Final examination requirements

The final examination is the final test of competence for approved trainees who have met eligibility requirements. You must successfully complete the final examination as part of the requirements for advanced training.

The purpose of the exam is to determine whether you can integrate a variety of knowledge and skills to address realistic anaesthetic problems.

The examination consists of:

• a 150-minute multiple-choice question paper (worth 20 per cent),
• a 150-minute short answer question paper (worth 20 per cent) and,
• 10 vivas - two medical and eight anaesthetic (worth 12 and 48 per cent respectively).

The curriculum guides the range of content that may be assessed. As this is the final examination, your responses should demonstrate a consistent level of prioritisation, judgement, integration and decision making.

Further information on the final examination can be found in Regulations 14 and 15.

Eligibility

In order to sit the final examination, trainees must have:

• Completed basic training and at least one year of advanced training.
• NOTE: Basic training requires the completion of modules 1, 3 and at least one of modules 4 through 10.
• Completed 24 months of clinical training in clinical anaesthesia.
• Passed the primary examination or have been granted exemption.
• Paid all outstanding training fees and the final examination application fee.
• Completed Final Examination Application Form.  The completed application must be received by the College at least eight weeks before the written section of the examination.

Please check your trainee profile and outstanding documentation reports prior to submitting your application to ensure that you meet all eligibility requirements.

Format

The examination consists of four sections: a written section consisting of a multiple-choice question paper (MCQ) and a short-answer question paper (SAQ), medical vivas and anaesthesia vivas.

One hundred (100) marks are allocated for the whole examination: 20 for the MCQ, 20 for the SAQ, 12 for the medical vivas and 48 for the anaesthesia vivas.

Candidates must achieve a mark of at least 50 per cent, pass the anaesthesia viva section and at least one other section of the examination. It follows that candidates who have failed the MCQ, SAQ and medical viva section will have failed the exam. It will now be a requirement to have passed at least one of these sections to be eligible to attend the anaesthesia viva section of the exam. All candidates will be notified as soon as possible after the written and medical clinical sections (approximately three weeks prior to the anaesthesia vivas) of their eligibility to attend the anaesthesia viva section.

Every effort is made to mark written papers and to notify candidates to whether or not they will proceed to viva in a timely manner.

Requirements

To pass the examination, candidates must achieve:

• A mark of at least 50 per cent.
• Pass the anaesthesia viva section.
• Pass at least one other section of the examination.

Candidates who fail the multiple choice question, short answer question and medical viva section will have failed the exam.

Examination reports

Examination reports are prepared to help candidates and their supervisors prepare for their examinations. These reports are not intended to represent model answers nor imply that all points mentioned are necessary in order to achieve a pass. Supervisors are encouraged to discuss recent reports in detail with candidates they are preparing for future examinations.

(Download PDFs of exam reports here)

Preparation courses

Each year some ANZCA offices offer courses to assist trainees preparing for the final examination. Priority is given to applicants who have registered to sit the examination. Applicants must be registered with the College as a trainee. Information regarding course dates, course descriptions and enrolment forms are available from the regional ANZCA websites.

To prepare for the ANZCA final examination you may find it helpful to review the final examination online resource, which provides insights into the exam process and what happens on the day. It includes examples of mock vivas to demonstrate ways to optimise your performance.

Useful Information

• Conditions of entry to the exam: No Mobile phones, IPADS, tablets, computers or calculators etc. No audible alarms.
• Water is  provided and available at all times during the exam. No food is provided. Ample paper is provided at each exam station for discussion.
• At times in the medical and anaesthesia vivas candidates are requested to have a 'bye'. At these times candidates sit quietly in a separate area for the duration of one viva before resuming the exam. Candidates will be directed appropriately by exam personnel. 

Please see the below example room layout for the Final Exam vivas

For further information about the final examination, please contact the examinations officer on +61 3 8517 5363 or email finalexam@anzca.edu.au.