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FRACS · OHNS Surgical Examinations

FRACS ENT
OHNS.

AI-graded SAQ practice calibrated to the RACS Fellowship written papers, MCQ practice across the SSE anatomy, pathology and physiology axes, an OHNS viva simulator across otology, rhinology, laryngology and head and neck, plus spaced-repetition flashcards, and study notes mapped to all 121 learning objectives in the OHNS curriculum.

Try free: head and neck SCC staging, hearing loss, airway obstruction and tracheostomy

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A trainee holding a phone with PRIMEX study progress displayed
A current PRIMEX readiness view shown inside a phone held by a trainee.
Pass rate
Criterion-referenced
No fixed pass mark published
Sittings per year
2
SSE Oct & Feb · Fellowship Apr & Aug
Format
Two-stage
SSE basic science + Fellowship written & clinical/viva
Topics covered
121
learning objectives, 49 topics
Organising college
RACS
Not affiliated with PRIMEX
· 2026 dates ·

FRACS ENT (OHNS) Exam Dates 2026 and 2027

Published dates for the upcoming sittings. Always confirm against the official RACS examinations page before scheduling. This section is refreshed quarterly as new windows are announced.

  • SSE 20267 October 2026 (applications close 4 August 2026)
  • SSE 202710 February 2027 (applications close 1 December 2026)
  • FEX Written 2026.19 April 2026
  • FEX Clinical/Viva 2026.1 (Melbourne)Around 30 to 31 May 2026
  • FEX Written 2026.26 August 2026
  • FEX Clinical/Viva 2026.2 (Sydney)Around 19 to 20 September 2026

The written and clinical/viva components of the Fellowship Examination are uncoupled from 2026. FEX fee for the full written plus clinical/viva sitting: A$10,465 excl GST / NZ$12,875 incl GST. Confirm all fees and registration windows at surgeons.org.

· Watch ·

Inside PRIMEX, in under a minute

Recorded in the app, with real FRACS ENT questions and notes. No sound needed to follow it.

· Exam domains ·

Two stages. The full OHNS curriculum.

~50%
Applied Anatomy (SSE)
The largest SSE domain: temporal bone, skull base, neck spaces, cranial nerves, and OHNS surgical anatomy including approach-specific hazards. Temporal bone dissection knowledge is tested at a level expected after laboratory experience.
Skull base & facial nerve · Ear anatomy · Nose, sinus & laryngotracheal anatomy · Thyroid & parathyroid surgical anatomy
~25%
Applied Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology (SSE)
Pathological processes specific to the head and neck: infection, neoplasia, salivary and thyroid disease, and the immunological basis of sinonasal and laryngeal conditions relevant to the OHNS trainee.
Head & neck infection · Neoplasia · Salivary/thyroid lesions · Inflammation & immunity
~25%
Applied Physiology (SSE)
Physiological principles underlying OHNS practice: auditory and vestibular transduction, voice and swallowing mechanics, nasal airflow and olfaction, and endocrine regulation of thyroid and calcium.
Auditory & vestibular physiology · Voice, swallowing & salivation · Nasal physiology & olfaction · Thyroid & calcium physiology
FEX
Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology
Clinical OHNS practice at Fellowship exit level: management of otitis media and cholesteatoma, hearing loss and vestibular disorders, rhinosinusitis and epistaxis, dysphonia, and airway emergencies.
Otitis media & cholesteatoma · Hearing loss & vertigo · Rhinosinusitis & epistaxis · Dysphonia & the airway
FEX
Head & Neck, Endocrine & Salivary
Surgical oncology of the head and neck at consultant level: staging, neck dissection principles, thyroid and parathyroid surgery, and the management of salivary gland neoplasia.
Head & neck SCC staging · Neck dissection · Thyroid & parathyroid surgery · Salivary gland disease
FEX
Paediatric ENT & Facial Plastics
Paediatric OHNS at Fellowship level: adenotonsillar disease and paediatric airway management, together with facial trauma assessment, reconstruction techniques, and facial nerve reanimation.
Adenotonsillar disease · Paediatric airway · Facial trauma · Reconstruction & reanimation
· watch it work ·

Watch how PRIMEX works

Two short animated films: how written answers are marked criterion by criterion against an examiner-style rubric, and how the viva simulator runs the oral exam conversation. Both aligned to the published curriculum and current Australasian guidelines.

Read the transcript

The hardest part of a fellowship exam is not the knowledge. It is knowing whether your answers would score. With PRIMEX you answer exam style short answer questions under time, and every answer is marked criterion by criterion. You see what scored and what was missed, with feedback aligned to your college curriculum and current Australasian guidelines. From first part primaries to final fellowships. PRIMEX. Practise like the exam, before the exam.

· What's inside ·

How candidates prepare for the FRACS ENT (OHNS)

FRACS ENT SAQ grader showing a Fellowship written paper question with marking-point breakdown and examiner-standard model answer
AI grading calibrated to the RACS Fellowship written papers.

The FRACS ENT Fellowship Examination includes two 130-minute written papers, each combining extended-response and short-response questions. PRIMEX generates questions in authentic RACS OHNS format and grades every marking point, returning a tier against the standard of a first-year consultant and a structured model answer with examiner-level specificity.

  • Marking-point breakdown across all sub-questions
  • Tier and standard against a first-year consultant using the ECMS
  • Structured coaching feedback on gaps in surgical and anatomical reasoning
  • Model answers at examiner standard with the depth the FEX papers require
FRACS ENT MCQ practice showing a vocal fold nodule clinical stem with five options and a confidence selector
SSE-style MCQs across the applied anatomy, pathology and physiology axes.

