TL;DR. The FRCEM SBA has run at 47% in 2023 and 51.1% in 2024 (RCEM). Across all RCEM theory and OSCE diets combined in 2024, first-attempt candidates passed at 66.6%, dropping sharply to about 31% on every subsequent attempt. UK trainees passed at 79.6% overall; international medical graduates at 46.0%. So if you sat it and failed by a few marks, you are in good company — and the second attempt is statistically harder, not easier, unless you change how you prepare.
You are probably here because you are sizing up the FRCEM SBA, sitting it soon, or staring at a fail letter wondering whether the exam is broken or you are. Let’s look at what the Royal College of Emergency Medicine actually publishes, what the numbers tell us, and what they do not.
What is the current FRCEM SBA pass rate?
The most recent official figures from RCEM’s annual exam pass rate report (published October 2025, covering the 2024 calendar year) put the FRCEM SBA pass rate at 51.1%: 558 candidates passed out of 1,093 sat across the year. That is a slight rise on 2023 (47.0%, 518/1,102) but the difference is not statistically significant on RCEM’s own Z-test.
In other words, since the SBA replaced the FRCEM Final SAQ in August 2021, roughly one in two candidates passes any given sitting. RCEM has not yet published a 2025 calendar-year report (it usually appears in autumn), so 2024 is the freshest hard data we have as of May 2026.
FRCEM SBA pass rates by year
| Year | Sat | Passed | Pass rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,093 | 558 | 51.1% | RCEM Exam Pass Rate Report 2024 |
| 2023 | 1,102 | 518 | 47.0% | RCEM Exam Pass Rate Data 2023 |
| 2022 (full year) | 1,190 | n/a (per-diet detail not published; March 2022 diet was annulled and re-run in July after a marking error) | n/a | RCEM Examinations Process Improvement Programme update, July 2023 |
| 2021 | 1,025 | n/a | n/a | RCEM Examinations Process Improvement Programme update, July 2023 |
RCEM only began publishing diet-level and aggregate pass rate data in 2023, so reliable headline pass rates only go back two calendar years. Earlier figures circulating online (often the “47%” that Bromley Emergency Courses and several prep providers quote) trace back to the 2023 dataset.
Has the FRCEM SBA got harder or easier?
Statistically, it has held steady. RCEM’s 2024 report explicitly states the difference in FRCEM SBA pass rates between 2024 and 2023 is not significant. The pass mark is set per-diet using a modified Angoff method with one standard error of measurement added — the October 2024 SBA, for example, was 108/180 — so the absolute mark moves with the question difficulty of that sitting.
What the data does not show is per-diet variation within a year. RCEM does not publish individual diet pass rates publicly. Anecdotally on r/doctorsUK and Bromley’s study groups, candidates report some sittings feel notably harder than others — in particular the SLO5 paediatric block and the SLO10/11 statistics questions — but you cannot evidence that from the published numbers.
What is the first-attempt vs resit pass rate?
RCEM does not split this out for the FRCEM SBA specifically, but it does publish the figure across all RCEM exam diets combined (Primary SBA, MRCEM SBA, FRCEM SBA, MRCEM OSCE, FRCEM OSCE) for 2024:
- 1st attempt: 66.6% pass
- 2nd attempt: 31.4%
- 3rd attempt: 31.3%
- 4th or more attempts: 31.2%
That is a striking cliff — pass rates more than halve between the first and second attempt and then plateau. The College’s own analysis flags it as the variable with the strongest effect size in the dataset (Cramér’s V 0.34). The likely explanation is selection: candidates who pass first time leave the pool, so resitters are by definition the cohort the first sitting filtered out. It is not evidence that resitting is futile — people do pass on subsequent attempts — but it does mean the “same prep, more hope” strategy almost never works.
For FRCEM specifically, candidates have a maximum of 4 attempts per component (FRCEM SBA and FRCEM OSCE separately). Additional attempts may be granted at the Dean’s discretion in exceptional circumstances.
