Thursday the 17th of September felt like a lifetime away from the moment the exam finished. And then I woke up and it was the day I dreaded. I am not a big fan of Results Day as I’ve been disappointed many times before. The 17th of September was not any different.
The day before, I had been practising how I would react when I saw my results, how I would feel if I passed and how I would feel if I failed. I also planned that I would get through the day and not open emails/results page until I get home. Results came out at 2 pm.
If I passed, then amazing, push through to Part 2B and if I passed that one, then the year in Australia would be very focused on the fellowship and when I come back the last 2 years of Registrar training would be easier as I will be exam-free. If I failed, then I will have to do some revision in Australia. When I get back to Registrar training in January 2028, I will ease in first and not sit the Spring exams but would sit the Autumn exams.
The Results. Failed.
I couldn’t wait til home. I opened it and found out. 240 questions, the pass mark was 137 (57%). I got 111 (46%).
I was disappointed of course, but not as disappointed as in previous exams, maybe because I pre-grieved, maybe because I knew I signed up for the exam way too early in my training and that I wasn’t ready. For context, trainees take a bit of a break after passing FRCR Part 1, normally a year, sensibly wait until the end of ST5. People also take this exam once they have completed the ICR Part B course (which is very helpful as it covers pretty much the curriculum for the exam). We need to have passed the FRCR Part 2 by the end of ST6, before we get to ST7.
Me? The impulsive me who felt like the little engine that could, signed up for this exam 5 minutes after finding out I finally passed Part 1, whilst sitting on the first day of the ICR Part B course! I wasn’t even officially ST5 then.
Everyone around me thought it was a bad idea but I convinced myself that I could do it – again, because I wanted to see if I could make my next 3 years easier. I was dead wrong. There were 8 of us this year who signed up to sit the exam, everyone but me had met the criteria above. And they all passed, which in itself is telling that I just was not ready for it.
Reflections and Lessons.
I am not superhuman. It would be insane to think I could pass 3 exams in one year! I’m good but I’m not that good.
I have finally hit the wall and am completely burnt out.
I am too old for impulsive decisions. Clearly, I still have a self-discipline problem. I just went in too hard and too fast.
By going through this, I had compromised a few things – especially my current rotation (Gynae), which I’ve not really done a good job in.
My body – knee injury had already told me to slow down, to stop and take a break, I should have listened. I should have taken a break from exam revision, it has all I’ve been doing for 2 years straight – trying to pass the Physics exam.
I should have just let David focus on his exams rather than the 2 of us trying to revise for exams at the same time – he sat his 2 weeks after mine.
I have time – I have until the end of ST6. And if I need more time, I will have more.
Expensive mock exam. But luckily, because of new junior doctor conditions, I can get my money back.
Equally, there is some reprieve in that with being where I am in training at the moment, I was only 11% away from passing.
I am very grateful for the people who put up with me.
The revised plan.
- Jun 1-5 2026 Leeds Course for FRCR Part 2A. DONE.
Jun 26-27 2026 ESDO- Jul 3 2026 Acute Oncology Teaching Day. DONE.
- Aug 27 2026 FRCR Part 2A. DONE.
- Sep 17 2026 FRCR Part 2A Results. DONE.
- Sep 24 2024 ICR Part B starts.
Sep 28-Oct 2 2026 Cardiff Course for FRCR Part 2B- Oct 18 2026 Great South Run (Questionable – need to take mum to airport, knee still weak)
- Oct 22 – Nov 2 2026 Disney World
- Nov 4 2026 – Back to QAH for the next rotation
Nov 14-17 2026 FRCR Part 2BDec 3 2026 FRCR Part 2B Results- Dec 20 2026 Portsmouth Coastal Marathon (Questionable – only 13 weeks away, knee still revcovering)
- Jan 18 2027 MIA Fellowship Start
So the immediate plan is…
- Tidy up all revision material, it will all change anyway in 2 years’ time (Hello TNM 9)
- I manage to cancel the Cardiff Course and got some of my money back.
- Focus on the Gynae rotation and gain as much knowledge in the last 4 weeks of the rotation.
- Enjoy Disney!
- I will be going back to the QAH in Portsmouth in November!
- Get ready and focus on Melanoma and Australia!
