FRACS General Surgery Fellowship Examination Pass Rate 2026
The headline figure
RACS does not publish a fixed pass-rate figure on the Fellowship Examination pages. It publishes annual pass-rate data by specialty in its Activities Reports (Table EXAM.4); no specific current percentage is verified here. You can review the official position at the RACS source.
How the standard is set
For the FRACS General Surgery Fellowship Examination, RACS assesses candidates against a defined competency standard rather than ranking them against each other, so the proportion who pass reflects how a cohort performs against that bar and varies between sittings. Where a verified figure is published it appears above with its source; where the examining body publishes none, PRIMEX states that plainly rather than estimating one.
What separates pass-tier from fail-tier candidates
The FRACS General Surgery Fellowship Examination is Seven segments per specialty: two written papers plus five clinical/viva segments. Across multiple examination sittings, the following patterns distinguish candidates who pass from those who do not:
- Viva anxiety: oral examination performance requires structured, confident communication of clinical reasoning under examiner scrutiny.
- SAQ answers that lack prioritisation - the written paper rewards a structured management framework, not comprehensive prose.
- Subspecialty gaps: hepatobiliary, colorectal, and upper GI are consistently tested and require explicit preparation.
- Over-relying on operative experience without structured exam preparation in the final months.
How PRIMEX helps you cross the pass line
- SAQ practice with AI grading calibrated to FRACS General Surgery examiner expectations.
- Viva simulation for structured oral presentation of surgical management decisions.
- Curriculum-mapped content across all general surgery subspecialties.
Start your 7-day free PRIMEX trial for the FRACS General Surgery Fellowship Examination and find out exactly where your preparation stands.
Start free trialFrequently asked questions
How long should I study for the FRACS General Surgery Fellowship Examination?
Most candidates dedicate 26-52 weeks of structured preparation for the FRACS General Surgery Fellowship Examination. The exact duration depends on your prior knowledge base, clinical experience, and available study time per week. Starting earlier generally produces better outcomes than compressing preparation into a short period.
What is the format of the FRACS General Surgery Fellowship Examination?
Seven segments per specialty: two written papers plus five clinical/viva segments.
What is the pass rate for the FRACS General Surgery Fellowship Examination?
RACS does not publish a fixed pass-rate figure on the Fellowship Examination pages. It publishes annual pass-rate data by specialty in its Activities Reports (Table EXAM.4); no specific current percentage is verified here. You can review the official position at the RACS source.
What are the most common failure modes in the FRACS General Surgery Fellowship Examination?
- Viva anxiety: oral examination performance requires structured, confident communication of clinical reasoning under examiner scrutiny.
- SAQ answers that lack prioritisation - the written paper rewards a structured management framework, not comprehensive prose.
- Subspecialty gaps: hepatobiliary, colorectal, and upper GI are consistently tested and require explicit preparation.
- Over-relying on operative experience without structured exam preparation in the final months.
What resources does PRIMEX provide for the FRACS General Surgery Fellowship Examination?
PRIMEX provides a curriculum-mapped question bank, AI-graded practice, and structured study resources for the FRACS General Surgery Fellowship Examination. Start with a 7-day free trial to access the full platform.