Who passes? Pass rates by candidate group (2024, all RCEM exams)
RCEM publishes pass rates broken down by trainee status, primary medical qualification, and first language. These are aggregated across all RCEM exam diets, not FRCEM SBA in isolation, but the patterns hold up consistently across each individual exam in the dataset.
| Group | Pass rate (2024, all diets) |
|---|---|
| UK trainees (in RCEM training programme) | 79.6% |
| UK non-trainees | 57.2% |
| Republic of Ireland trainees | 48.5% |
| International medical graduates | 46.0% |
| UK primary medical qualification | 81.2% |
| EEA primary medical qualification | 57.3% |
| International primary medical qualification | 46.6% |
| English as first language | 64.4% |
| English not as first language | 47.5% |
| Working within the UK | 68.0% |
| Working outside the UK | 46.1% |
The differential attainment pattern is consistent and the College openly flags it as a fairness issue it is working on. If you are an IMG sitting from outside the UK with English as a second language, you are not imagining the harder ride — you start the exam with roughly half the statistical odds of a UK trainee. That is a system-level reality to plan around, not a personal failing.
What is the FRCEM SBA pass mark?
There is no fixed percentage pass mark. Each diet is standard-set using a modified Angoff method, with one standard error of measurement added to the cut score to determine the published pass mark. That mark is announced with the results, not in advance.
Reference points from recent sittings:
- October 2024 FRCEM SBA: pass mark 108/180 (60%)
- Candidates on r/doctorsUK consistently report pass marks landing between 105 and 115 out of 180 across recent diets
- The exam is 180 single-best-answer questions in two two-hour sessions with a one-hour break, delivered at Pearson VUE test centres globally
There is no negative marking, so blank answers are wasted — always guess when you do not know.
Why is the FRCEM SBA pass rate so low compared to other RCEM exams?
Looking at the 2024 figures across all diets:
- FRCEM OSCE: 80.6%
- MRCEM OSCE: 80.0%
- MRCEM Primary SBA: 57.4%
- FRCEM SBA: 51.1%
- MRCEM SBA: 30.9% (fell sharply from 47% in 2023)
OSCEs select on a smaller, more prepared cohort and reward demonstrable performance under standardised conditions. The SBAs filter on knowledge breadth across the full RCEM 2021 curriculum — SLO1 (acute presentations, 35Q), SLO3 (resus, 40Q), SLO4 (trauma, 35Q), SLO5 (paediatrics, 30Q), SLO6 (procedures, 13Q), SLO7 (complex situations, 10Q), SLO8/12 (leadership, 7Q) and SLO10/11 (research and QI, 10Q). It is genuinely a generalist’s exam: there is no “low-yield” topic.
The FRCEM SBA also tests priority, not just correctness. A common pattern is three of the five options being legitimate management steps, with the “single best” being whichever the latest NICE, RCEM Learning, or specialty guideline lists first. Candidates from a strong clinical background routinely lose marks by picking what they would actually do, not what the guideline says.
What does the wider community say about the FRCEM SBA?
VOC threads on r/doctorsUK and the Bromley/StudyFRCEM study groups converge on a few consistent themes:
- It is described as a “weird” exam with skewed curriculum coverage diet-to-diet. The 2023 Lancashire external review (commissioned after the March 2022 marking debacle) made 17 recommendations on RCEM’s assessment processes, all accepted.
- Pass-mark-by-question requirement is roughly 60% — not the 70% candidates assume from medical school
- The most-cited prep stack: full RCEM Learning module review + an SBA question bank (Tom Jaconelli’s frcemsba.com is frequently named) + Bromley Emergency Courses for face-to-face review
- Resitters who pass on a third or later attempt almost universally cite changing the method (more active recall, fewer passive reads, timed mock papers) rather than adding more hours
- Statistics questions (SLO10/11) and paediatrics (SLO5) are the most commonly cited weak areas in feedback letters
Should I be worried if I failed?
Not as a verdict on you. About one in two candidates fails any given diet, including registrars with strong clinical reputations. What the data should worry you about is repeating the same approach: 31% pass rate at second attempt and beyond, across all RCEM exams in 2024, tells you that doing more of what got you to your first sitting score is statistically a coin flip with a weighted coin.
Useful things to do post-fail, in order:
- Read your feedback letter carefully — it breaks down your performance by SLO. Identify the two or three lowest-scoring areas.
- Compare your raw score to the published pass mark and cohort average for that diet. Within 5 marks is recoverable with a focused 8-week resit. More than 15 marks below needs a deeper rebuild.
- Switch from passive reading to active recall. Do 30-question timed blocks daily, then read explanations.
