3 months
A focused final stretch.
R549once-off
Full access for one selected exam.
Get 3 monthsCMSA exam prep · FCP Part 1
FCP Part 1.Pass it first time.
- Know exactly what to revise. Your tracker finds your weakest topics and picks the next one.
- Every answer explained, with the exact textbook chapter, so you only read what you got wrong.
- 20 minutes a day, on your phone, planned week by week to your sitting.
- Timed mock exams like the real paper. Don’t pass? Refund or more time.
Pay once with PayFast. No auto-renewal. Trusted by 300+ healthcare professionals.
FCP Part 1Question & explanation
Coronary circulation & myocardial perfusion
Autoregulation of coronary blood flow during increased myocardial oxygen demand is mediated chiefly by which local factor?
A
Increased sympathetic vasoconstriction
B
Circulating adrenaline alone
C
Falling local carbon dioxide
D
Adenosine and other metabolic vasodilators · Correct
Understand why.
Increased myocardial metabolism releases adenosine (from ATP breakdown) and other metabolites that dilate coronary arterioles, matching flow to demand. This metabolic autoregulation, with endothelial nitric oxide, dominates coronary flow control.
Naish & Court, Medical Sciences; Kumar & Clark · Naish & Court, Coronary circulation
Doctor-created & reviewed questions2 UCT-accredited CPD courses with every passFree CV maker
Choose your Exam Pass.
Full FCP Part 1 access. Pay once, no auto-renewal.
6 months
RecommendedBuild a routine around shifts.
R799once-off
R133.17 / month equivalent
Save R299 vs 2 × 3-month passes
Get 6 monthsUltimate
12 months: both sittings of the year.
R1,199once-off
R99.92 / month equivalent
Save R997 vs 4 × 3-month passes
Get UltimateEverything in your Exam Pass.
Every Exam Pass includes the same tools for your selected exam. Choose the time you need, not the features you can afford.
- No past papers? The full bank and timed mock exams, mapped to the CMSA syllabus
- Textbooks too big? The exact chapter for every answer, so you only read what you got wrong
- Don’t know what’s next? A tracker that picks your next topic, made for 20-minute sessions on your phone
- How do you fit it all in? A week-by-week study plan to your sitting, rebuilt from your answers
- Need CPD? Two UCT-accredited courses with every pass, or R199 on their own
- Then the post application? A free CV and cover-letter maker
- What if you don’t pass? A refund or more time
Buying for a study group, or only need CPD?
Group passesCPD bundleGroup passes for 3, 5 or 10 people, one code each. Or both UCT-accredited CPD courses for R199, 12 months.
How refund or more time works. The bank and the mock exams are the plan. Answer at least 60% of the question bank and do every mock exam before your sitting, with no minimum score. If you still don’t pass, send your result within 30 days and choose your money back or twice your pass length, free. Read the refund terms.
Find your pace.
Test your understanding.
Switch from learning by topic to a timed Certiva mock exam. Review your results after the paper and return to the areas that need work.
Mock exam 1
Included in your passPut your revision to the test in one uninterrupted, timed session.
Start mock exam 1Resume mock exam 1150questions
4 hourstimed practice
Mock exam 2
Included in your passRehearse again after reviewing your weaker areas and explanations.
Start mock exam 2Resume mock exam 2150questions
4 hourstimed practice
Same number of questions and time as one real CMSA paper. Mock exams require active access. For official exam formats and dates, consult the CMSA.
Your syllabus
coverage.
Understand the mechanisms. Not just the facts. Explore the topics covered by this question bank and their source references.
Try 5 questions freeAlready studying with Certiva? Log in to see your latest section results and resume a mock exam.
11 topic sections
Cardiology
Cardiac output & its regulation · Vascular function & blood pressure control · Cardiac cycle & heart sounds · Coronary circulation & myocardial perfusion · Cardiac electrophysiology & ECG · Cardiac microanatomy & conduction system · and more
Source references: Naish & Court, Medical Sciences; Kumar & Clark
Practise this topicRespiratory System
Lung mechanics & compliance · Gas exchange & diffusion · Control of breathing & acid-base · Oxygen & CO2 transport · Lung defence & mucociliary clearance · Ventilation, dead space & V/Q matching · and more
Source references: Naish & Court; Kumar & Clark
Practise this topicRenal, Fluid & Electrolytes
Glomerular filtration & clearance · Tubular transport · Sodium & water balance · Acid-base regulation · Endocrine functions of the kidney · Potassium balance · and more
Source references: Naish & Court; Kumar & Clark
Practise this topicEndocrine, Metabolism & Nutrition
Adrenal · Thyroid · Hypothalamic-pituitary axis · Glucose homeostasis & insulin · Calcium & parathyroid · Fluid & energy metabolism · and more
Source references: Naish & Court; Kumar & Clark
Practise this topicGastroenterology & Hepatology
GI motility & secretion · Digestion & absorption · Liver function & metabolism · Jaundice & bilirubin · Portal hypertension · Pancreatic & biliary disease · and more
Source references: Naish & Court; Kumar & Clark
Practise this topicHaematology & Immunology
Haematopoiesis · Red cell physiology & haemoglobin · Haemostasis & coagulation · Thrombosis & anticoagulation · Transfusion & blood groups · Iron & anaemias · and more
Source references: Naish & Court; Kumar & Clark
Practise this topicInfectious Diseases
Microbial structure & classification · HIV biology & natural history · Tropical & parasitic disease · Sepsis, fever & inflammatory response · Antimicrobial mechanisms & resistance · Host defence & immunity · and more
Source references: Kumar & Clark; Naish & Court; SA disease epidemiology
Practise this topicNervous System
Neurophysiology · CSF & meninges · Sensory & motor pathways · Basal ganglia & cerebellum · Cranial nerves & brainstem · Autonomic nervous system · and more
Source references: Naish & Court; Kumar & Clark
Practise this topicCell Biology, Cancer & Genetics
Cell membrane & transport · Cell structure & organelles · Cell signalling & receptors · Cell cycle & division · Cell death (apoptosis & necrosis) · Bioenergetics & free radicals · and more
Source references: Naish & Court; Kumar & Clark
Practise this topicMSK, Skin, Geriatrics & Pregnancy
Synovial joints & connective tissue · Skin structure & barrier · Crystal arthropathy · Bone structure & remodelling · Physiology of ageing · Geriatric syndromes · and more
Source references: Naish & Court; Kumar & Clark
Practise this topicTherapeutics, Toxicology, Research & Stats
Pharmacokinetics · Pharmacodynamics · Drug metabolism & interactions · Prescribing in special groups · Adverse drug reactions · Descriptive statistics & distributions · and more
Source references: Kumar & Clark; Harris & Taylor, Medical Statistics Made Easy
Practise this topicNo matching topics. Try a broader subject or clear your search.
Your revision focus.
Topics below 60% with at least three first answers. A revision prompt, not an exam prediction.
Exam at a glance
What is the FCP Part 1 exam?
The FCP(SA) Part I is the basic-science exam of the Fellowship of the College of Physicians, run by the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA). It is one 4-hour paper of 150 multiple-choice questions, split roughly equally between physiology and pathophysiology.
Last checked 1 October 2026 against the official CMSA page. Certiva is independent of the CMSA, so always confirm details there.
Read the full FCP Part 1 guide: format, textbooks and a 12-week plan →
| Official name | FCP(SA) Part I |
|---|---|
| Run by | Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) |
| Papers | 1 MCQ paper |
| Questions and content | 150 questions; about 50% physiology and 50% pathophysiology (basic sciences) |
| Duration | 4 hours |
| Eligibility | Post-internship qualification to practise medicine |
| CMSA exam fee | R12,950 (at last check) |
| When it is written | Two written semesters a year: usually February/March and July/August. Next sitting: Mon 8 Feb 2027 (CMSA timetable; always confirm with the CMSA). |
| Past papers | Not published since 2021: questions stay in a secure CMSA bank. |
| Certiva bank | Explained, referenced questions and timed mock exams |
Good questions.
Clear answers.
Need a hand? Ask Certiva.
What does the FCP Part 1 Exam Pass include?
Your FCP Part 1 Exam Pass includes the full question bank and two timed mock exams, mapped to the CMSA syllabus; the exact textbook chapter for every answer; a tracker that picks your next topic, with smart revision and a readiness score; a week-by-week study plan to your sitting; two UCT-accredited ethics CPD courses; and a refund or more time if you don’t pass. The 3-, 6- and 12-month passes have the same features, are paid once and don’t renew. The CV and cover-letter maker and one SAMA-accredited ethics CPD course are free for everyone.
Can I try it before paying?
Yes. Try five questions with explanations and textbook references, with no account or card. Then create a free account for the mini mock exam: 20 questions across the syllabus, then your weakest topics and the chapters to read. Try 5 questions free.
How does the tracker know what I should revise?
After each session, your tracker shows the topics you’re scoring below 60% and the exact chapter to read. Questions you get wrong come back after 10 minutes, then after 1, 3 and 7 days. Your readiness score appears after 50 questions across 3 topics. It is a study guide, not a prediction of your result.
What happens if I do not pass?
The bank and the mock exams are the plan. Answer at least 60% of the question bank and do every mock exam before your sitting, with no minimum score. If you still don’t pass, send your result within 30 days and choose your money back or twice your pass length, free. Monthly membership, group passes and the CPD bundle are excluded. Read the full refund terms.
Does it work on my phone between calls?
Yes. Certiva runs in your phone’s browser, so a 20-minute session between calls counts. Your progress is saved to your account, and questions you miss come back for revision after 10 minutes, then after 1, 3 and 7 days.
I’m writing in a few weeks. Is it still worth it?
Yes, if you use it to find and fix your weakest topics. Start with a timed mock exam, then let the tracker pick what to revise. To stay eligible for a refund or more time, answer at least 60% of the question bank and do every mock exam before your sitting.
Is Certiva the official CMSA resource?
No. Certiva is independent exam preparation and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the CMSA. This page describes Certiva’s practice material, not official exam regulations. Check the CMSA website for current regulations, eligibility and exam dates.
What is the format of the FCP Part 1 exam?
The FCP(SA) Part I is the basic-science exam of the Fellowship of the College of Physicians, run by the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA). It is one 4-hour paper of 150 multiple-choice questions, split roughly equally between physiology and pathophysiology. See the full FCP Part 1 guide for the format, textbooks and a study plan.
Can I get FCP Part 1 past papers?
No. CMSA exams have been written online since 2021, and past papers are no longer published because the questions stay in a secure bank. A question bank mapped to the exam content, with explained answers, is the closest alternative. Try 5 questions free.