You are weeks out from a £606 trip to London and a two-hour, 42-minute exam that decides whether you finish training on time. The single question everyone Googles first is the same: what is the actual FRCEM Final OSCE pass rate, and what does it mean for me?
TL;DR — The FRCEM OSCE (Final OSCE) pass rate in the RCEM 2024 cohort was 80.6% across 697 candidates, down from 83.9% in 2023. UK trainees pass RCEM exams overall at around 79.6%; UK graduates (PMQ-UK) at 81.2%. First-attempt candidates pass at roughly 66.6%, second-attempt at 31.4%. The exam is delivered only in London, only twice a year (May and November diets), and since the November 2025 diet the resus stations are scored using borderline regression rather than examiner global grades.
This guide pulls the most recent RCEM pass-rate data — if you are weighing it against the SBA papers, see also how hard the FRCEM exam is overall.
It breaks down what the headline number hides, and translates it into practical decisions you can make about your diet, your study load, and your travel.
What is the current FRCEM Final OSCE pass rate?
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine publishes annual pass-rate data covering all five exam diets. The most recent published report covers the 2024 calendar year (both diets combined) and was released in October 2025.
FRCEM OSCE pass rate, 2024: 562 passes out of 697 candidates — 80.6%.
FRCEM OSCE pass rate, 2023: 522 passes out of 622 candidates — 83.9%.
RCEM’s own z-test analysis flagged the 2024-vs-2023 difference as not statistically significant — i.e. the OSCE pass rate has been broadly stable in the low 80s, in contrast to the MRCEM SBA where pass rates dropped sharply (47% to 31%). For practical purposes, you should walk into May 2026 expecting a cohort pass rate somewhere around 80%, not the high 90s some prep-course marketing implies.
How do recent FRCEM OSCE diets compare?
RCEM publishes annual totals rather than diet-by-diet figures, so the table below combines the May and November sittings of each year. Numbers are taken directly from the RCEM Exam Pass Rate Reports.
| Year (both diets) | Candidates | Passed | Failed | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 697 | 562 | 135 | 80.6% |
| 2023 | 622 | 522 | 100 | 83.9% |
Two practical points to take from this table. First, candidate volumes are rising — 75 more sitters in 2024 than 2023 — which fits the slow expansion of HST numbers in the UK. Second, the absolute number of failures grew from 100 to 135 in a single year. That is roughly one extra failed candidate per OSCE day, so the borderline group is meaningful and you should not assume passes are easy to come by because the headline is >80%.
What is the UK trainee pass rate vs international candidates?
The single most useful figure for a UK HST trainee is not the headline OSCE number — it is the trainee-status split. RCEM publishes pass rates across all exam diets pooled, and the gap is large.
2024 pass rates by trainee status (all RCEM exams combined):
- UK trainee — 79.6% (1,367 of 1,717 candidates)
- UK non-trainee (SAS, locally-employed) — 57.2%
- ROI trainee — 48.5%
- International (IMG) candidate — 46.0%
And by Primary Medical Qualification:
- UK graduate — 81.2%
- EEA graduate — 57.3%
- IMG — 46.6%
RCEM has explicitly named differential attainment as a focus of its Fairer Training Culture work. For a UK HST trainee, the relevant point is this: your peer-group base rate of passing is closer to 80% than the 46% that gets quoted when international candidate data is included in pooled statistics on social media.
How much does the first-attempt advantage matter?
This is the most underweighted statistic in the entire RCEM dataset. Across all exam diets in 2024:
- First attempt — 66.6% pass rate
- Second attempt — 31.4%
- Third attempt — 31.3%
- Fourth or more — 31.2%
RCEM rates the effect size of attempt-number as "strong" — the largest single predictor in the EDI variable set. In the UK-trainee subgroup the pattern is starker still: 85.7% pass first time, 49.5% on the second attempt. Translation: do not enter the OSCE planning to "just see how it goes" on a first sitting. The data tells you the cohort effectively splits into "passes first time" and "needs two-plus diets to get through." Treat your first attempt as your real attempt.