- Drill the guideline-vs-practice gap. The exam rewards what the latest NICE/RCEM guideline says, not what your department actually does.
- Book the next available diet within 6 months. Long gaps tend to make retention worse, not better.
FRCEM SBA exam dates and fees 2026
- 20 May 2026 — applications closed 25 February 2026; results 24 June 2026
- 7 October 2026 — applications 1–8 July 2026; results 11 November 2026
- Member UK: £429 | Member International: £485 | Non-member UK: £525 | Non-member International: £609
- UK Emergency Medicine trainees can claim tax relief on exam fees via HMRC
FAQ
What is the pass rate for the FRCEM SBA?
51.1% in 2024 and 47.0% in 2023, per RCEM’s published annual pass rate reports. The 2025 calendar-year report has not yet been published as of May 2026.
What is the FRCEM SBA pass mark?
It varies per diet, set by a modified Angoff method plus one standard error of measurement. The October 2024 diet pass mark was 108 out of 180, or 60%. Recent diets have generally landed between 105 and 115 marks out of 180.
How many attempts do I get at the FRCEM SBA?
Four attempts per FRCEM component. The FRCEM SBA and FRCEM OSCE count separately. Attempts before August 2016 do not count towards the limit. Additional attempts may be granted at the Dean’s discretion in exceptional circumstances, and candidates with a late neurodiversity diagnosis can request earlier attempts be expunged.
What is the first-attempt FRCEM SBA pass rate?
RCEM does not publish this for the SBA in isolation, but across all RCEM diets combined in 2024 the first-attempt pass rate was 66.6%, falling to 31.4% on the second attempt. The FRCEM SBA first-attempt rate is likely to be in the same ballpark, given the SBA overall pass rate sits between the first-attempt and resit figures.
Is the FRCEM SBA harder than the MRCEM SBA?
By raw pass rate, no — in 2024 FRCEM SBA passed 51.1% and MRCEM SBA 30.9%. But the FRCEM SBA cohort is more self-selected: candidates have already cleared MRCEM, so they enter with a higher baseline. Question difficulty per question is comparable; the FRCEM curriculum is broader.
How long should I study for the FRCEM SBA?
Most candidates who pass first time cite 4–6 months of structured prep with at least 4 hours of daily focused study, weighted heavily towards active recall via question banks rather than textbook reading. Less than 3 months is generally not enough to cover the full curriculum.
Do I get my results on the day?
No. Results are released on RCEM accounts approximately five to eight weeks after the exam. Email notification is sent when results go live; results are not given over phone or email.
Is there negative marking on the FRCEM SBA?
No. One mark per correctly chosen single best answer, no marks for incorrect or blank answers. Always guess.
Why is the FRCEM SBA pass rate lower for international candidates?
RCEM’s own data shows IMG candidates pass at 46.0% versus UK trainees at 79.6% across all diets in 2024. Drivers include English as a non-first language (47.5% vs 64.4%), working outside the UK (46.1% vs 68.0%), and reduced access to UK guideline-aligned teaching. The College acknowledges this differential attainment and is publishing the data as part of its Fairer Training Cultures programme.
Can I appeal an FRCEM SBA fail?
You can appeal only on grounds of procedural irregularity or exceptional circumstances during the exam (e.g. severe unexpected illness, test-centre technical failure). You cannot appeal the examiner’s judgement or the standard-setting itself. Report any issues within 24 hours to exams@rcem.ac.uk.
What pass rate did the March 2022 FRCEM SBA achieve?
The March 2022 diet was annulled after a results processing error and re-run in July 2022. The incident triggered the College’s ongoing Examinations Transformation Plan and an independent external review.
Where can I check official FRCEM SBA pass rate data myself?
RCEM publishes the annual Exam Pass Rate Data report on rcem.ac.uk — search for “Exam Pass Rate Data” or check the Results, Feedback and Awarding page. The current edition is the 2024 report.
Next step
If you are preparing for the FRCEM SBA or rebuilding after a fail, our exam-aligned question banks and high-yield revision packages are built specifically against the 2024+ RCEM 2021 curriculum mapping. Start at emfinalexams.com.
Facts last verified against the RCEM Exam Pass Rate Report 2024 and the RCEM Exam Pass Rate Data 2023. The 2025 calendar-year report had not been published at the time of writing.
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