Pass FRCOphth Part 1

The part 1 exam is a tricky nut to crack- but you can do it! We've put together our favourite resources (all linked below) and also highlighted areas where it is best not to splash your cash.

The Part 1 Exam Structure/ Blueprint

The exam is divided into two papers. At present both take place virtually and are each 2 hours long. For the most up to date information we advise you check the The Royal College of Ophthalmologists website.

Below is an example blueprint extracted from the performance sheet of one the team who recently passed Part 1. While the number of questions in each category might vary, this provides a useful guide. The * and ** indicate categories where questions were removed after the exam.

Which core texts should I read?

So below we have listed the most rated text books used for FRCOphth with our view on whether they are worth the read:

1. The Eye: Basic Sciences in Practice, 4e by John V. Forrester- Lets start with the big one. This book covers most of the topics needed for the FRCOphth part 1 and is probably the most popular core text.

In short, you do not need to read this book to pass the Part 1 exam-especially if reading long paragraphs is not your preferred learning style. However, if you like having a book to use as a reference text, this is the one you should get. The fourth edition has an online companion with useful videos which help you visualise anatomy and embryology which can be tough subjects to commit to memory. It's probably at least worth checking it out the library to take a look.

2. Clinical Anatomy of the Eye, by Richard S. Snell- Most of us have found it useful to have an anatomy textbook rather than replying on online notes / question banks. While the anatomy chapter in Forester (above) captures most of the anatomy you need to know, Snell is more logically laid out and some topics (like the retina) are more effectively covered.

3. Clinical Optics by A. R. Elkington - You need this for optics. This book is the only one on this list which is a must. We all read it cover to cover and made notes. The content has basically stayed the same since 1999, because if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Should I buy online notes?

The most popular online notes can be found at https://www.eye-notes.com/. This might be recommended to you because back in the day it was completely free. Now the owner has monetised the notes and for that reason we wouldn't recommend them anymore (sorry!). The notes contain copied and pasted sections of textbooks and while it can be useful to have summarised information, this isn't the best place to splash your cash.

Which online question banks should I use?

All of them. Here's the lowdown:

1. https://www.eyedocs.co.uk/ is every aspiring future eye doctors best friend. The MCQ bank within the website (EyeQ) remains the most popular question bank for FRCOphth, ICO & EBO. You need the premium version. However, a word of caution here, the bank should be used to indicate which content to learn, simply memorising the questions is not enough to pass the exam. Also, the high yield questions are much more likely to be relevant. Likewise some of the very complex optics questions are useful to check understanding but chill- they almost certainly will not come up in the exam. Take home message- It's better to know the high yield questions inside out than spread yourself thin across all the content.

2. https://www.efrcophth.com/ - This is the new kid on the block, it follows the same layout as PassMedicine and it's fantastic. Highly, Highly recommend, the content is relevant and clearly laid out. Also forms a useful collection of online notes. It's even great for putting Optics into the context of questions. Get it.

When should I sit the exam?

If you are already aware before starting your Foundation Training that Ophthalmology is for you then the earliest you can sit the exam is F2.The main advantage of doing this is that passing scores 3 points in the portfolio section of your specialty application and you will need to sit it by ST3 anyway. Competition is high and most (although not all) trainees working in competitive areas like London pass the exam before applying for training.

However, it's a tough exam and if you don't have time to study you are unlikely to pass, so wait rather than wasting your money. It is also a lot of work compared to other equivalently scoring evidence you can submit in your portfolio, and unlike MRCP / MRCS many people wait until they have a number to take the exam.

How long do I need to revise for?

Here's our take. Unless your a genius you will struggle to cram for FRCOphth Part 1 in less than 3 months- check at The Royal College of Ophthalmologists website for their revision time recommendation (3/4 months). To be honest, most of us revised for 6 months +. This is because unlike other medical exams like MRCP and finals most of the content is completely new, so you can't lean so much on prior knowledge. The pass rate is also much lower. Don't forget- you will be working most of the time, and this stretches out the revision period. Honestly- the exam is expensive to fail, and many do, so start early.

I know there is someone reading this with their exam next week or similar- Use the question banks and just go for it.

Paid courses- are they worth it?

The most popular paid course is run by UCL and it sells out rapidly every year. There is no evidence online of it running this year so we have not included a link. If you go to UCL it is discounted so probably worth it. Otherwise it's certainly a bonus rather than essential. Also it's in September and most people applying for training take the October sitting, so it leaves everything a bit late.

Top 5 Tips

1. Use question banks

2. Books as a reference only if you want to work smart (our opinion!)

3. If you sit the exam try and commit the questions that come up to memory because if you resit, the same questions are likely to come up again.

4. Don't skip the basic statistics/ public health topics, quite a few questions usually come up and they are easy marks if you've revised.

5. Remember that compared to med school exams there will be more rogue questions and you will feel like you are guessing some answers- don't be thrown off, that's completely normal. You got this.