SSE questions test basic surgical science at a level that differentiates candidates who have studied the underlying principles from those who have not. PRIMEX MCQs are mapped to the OHNS SSE weighting: 50% anatomy, 25% pathology and microbiology, and 25% physiology, drawing from all 49 topics in the curriculum.

  • 5-option SBA format matching the OHNS SSE Type A style
  • Discriminating explanations that address each distractor
  • Draw from all 49 topics or focus on a chosen area
  • Timed exam mode for SSE simulation
FRACS ENT viva simulator showing an OHNS examiner session on otology with examiner-intensity controls and debrief
An OHNS examiner across otology, rhinology, laryngology and head and neck.

The FRACS ENT Fellowship Examination clinical and viva component covers five segments: Clinical Scenarios, Clinical Cases, Surgical Anatomy, Surgical Pathology, and Operative Surgery. PRIMEX runs adaptive OHNS examiner sessions calibrated to the depth and the probing style that Fellowship candidates encounter across these segments.

  • 5 to 6 adaptive exchanges that probe clinical reasoning and surgical judgement
  • Examiner-intensity dial from coaching mode through to exam-day pressure
  • Speak or type your answers with full voice mode support
  • Structured debrief with tier, learning point, and examiner commentary
A spoken mock viva. A graded readiness verdict.

Work through a full mock viva out loud with this college's AI examiner, in real time. Answer by voice, get probed and interrupted the way the real examiner would, then step out to a graded debrief: a readiness verdict, the topics you covered, your strengths and gaps, and how you handled the pressure. Every mock viva feeds your weak-topic plan, so what to practise next is always clear.

  • Real-time spoken viva in this college's examiner voice, fully interruptible
  • Graded readiness verdict: on track, borderline, or at risk
  • Communication and composure feedback: pacing, hesitation, clarity under pressure
  • Weak topics flow straight into your study plan and daily practice
  • Part of PRIMEX Pro, with monthly mock vivas included
FRACS ENT flashcard deck showing a spaced-repetition card on facial nerve anatomy with Again, Hard, Good and Easy grading
Spaced-repetition flashcards mapped to the OHNS curriculum.

11,354 curriculum-mapped flashcards across all 49 topics in the FRACS ENT curriculum. Spaced repetition keeps anatomy landmarks, management algorithms, and physiological values in memory between sittings. Cards you struggle with come back sooner; cards you know drop back automatically.

  • 11,354 cards across all 49 topics in the OHNS curriculum
  • FSRS scheduling, adapted to your recall pattern
  • Study by topic or review today's due cards only
  • Anatomy and surgical management cards at SSE and FEX level
FRACS ENT study notes showing a curriculum-mapped learning objective note on cholesteatoma with fellowship-depth coverage
Curriculum-mapped study notes across all 121 learning objectives.

Study notes for every covered learning objective in the RACS OHNS curriculum, written to fellowship depth. Each note covers the anatomical basis, pathophysiology, clinical assessment, management, and surgical principles at the level the FEX written papers and viva segments test.

  • Fellowship-depth coverage across 121 learning objectives
  • Mapped to the RACS OHNS syllabus with topic and section tagging
  • Linked to MCQ explanations, SAQ feedback, viva debriefs, and flashcards per LO
  • Full-text search across all notes
FRACS ENT curriculum tracker showing 121 learning objectives across 49 topics with coverage heatmap and SSE and FEX sections
Track all 121 learning objectives across 49 topics and 10 areas.

The FRACS ENT curriculum spans two stages and 10 sections. The tracker maps every learning objective by SSE domain and FEX subspecialty, so you can see at a glance where your coverage is strong and where it needs attention before the next sitting.

  • Tick topics as you cover them across SSE and FEX sections
  • Coverage heatmap across all 10 curriculum sections
  • One-click jump to the weakest topic for targeted practice
  • SSE and FEX sections tracked separately
· About this exam ·

The FRACS ENT (OHNS) Examinations

The OHNS surgical pathway is examined by RACS in two distinct stages. The Specialty-Specific Examination (SSE) is a basic-science gateway sat earlier in SET training, testing applied anatomy (50%), pathology and microbiology (25%), and physiology (25%) through 100 MCQs and 6 spot questions. The Fellowship Examination (FEX) is the clinical exit, comprising two written papers and five clinical and viva segments, sat after the candidate has completed the required operative experience. Both examinations are criterion-referenced using the Expanded Close Marking System, graded against the standard of a consultant in the first year of independent practice. PRIMEX is built by Dr Jay Marshall, an anaesthetics registrar in Taree, NSW.

Useful external resources: RACS examinations (surgeons.org) and ASOHNS (asohns.org.au). The RACS Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery curriculum is available via the RACS training portal. PRIMEX does not name or cite any specific textbook or edition.

  • OrganiserRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)
  • FormatTwo-stage: SSE (100 MCQs + 6 spots) then Fellowship Examination (2 written papers + 5 clinical/viva segments: Clinical Scenarios, Clinical Cases, Surgical Anatomy, Surgical Pathology, Operative Surgery)
  • DomainsApplied anatomy, pathology, physiology (SSE); otology, rhinology, laryngology, head and neck, paediatric ENT, facial plastics (FEX)
  • SittingsSSE: October and February. Fellowship written: April and August. Clinical/viva: May/June and September
  • Pass standardCriterion-referenced, Expanded Close Marking System, first-year consultant standard. No headline pass rate published.
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Five high-yield FRACS ENT (OHNS) topics. One free SAQ and three MCQs per topic, graded against RACS Fellowship standard marking points. No signup.

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· Questions ·

Common questions about the FRACS ENT (OHNS) exam

· Pricing ·

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  • Curriculum tracker & readiness insights
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  • SAQ library & sessions
  • Study plan with pace tracking
  • Curriculum tracker & readiness insights
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