The FRCR is the Royal College of Radiologists' qualification for clinical radiology trainees, taken in stages as Part 1, Part 2A and Part 2B. This page gives you free practice sets on physics, radiobiology, anatomy and professional topics, plus a short summary of how each part is delivered, who can enter and what the retake rules say.

FRCR Exam at a Glance

What changed for FRCR in 2026

• Oct 27, 2026: Passing score (Part 2B (CR2B)) changed to Pass all 3 components, or pass 2 of 3 components and meet additional criteria (previously Meet the standard in all 3 components (or 2 of 3 plus additional criteria)).^[3]
• Oct 27, 2026: Retake policy changed to Maximum 6 attempts per FRCR exam; failed Part 2B resat at 2nd sitting after failure or after 6 months (previously Maximum of six attempts at any FRCR exam; a failed Part 2B can be resat at the second sitting after the fail, or after 6 months, whichever is shorter).^[4]
• Oct 27, 2026: Testing window (Part 1 (CR1)) changed to March, June, and September (previously March, June and September 2027).^[2]
• Oct 27, 2026: Testing window (Part 2B (CR2B)) changed to January, April, June, and October (previously January, April, June and October 2027).^[6]
• Oct 27, 2026: Time limit (Part 2A (CR2A)) changed to 3 hours (180 min) per paper (6 hours total) (previously 3 hours per paper).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Validity (Part 1 (CR1)) changed to Both modules within 4 years; completed First FRCR valid for Final Part A entry for 7 calendar years (previously Both modules within 4 years; the pass then allows Part 2A entry for 7 calendar years).^[4]
• Oct 27, 2026: Validity (Part 2A (CR2A)) changed to Final Part A pass allows Final Part B entry for 7 calendar years (previously The Part 2A pass allows Part 2B entry for the next seven calendar years).^[4]
• Oct 27, 2026: Delivery (Part 1 (CR1)) changed to Computer-based on Speedwell (Physics) and Assess (Anatomy) on individual workstations at designated venues (previously Computer-based on the Speedwell digital platform at RCR venues).^[2]
• Oct 27, 2026: Passing score (Part 1 (CR1)) changed to Criterion-referenced pass mark set using modified Angoff and Hofstee methods (previously Criterion-referenced (modified Angoff + Hofstee); no fixed mark).^[2]
• Oct 27, 2026: Eligibility (Part 2B (CR2B)) changed to At least 32 months in a relevant training post and a pass in the Final Part A exam (previously At least 32 months in a relevant training post, plus Part 2A passed).^[4]
• Oct 27, 2026: Eligibility (Part 2A (CR2A)) changed to At least 22 months in a relevant training post and passes in all parts of the First FRCR exam (previously At least 22 months in a relevant training post, plus all of the First FRCR passed).^[4]
• Oct 27, 2026: Eligibility (Part 1 (CR1)) changed to Must hold (or have held) a formal clinical radiology training post; no minimum clinical experience required (previously Must hold (or have held) a formal clinical radiology training post; no minimum experience).^[2]

What the FRCR is and how it works

According to The Royal College of Radiologists, “A ‘modified’ Angoff method is used to set the pass mark for each module of this exam.”^[2]

The FRCR is run by The Royal College of Radiologists and is taken in stages. Part 1 (CR1) is the First FRCR. It covers physics, delivered as a multiple-choice paper on Speedwell, and anatomy, delivered as an image viewing session on Assess. It is held in March, June and September, and you need a formal clinical radiology training post, current or past, to enter. Its pass mark is criterion-referenced, set with modified Angoff and Hofstee methods. Both modules must be completed within 4 years of your first successful component.

Part 2A (CR2A) is the Final Part A, also on Speedwell. It is held in November and April. Each paper lasts 3 hours, which makes 6 hours in total. You need at least 22 months in a relevant training post and a pass in all parts of the First FRCR. For the April 2027 sitting, bookings close on 19 February 2027.

Part 2B (CR2B) is delivered on risr/Assess, with all 3 components taken at the same sitting. It runs in January, April, June and October. Entry needs at least 32 months in a relevant training post and a Final Part A pass. You pass by meeting the standard in all 3 components, or in 2 of 3 plus additional criteria.

You can have a maximum of 6 attempts at any FRCR exam. Check the RCR site for current dates, venues and fees before you book.

Worked examples: how to reason through FRCR questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: What is the standard of care requirement for treatment planning in clinical practice?

1. Whatever the practitioner feels is adequate
2. The level of care a reasonably competent practitioner would provide
3. The minimum effort needed to avoid a lawsuit
4. The most aggressive treatment available

Answer: B. The level of care a reasonably competent practitioner would provide

Explanation:

The correct answer is that the standard of care is the level a reasonably competent practitioner would provide. It is an objective test: it asks what a similarly trained colleague would do in similar circumstances, not what any one person happens to believe.

"Whatever the practitioner feels is adequate" is wrong because it is a subjective test, and it would let anyone set their own bar. "The minimum effort needed to avoid a lawsuit" is wrong because the standard is about patient care, not legal self-protection. "The most aggressive treatment available" is wrong because the best care is not the most intense care. Over-treatment can harm a patient as much as under-treatment.

Rule to remember: standard of care means reasonable, competent peer practice in comparable circumstances. It does not mean personal opinion, minimum effort or maximum intervention.

Example 2

Question: Prostate cancer has an unusually low α/β ratio estimated at approximately:

1. 10 Gy
2. 5 Gy
3. 1.5 Gy
4. 8 Gy

Answer: C. 1.5 Gy

Explanation:

The correct answer is 1.5 Gy. Prostate cancer has an unusually low α/β ratio, close to that of late-responding normal tissues. A low α/β means the tumour is sensitive to the size of each fraction, so larger doses per fraction give a relatively greater biological effect. This is the radiobiological reasoning behind hypofractionated prostate schedules.

The other options are wrong because 10 Gy, 8 Gy and 5 Gy are all much higher. Values near 10 Gy are typical of many rapidly proliferating tumours and early-responding tissues, which are much less sensitive to fraction size. A value of 5 Gy still sits well above the figure for prostate.

Rule to remember: a low α/β ratio means high sensitivity to dose per fraction, and prostate cancer is the standard example of a tumour with a low α/β.

Example 3

Question: How should a practitioner handle an unexpected finding during pharmacology basics procedures?

1. Ignore it if not related to the primary concern
2. Document it and follow established protocols for further evaluation
3. Discuss it informally without documenting
4. Wait to see if it resolves on its own

Answer: B. Document it and follow established protocols for further evaluation

Explanation:

The correct answer is to document the unexpected finding and follow the established protocols for further evaluation. Documentation makes the finding visible to the wider care team. The protocol makes sure it is assessed in a consistent, accountable way.

"Ignore it if not related to the primary concern" is wrong because an unrelated finding can still matter to the patient. "Discuss it informally without documenting" is wrong because an undocumented conversation leaves no record, so the finding can be lost or misunderstood. "Wait to see if it resolves on its own" is wrong because it replaces assessment with hope, and it delays care if the finding is significant.

Rule to remember: an unexpected finding is recorded and escalated through the agreed pathway. It is never ignored, passed on casually or left to resolve.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official material. Read the guidance notes for the part you are sitting so you know the platform, the format and the entry rules. Then use the sets below to find where you are weak.

1. Take a short set on a topic and mark every question you got wrong or guessed.
2. For each of those, write the rule in your own words, not just the right letter.
3. Return to the same set after a gap and check whether the rule has stuck.

For physics, work through Radiation Physics and Dosimetry and Radiobiology. For anatomy, use Image Interpretation and Anatomy, and pair it with real images from your own training. Our sets are text questions, so they cannot replace image viewing practice on the Assess platform.

For professional topics, try Medical Ethics and Law, Patient Safety Protocols and Documentation Standards. Our questions are written by us with AI tools and are not real exam questions, so treat them as revision for the underlying ideas. When you feel ready, take the full practice test in one sitting under timed conditions.

Sources & last verified

1. The Royal College of Radiologists — time limit, testing window (official source). “Each paper comprises 120 SBA questions. Candidates are given three hours to answer each paper.” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 26, 2026.
2. The Royal College of Radiologists — passing score, delivery, eligibility, testing window (official source). “A ‘modified’ Angoff method is used to set the pass mark for each module of this exam.” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 26, 2026.
3. The Royal College of Radiologists — passing score (official source). “A CR2B pass is given if a candidate has met or exceeded the passing standard for each of the three components or if they have…” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 26, 2026.
4. The Royal College of Radiologists — retake policy, validity, eligibility (official source). “Candidates will be permitted a maximum of six attempts at any FRCR exam (as specified by the GMC).” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 26, 2026.
5. The Royal College of Radiologists — delivery, registration deadline (official source). “The RCR's 2A exams are delivered using the digital platform Speedwell.” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 26, 2026.
6. The Royal College of Radiologists — score release, delivery, testing window (official source). “Results publication date Thursday 25 February 2027” Verified Oct 27, 2026 · source checked Oct 26, 2026.

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