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FRACP Exams

 

Important Information

Eligibility

Written exam:

  • You are eligible to sit the written exam in February if you have completed 24 months of RACP accredited paediatric training by the end of the clinical year just prior to the written exam;

  • You are eligible to sit the written exam in October if you have competed 24 months of RACP accredited paedaitric training by the end of August in the same year.

Clinical exam:

  • You are eligible to sit the clinical exam if you have passed the written exam

  • The clinical exam consists of 2 long cases and 4 short cases

Number of attempts:

  • You can have a maximum of 3 attempts for the written exam

  • You can have a maximum of 3 attempts for the clinical exam

Overview of the written and clinical exams:

Preparing for the RACP’s Written and Clinical Exams, whilst challenging, will help to ensure that you have the knowledge, skills and confidence to be able to progress to Advanced Training. However, it can be overwhelming to know where to start when preparing for exams. Here is a link to the RACP’s ‘Divisional Examination Readiness’ course which will provide an overview and tips that will point you in the right direction

Ensure that you are on the FRACP email list so that you receive all of the relevant updates.

Additional VBPTC trainee resources can be found on this password protected page.

Queries to access this page can be sent to training@vbptc.com.au

 
 

Written Exam

Preparation:

Trainees usually spend about 1 year studying for the written exam.

This is usually spent doing a combination of:

  1. Listening to lectures

  2. Attending Q&A sessions

  3. Participating in study groups

  4. Private study

You do not have to be in a study group if you prefer to study alone, however, many people find this helpful both academically and for peer support.

For more information on preparation and application for the written exam please go to: Divisional Written Examination

 

Lecture Series:

I. National Lecture Series

The RACP commenced a national lecture series in July 2021 consisting of all topics in the curriculum. These lectures are recorded by specialists from around Australia and New Zealand and are checked by 2 different editors for relevance and appropriateness.

This should be your starting point and the foundation for building on your knowledge of the paediatric curriculum. This series is not exhaustive however, and you should also read around the topics.

The National College Lecture Series (CLS) and Knowledge Guides can be accessed here: RACP Online Learning

Details of the CLS Paediatrics and Child Health lecture series by topic can be found here. Clicking on the links in the document will take you to the RACP CLS lectures (you will need your RACP log in and password).

The Knowledge Guides provide information relating to each specialty including:

  • Key presentations and conditions

  • Less common or more complex presentations and conditions

  • Epidemiology, pathophysiology and clinical sciences

  • Investigations, procedures and clinical assessment tools

  • Important specific issues

II. Local Q&A Sessions

To add to the National Lecture Series, there will be live Q&A sessions with specialists to answer your questions. An information session was held on 18 February 2025 (please speak with your colleagues if you were unable to attend) and the Q&A sessions will be held as weekly sessions from August 2025 - they will mainly take place via zoom. The presenters will be added to the timetable closer to the start of the series. Please note that these specialists are giving up their valuable time to assist the trainees. Please be respectful of their time and effort by coming on time and being prepared with questions.

The draft 2025 Q&A session schedule can be found here. The Q&A resources can also be found on this password protected page. Queries to access this page can be sent to training@vbptc.com.au

Trainees in the Victorian and Tasmanian Paediatric Basic Training programs who want to receive regular communication updates from the VBPTC about these Q&A sessions should express their interest by emailing: training@vbptc.com.au

 
 

Clinical Exam

Preparation:

Ideally, trainees should prepare for the written and clinical exam at the same time. This can be done by a combination of:

  1. Doing a thorough job at work

  2. Attending tutorials

  3. Presenting long cases (either privately or in a group)

  4. Seeing short cases with your peers/fellow/consultant

  5. Private study

 

What you need:

List can be found here.

 

General information:

Most VBPTC locations are able to assist candidates with their preparation for the clinical exam. If there isn’t an official exam preparation calendar at your location, please speak with your supervisor or head of unit to identify exam practice opportunities for you.

Public & private opportunities overseen by RCH and MCH CRMOs:

  • RCH Public shorts - Tuesday at 17.30

  • RCH Public longs - Thursday 17.30 (plus Friday May 2nd at 16.00)

  • Statewide Private longs - numerous dates and times

  • RCH Neurology Bedside tutorials (2 candidates, 4 observers) - Wednesday 08.00

  • RCH Cardiology Bedside tutorials (2 candidates, 2 or 3 observers) - Wednesday and Friday dates

  • RCH neurodevelopmental lectures - Wednesday 17.30

  • MCH Saturday morning clinical exam preparation tutorials (includes public long and public short cases plus a tutorial)

IMPORTANT: In order to participate in long case exam preparation at RCH and / or MCH, trainees must be appropriately credentialed. Please refer to the guidelines for further details.

Please see the sections below for more information about these opportunities.

