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FCPsych 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.
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FCPsych Part 1Question & explanation
Blood Supply
A patient presents with sudden-onset weakness and numbness of the left leg. Which artery is most likely occluded?
A
Anterior cerebral artery · Correct
B
Middle cerebral artery
C
Posterior cerebral artery
D
Posterior inferior cerebellar artery
Understand why.
The ACA supplies the medial cortex serving the leg. ACA occlusion causes contralateral leg weakness/sensory loss, sparing the face and arm.
Waxman Clinical Neuroanatomy, 29th Edition · Chapter 12
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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
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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 1100questions
3 hourstimed practice
Mock exam 2
Included in your passRehearse again after reviewing your weaker areas and explanations.
Start mock exam 2Resume mock exam 2100questions
3 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.
Neuroscience. Medicines. Behaviour. 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.
7 topic sections
Neuroanatomy
Blood Supply · Basal Ganglia & Dopamine Pathways · Papez Circuit & Limbic System · Ventricles & CSF · Cortical Functions · Cranial Nerves · and more
Source references: Waxman Clinical Neuroanatomy, 29th Edition
Practise this topicPsychopharmacology
Receptor Pharmacology · Antipsychotics · Antidepressants · Mood Stabilisers · Anxiolytics & Sedatives · CYP Enzymes & Pharmacokinetics · and more
Source references: Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology, 5th Edition
Practise this topicNeurophysiology
Action Potentials & Resting Membrane Potential · Ionic Basis of Excitability · Synaptic Transmission · Neurotransmitter Receptors · Sensory Pathways · Pain Physiology · and more
Source references: Carpenter's Neurophysiology, 6th Edition
Practise this topicBehavioural Sciences
Psychoanalytic Theory · Neopsychoanalytic Theory · Life Span Development · Behaviourist & Social Learning Theory · Trait Theory · Classical Conditioning · and more
Source references: Swartz et al., Psychology: An Introduction (OUP South Africa)
Practise this topicEthics, Law & Phenomenology
Phenomenology · Mental Health Law · Ethics
Source references: Burns & Roos, Textbook of Psychiatry, 2nd ed.
Practise this topicResearch & Public Mental Health
Prevalence and Incidence · Measures of Effect · Study Design · Bias · Sensitivity and Specificity · Validity and Reliability · and more
Source references: Burns & Roos, Textbook of Psychiatry, 2nd ed.
Practise this topicExtended Matching & Very Short Answers
Extended matching themes · Very short answers
Source references: Waxman; Stahl; Carpenter; Swartz; Burns & Roos
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 FCPsych Part 1 exam?
The FC Psych(SA) Part I is the first written exam of the Fellowship of the College of Psychiatrists, run by the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA). It is two digital multiple-choice papers of 3 hours each, covering neuroanatomy, psychopharmacology, neurophysiology, genetics, psychology and the foundations of psychiatry.
Last checked 1 October 2026 against the official CMSA page. Certiva is independent of the CMSA, so always confirm details there.
Read the full FCPsych Part 1 guide: blueprint, textbooks and a 12-week plan →
| Official name | FC Psych(SA) Part I |
|---|---|
| Run by | Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) |
| Papers | 2 digital written papers |
| Question format | Multiple-choice questions |
| Questions and content | Paper 1: neuroanatomy and psychopharmacology (50 questions), neurophysiology and genetics (50). Paper 2: introduction to psychiatry — ethics, law, phenomenology, research and public health (50), psychology (50). |
| Duration | 3 hours per paper |
| Eligibility | Post-internship qualification and full HPCSA registration (i.e. community service completed) |
| 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.
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What does the FCPsych Part 1 Exam Pass include?
Your FCPsych 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 FCPsych Part 1 exam?
The FC Psych(SA) Part I is the first written exam of the Fellowship of the College of Psychiatrists, run by the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA). It is two digital multiple-choice papers of 3 hours each, covering neuroanatomy, psychopharmacology, neurophysiology, genetics, psychology and the foundations of psychiatry. See the full FCPsych Part 1 guide for the blueprint and a study plan.
Can I get FCPsych 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.