Complete Guide to FRCS(Urol) Part 1 | Expert Tips & Study Strategies

Expert Tips and Strategies from Successful Candidates

Preparing for the FRCS Urology Part 1 can feel overwhelming, but with the right approach and resources, success is achievable.

Understanding the FRCS Urology Part 1 Exam

The FRCS Urology Part 1 examination is a milestone in urology training. Typically taken during ST6 (after completing ARCP for ST5), this comprehensive assessment tests your knowledge across the urology syllabus.

Exam Structure and Format

The FRCS Urology Part 1 consists of:

Two papers with 120 questions each (240 total questions)
2 hours 15 minutes per paper (approximately 67.5 seconds per question)
Single Best Answer (SBA) format with options A-E
Held at Pearson VUE centres nationwide
Questions may include clinical images and radiological studies

When to Apply for FRCS Urology Part 1

Before applying, ensure you:

Have completed your ST5 ARCP
Feel mentally and professionally ready for the commitment (especially as it's likely you'll be doing Part 2 straight after!)
Secure three references (one must be from your Training Programme Director)
Apply through the JCIE website

How Long to Study for FRCS Urology Part 1

Everyone studies differently, but most candidates need 4-8 months to cover the material adequately, accounting for on-calls and other personal and professional commitments.

18-Week Intensive Preparation Plan

Weeks 1-12: Cover the Ground

Study one topic per week. We suggest splitting the topics something like this:

Week 1 Testicular Cancer

Week 2 Stones

Week 3 Penile Cancer

Week 4 Andrology

Week 5 Technology

Week 6 Prostate Cancer

Week 7 Renal Cancer

Week 8 Paediatrics

Week 9 Bladder/UTUC

Week 10 Female and Neurourology + UTIs

Week 11 Trauma/BPH

Week 12 Transplant/Renal Physiology

            Each week, cover the relevant topic and:
            Read the key textbooks (see below)
Read the relevant guidance: EAU Guidelines are excellent and the most helpful here. Additionally, NICE has some guidelines that are essential (paediatric UTI, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, to name a few)
Go through practice questions for that topic: we obviously recommend Urobank for this, but there are some textbooks with questions and ultimately, you can never do too many!

        

Weeks 13-18: Consolidate the Knowledge

Go over as many practice questions as possible
Do some mock practice: Complete 2 x 120 questions in timed exam conditions so it's not a new experience on the day. The Mock mode on Urobank is designed with this in mind
Go over areas you find difficult to keep in your mind and review the key factual information such as TNM staging, chromosone abnormalities and scoring systems

Alternative Approach: Extended Preparation

If you prefer a slower pace rather than cramming, consider starting before 18 weeks. One way to do this would be to go through the topics on two separate occasions - once reading through the information and the second time in a more focused way with questions.

Best Books for FRCS Urology Part 1 Revision

The following recommendations are based on our personal experience and what worked for us. Different candidates find different resources helpful, so consider your own learning style.

Key Books

Essential Revision Notes for FRCS(Urol) - Jack Donati-Bourne

This is an excellent framework to hang your revision around. Although not comprehensive enough alone to pass the exam, working through the relevant chapter is how we'd recommend approaching each topic.

Basic Urological Sciences - Karl H. Pang

Pitched at a good level and great for understanding some of the trickier basic science concepts.

Oxford Handbook of Urology

Adds extra detail that is sometimes lacking in Donati and gives some more practical tips. Reading through the chapter of the topic being covered in that week should be part of a revision timetable.

Other Useful Books

Imaging and Technology in Urology - Great for the technology detail
Urodynamics Made Easy - There were a surprising number of urodynamic traces shown in our exams and this book was certainly a useful adjunct to revision
MCQs in Urology - M Rafique - A good number of questions. Not quite in the style of FRCS(Urol) and often a bit too straightforward/easy, but it was a useful adjunct to each topic on a weekly basis.
Campbell-Walsh Urology Review - While Campbell's itself is too long and too detailed in our opinion to be used consistently in revision (other than to check a specific area), the review MCQs were a useful adjunct. However, they're not really in keeping with FRCS(Urol) style and probably a little difficult or obscure at times.

Understanding Question Types in FRCS Urology Part 1

Factual Recall Questions

These test your knowledge of:

Drug mechanisms of action
Genetic abnormalities and chromosomal numbers
Anatomical relationships
Image interpretation
Usually feature minimal clinical context

Clinical Acumen Questions

These require:

Multi-step reasoning
Clinical judgment
Interpretation of longer clinical scenarios
Analysis of investigations (particularly urodynamics studies)

Top Tips for FRCS Urology Part 1 Success

Form a study group - Even for MCQ exams, collaborative learning helps maintain motivation and can help with difficult to understand concepts
Be realistic - Life continues during exam preparation. On-calls, holidays, and family commitments take priority
Focus on weaknesses - Don't waste valuable study time reviewing topics you already know well
Expect balanced coverage - While the exam mirrors the urology syllabus, smaller subspecialties (transplant, paediatric urology) may feel overrepresented
Answer every question - With no negative marking, educated guesses are better than blank answers
Some questions are deliberately ambiguous - Not all questions will have an obvious "best" answer; choose the most appropriate option based on current evidence
Don't lose marks on the simple stuff - Make sure you know TNM classifications, scoring systems, drug mechanisms of action, and key chromosome locations!

After the FRCS Urology Part 1 Exam

Expect results within 4-6 weeks via email from JCIE. Your feedback will include a breakdown of marks by section.

We recommend going straight into Part 2. You've already got the knowledge, so it's worth powering through.

Practice Makes Perfect: The Importance of Question Banks

We created Urobank from our own revision experience for Part 1. While reading textbooks and guidelines is essential, we found the available question banks inadequate for proper self-assessment. Regular practice with realistic questions, particularly in timed mock conditions, was crucial to our success - which is why we built Urobank to provide this resource for future candidates.