EM Gurus > Exams Guidance > RCEM Exams > MRCEM Primary & SBA Tips by Zofishan
Preparing for postgraduate emergency medicine exams while managing clinical duties can be challenging, but with a focused and structured plan, it becomes entirely achievable.
Here’s how I approached the MRCEM Primary and MRCEM SBA, using a mix of targeted resources, repetition, and consistent practice.
I began my preparation for the MRCEM Primary in March, and it proved to be an excellent refresher in basic medicine, anatomy, and fundamental EM concepts.
I prepared exclusively from FRCEM Success, which I did thrice and found it to be concise, structured, and very exam-oriented. It helped me rebuild my foundation quickly and clearly.
For this, I mainly studied from:
MRCEM Success Theory: particularly useful because it aligns with UK guidelines, which differ slightly from American ones in areas such as medical law, complex decision-making, and PALS/ACLS algorithms.
MRCEM Xpert BCQs: I made sure to complete both Success and Xpert BCQs twice, ensuring solid coverage of recall and applied reasoning.
Zofishan Anwar
Resident, Emergency Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital