Why do FRCR 2B trainees attend FRCR 2B Viva Courses?

If your FRCR 2B Exam is coming up soon, we encourage you to read the following article as soon as possible. Most candidates are Type 1 Exam Candidates (see the 3 types below).

If you are a Type 1 Candidate, these tips are the best way for you to guarantee a pass in your Exam.

The Society for Radiologists in Training has an 'FRCR 2B Examination Advice' column. In this column, they estimate that you will attend 3 FRCR 2B Viva Courses before your Exam.

So, what are FRCR 2B Viva courses and why do so many Radiologists attend them?

FRCR 2B Viva courses are 1 or 2-day courses that give candidates a chance to practice their Viva skills. These courses are in a format that mimics the actual Exam.

Why do so many candidates attend these FRCR 2B Courses? Do they improve their chances of success in the FRCR 2B Examination?

We identified the most effective way Radiologists need to revise to pass the FRCR 2B Vivas.

1. Type 1 Candidates: This group learns best with interactive discussions. According to 'The Blended Learning Book', 50% of people excel when they're taught in this way. (We've read medical training journals that have published articles about this. When an interaction becomes a simulation, the efficiency of learning is even higher)

2. Type 2 Candidates: This group learns best from hearing the relevant information. Podcasts and audio lectures are the best learning format for this group.

3. Type 3 Candidates: This group of candidates has the smallest percentage. They learn best by reading the required material, such as case studies in textbooks.

We decided to test if this data holds for the average FRCR Candidate preparing for their FRCR 2B Viva Exam.

First, we designed a Viva course to simulate the FRCR 2B Exam. Our team spent several weeks making our candidates' learning experience a success.

We organised cases that would reflect the standard of the Exam. We also involved Examiners who would give excellent feedback, following the RCR guidelines. To make the course as accessible as possible, we conducted it online.

After running 2 courses in this format, we sent a survey to everyone who attended the courses. This helped us gauge what the experience had been like for them. At the time of writing this article, we had 74 survey responses.

Here's what they said:

Final verdic: Attending FRCR 2B Viva courses that simulate the Exam helps increase confidence.

Our goal is to help Radiologists to have the most proactive and strategic FRCR preparation.

What are your thoughts on FRCR 2B Viva Courses? Are they helpful or unnecessary?