How is the FRCEM OSCE actually marked?
The FRCEM OSCE has 16 eight-minute stations plus two rest stations, run over a single sitting in London. Each station tests one to four domains, each weighted by clinical importance, and your examiner converts a global judgement on each domain into a 0–10 station score. Maximum total mark: 160.
The cut score is set by borderline regression plus one standard error of measurement (SEM). To pass overall you must:
- Hit the aggregate pass mark (varies diet to diet — typically in the 105–120 range).
- Pass at least one of the three resus stations.
From the November 2025 diet onwards, the resus stations are themselves scored using borderline regression rather than examiner-assigned global grades. RCEM has stated this does not change how examiners are trained or how candidates should prepare — it standardises the resus-station decision with the rest of the exam and is intended to improve fairness for borderline cases.
Which stations actually trip people up?
RCEM does not publish station-level failure data, but the structural and VOC signals are consistent across recent candidate write-ups and prep-course feedback:
- Resus stations. You only need to pass one of three, but you have to pass at least one — so a candidate who is shaky on ALS algorithms can fail the whole exam despite hitting the aggregate mark.
- Paediatrics. Adult-heavy ED rotations leave gaps. Plan a focused paeds-resus refresh in the 6 weeks before sitting.
- Communication / breaking bad news. The 8-minute timer punishes candidates who default to a slow consult style. Practise to the buzzer.
- Critical appraisal / journal article station. A specific paper with set questions — RCEM publishes a sample CLA article. Read it.
- Procedural skills. Domain marking means a fumbled cricothyroidotomy or chest drain can torch one station even if your patter is good.
The recurring theme in candidate accounts is the time pressure, not the content difficulty. Eight minutes is short. Most failing candidates report knowing the medicine and running out of clock.
Should I sit the May or November diet?
Both diets are run in London, both cost the same, and historical pass rates do not differ in a way RCEM has called significant. The decision is logistical, not statistical. Heuristics:
- Sit May if you want to leave November as a backup attempt before your ARCP and your annual leave aligns with a March–April revision block.
- Sit November if you are mid-ST5, taking PEM in the autumn, and want a clean summer for FRCEM SBA preparation first.
- If you have failed once, sit the next diet. The data on second-attempt pass rates (31%) reflects candidates who change little between attempts; the fastest fix is feedback-driven, not time-on-task.
How long do FRCEM OSCE results take?
Results are released approximately five to eight weeks after the sitting, by 17:00 on a pre-advised day, to your RCEM account. You will not be told by phone or email. A feedback letter follows within a week of the results, breaking your performance down by station and by Specialty Learning Outcome (SLO). Use the feedback letter — your station-by-station scores are the only objective signal you will get about which areas to drill if a resit becomes necessary.
How much should I budget?
Plain-text key facts for the 2025–26 cycle:
- Exam fee, Member UK — £606
- Exam fee, Non-member UK — £743
- Location — London only (single delivery centre)
- Format — 16 stations × 8 minutes + 2 rest stations + 1-minute reading per station
- Total exam time — 2 hours 42 minutes
- Diets per year — 2 (May, November)
- Results window — ~5–8 weeks post-sitting
- Eligibility — MRCEM (or FRCEM Intermediate Certificate) within the last 7 years
Realistic total spend per attempt, including travel, accommodation, and a prep course: £1,500–£3,000 depending on whether you are based in London. Budget for two attempts even if you plan for one — the data justifies the contingency.
What does the pass rate mean for how I should prepare?
If you are a UK HST trainee sitting your first attempt, your baseline probability of passing is closer to 85% than to 80%. That is a comfortable margin, but the failure mode is consistent: candidates underestimate the time pressure and the resus-station hard pass.
The minimum-viable preparation plan that the data supports:
- Six to eight weeks of deliberate station practice in a 4–5-person group. Run timed stations to the buzzer. Rotate examiner, patient, and candidate roles.