Long case preparation:

Candidates are able to present long cases to fellows and consultants either in private or in front of their peers. You can choose to participate in either or both of these. The RCH Chief Resident Medical Officer (CRMO) has sought trainee preferences and a roster has been created and distributed so that you will have ample opportunity to practise. Please refer to the RCH CRMO spreadsheet for allocations, meeting links and to check for any changes to venue or time.

If you are preparing to sit the clinical exam and do not have access to this spreadsheet, please contact RCH CRMO exam prep team: clinicalexam@rch.org.au (Myles Loughnan & volunteers).

Monash Children’s Hospital (MCH)

2025 sees MCH offer Saturday morning clinical exam preparation tutorials for the 54th year. Originally starting at Queen Victoria Hospital by Professor Arthur Clarke, these are highly valued by trainees and senior medical staff alike, and we have terrific support from our patient population. Indeed the SMS roster generally fills within hours of advertising.

Our current offering over two hours is a ‘hot’ long case plus feedback, a didactic tutorial, then a ‘hot’ short case plus feedback. For several years the long and short cases are allocated as part of the centralised exam prep roster. The series starts on Saturday March 15 and runs to May 10.

Saturday practice exam format:

0800-0900: candidate does f2f patient interview then has 10 mins thinking time; moves to Seminar Room 5.5, Level 5

0915-0940: Examiners hear long case in room 5.5. (short case candidate responsible for streaming via Teams to colleagues)*

0940-0950: long case feedback

0950-1010: 20 minute didactic component by one of the examiners on whatever topic they wish- generally an aspect of physical examination that in their observation trainees do poorly. Stream from their own device.

1020- 1045: Live short case: candidate plus one observer in room with examiners. The observer is responsible for live streaming the case via Teams to the group

1045- 1055: short case feedback

1055- 1115: QandA/ contingency time

(* Room and Teams tbc)

Only the candidates are to attend in person at MCH, other trainees are to attend via Teams (link information is available in the exam preparation spreadsheet managed by RCH CRMO)

MCH logistics queries can be directed to the MCH CRMO: Sam Bush Sam.Bush@monashhealth.org

In order to participate in long case exam preparation at RCH and / or MCH, trainees must be appropriately credentialed. Please refer to the guidelines for further details.

Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH)

2025 public long cases: held on Thursdays (17.30) in HELP 1.053 and via MS Teams. Also being held on Friday May 2nd at 16.00 in HELP Vernon Collins.

Exam roster queries can be directed to the RCH CRMO exam prep team: clinicalexam@rch.org.au (Myles Loughnan & volunteers)

Various clinics are available to sit in and other learning opportunities available - attendee numbers are controlled. The roster and sign-up details have been circulated and clinics allocated - please refer to RCH CRMO spreadsheet.

Short case preparation:

MCH offers a public hot short as part of the Saturday morning clinical exam preparation tutorial - See above section.

2025 RCH public short cases: held on Tuesdays (5.30pm) in clinic A6 and via MS Teams.

In order to participate in short case exam preparation at RCH and / or MCH, trainees must be appropriately credentialed. Please refer to the guidelines for further details.

Exam roster queries can be directed to the RCH CRMO exam prep team: clinicalexam@rch.org.au (Myles Loughnan & volunteers)

 

Boot camp:

Our 2nd Bootcamp took place at RCH on 22 and 23 February 2025. Attendance was only open to Victorian or Tasmanian trainees intending to sit their clinical this year.

The 2024 & 2025 Bootcamp presenters were not recorded but most of the presentation slides are available on the Teams channel that can be accessed by VBPTC trainees - if you do not have access, please contact the RCH CRMO exam prep team: clinicalexam@rch.org.au

The Bootcamp resources can also be found on this VBPTC password protected page. Queries to access this page can be sent to training@vbptc.com.au


Tutorial: Practical strategies for composure on exam day

Dr Amanda Stock (RCH Emergency Physician) held a session on Wednesday 17 May 2023 to assist trainees with tips and suggestions for establishing and maintaining composure during the Clinical Exam. A recording of the session can be found here (passcode: 96&?wv^M).

 

 FAQs

  • People often join study groups with people whom they have or currently work with. If you remain unable to find a study group, please contact the RCH Chief Resident Medical Officer: Chief.Rmo@rch.org.au

  • No – the National College Lecture Series will give you a fantastic base but is not exhaustive. Please also read around the topics and attend the local Q&A sessions to get additional and up to date information from the experts.

  • Some trainees work part-time in their registrar year in order to help prepare for the exam. Whilst this is absolutely fine (as long as your employer can accommodate you) please note that there is no need to do this. Many trainees also find that working and being around patients and clinicians is also a very useful way to prepare for the exam.

  • Absolutely not. All hospitals in the VBPTC have excellent consultants who are keen to help you and will be very happy to assist you in your exam preparation. The long case presentation timetable will have you presenting long cases to consultants at all different hospitals. In addition, you are welcome to come to the short case tutorials, regardless of which hospital you are based.