage of anatomical regions with detailed labelling.

    • Excellent for understanding anatomical relationships in clinical imaging.

 

Question Banks

  1. Radiology café mocks

    • Free resource

    • 18 mocks

    • Closest resemblance to the exam

    • Online and easy to navigate

    • Good list of anatomical variants on the website

  2. Radiology Vibes – FRCR Anatomy mocks

    • Cost – GBP 54  25% discount available for SRT members!

    • Online resource

    • Large bank, approximately 3000 questions

    • Space to type the answers in

    • Gets you into the practice of spelling structures correctly and mentioning the side where appropriate

    • Lots of questions in the actual exam had the same image as shown in these mocks

    • Has a section for anatomical variants

  3. The Radiology Academy

    • Cost – Subscription based. GBP 50 for three months.

    • Online resource

    • Lots of questions

    • Able to type answers in

    • Scored appropriately for accuracy

    • Overall, the questions were harder than asked in the exam

 

Hardcover Books

These varied in terms of some being system-based questions (head and neck, abdomen etc.) and some being full mocks with a mix of questions asked but are still very useful to go through. Would recommend asking seniors if they have a copy you can use as the books are generally quite old. The books are useful as they usually have explanations in the answer section that help understand the relevant anatomy.

  • System-based books.

    • First FRCR Anatomy: Practice cases

    • Get Through First FRCR – Questions for anatomy module.

    • Passing the FRCR Part 1: Cracking Anatomy

  • Mocks

    • First FRCR Anatomy: Mock papers

    • FRCR Part 1: Cases for the anatomy viewing paper

    • Radiological Anatomy for FRCR Part 1

 

  • Tips specific to the anatomy exam:

  • Start revision early.

  • Study each body part segmentally—bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles, vessels, etc.

  • Review all body parts in different planes and windows to avoid missing key structures.

  • Read questions carefully; they may ask about traversing structures or vascular supply, not just the name of the structure.

  • Focus on applied/functional anatomy, including muscle attachments and vascular supply.

  • Practise identifying structures on static images without scrolling, as in the exam.

  • Learn anatomical variants.

  • Be specific in answers (e.g., epiphysis/metaphysis, medial/lateral, distal/proximal).

  • Watch for similar-sounding terms (e.g., coracoid vs coronoid, ilium vs ileum).

  • Avoid using eponyms in answers.

  • Always include the side (e.g., left/right) where relevant.

  • Familiarise yourself with classic slices/images like the US image of a paediatric hip, US image of the pancreas and angiography of Circle of Willis etc.

  • Attempt all questions.


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