- One commercial revision book or question bank. Most UK passers in recent cohorts cite the Oxford Specialty Training "OSCEs for the Final FRCEM" or a similar structured resource.
- Paeds resus drill. APLS-style cases, weight-based dosing, retrieval scenarios.
- One full mock OSCE day, ideally with an examiner-experienced consultant, 2–3 weeks before sitting.
- Read the RCEM Domain Based Marking PDF so you understand exactly what your examiner is scoring on.
If you have failed once, the highest-yield intervention is not more questions — it is a feedback-letter review with a senior who has examined for the OSCE.
Frequently asked questions
What is the FRCEM OSCE pass rate for 2025?
RCEM has not yet published the 2025 calendar-year report (it typically appears in Q3–Q4 the following year). The most recent published figure is 80.6% for the 2024 cohort (compare with the MRCEM OSCE pass rate by sitting). The November 2025 diet was the first to use borderline regression for the resus stations; RCEM has stated this change is not expected to negatively impact candidates.
How many stations are in the FRCEM OSCE?
Sixteen scored stations plus two rest stations. Each station is eight minutes, with one minute reading time before you enter. Maximum total mark is 160.
What is the FRCEM OSCE pass mark?
There is no fixed numerical pass mark. The cut score is calculated for each diet using borderline regression plus one standard error of measurement. In practice the pass mark sits in the 105–120 range out of 160. You must also pass at least one of the three resuscitation stations.
Can I sit the FRCEM OSCE outside London?
No. The Final OSCE is delivered only in London. Only the FRCEM SBA can be sat at international Surpass test centres.
How long is the FRCEM OSCE valid for?
You must pass the FRCEM SBA within seven calendar years of passing the FRCEM OSCE (or vice versa) for full FRCEM to be awarded. The exams can be taken in either order.
How does the FRCEM OSCE differ from the MRCEM OSCE?
Both have 16 stations and use domain-based marking (see our deep-dive on FRCEM OSCE vs MRCEM OSCE key differences). The FRCEM OSCE tests "complex and challenging situations" expected of an EM consultant — more management, leadership, breaking bad news, and senior-decision content. The MRCEM OSCE remains weighted towards core ED competencies. Both share the same scoring mechanics but the FRCEM is the harder cognitive lift.
What happens if I fail one resus station but pass the aggregate mark?
You fail the exam overall. You must pass at least one of the three resus stations and the aggregate mark. Borderline regression now decides the resus-pass call since November 2025.
How many attempts am I allowed at the FRCEM OSCE?
RCEM does not impose a hard cap on attempts, but each attempt is recorded on your RCEM account and your portfolio. Your deanery may set local expectations on number of attempts before remediation is triggered, particularly approaching ARCP.
Are pass rates higher for trainees who take a prep course?
RCEM does not publish course-attendee outcomes. Private providers (e.g. London-based courses, regional revision weekends) often quote 90%+ candidate pass rates, but these are self-reported and likely reflect candidate selection rather than course effect. The independent variables that predict passing in the RCEM dataset are trainee status, attempt number, and PMQ — not course attendance.
When are FRCEM OSCE results released?
Approximately five to eight weeks after the sitting, by 17:00 on a date published in advance on the Exam Calendar. Results appear on your RCEM account; a feedback letter with station-level breakdown follows within a week.
What is the cost of the FRCEM OSCE?
£606 for RCEM Members (UK), £743 for non-members (UK). Add travel, accommodation, and any prep-course spend — budget £1,500–£3,000 per attempt.
Next step
If you want a structured OSCE prep plan with station banks, domain-based marking rubrics, and exam-style mocks built around the current RCEM blueprint, the EM Final Exams platform covers the full FRCEM OSCE syllabus. Start at emfinalexams.com.
Facts last verified against the RCEM 2024 Exam Pass Rate Report (October 2025) and the RCEM FRCEM Exams page (last modified May 2026). Pass rates may shift when the 2025 report is published.
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