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FCS 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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FCS Part 1Question & explanation
Limbs
A mid-shaft humeral fracture is complicated by wrist drop. Which nerve has most likely been injured?
A
Radial nerve · Correct
B
Ulnar nerve
C
Median nerve
D
Axillary nerve
Understand why.
The radial nerve runs in the spiral (radial) groove of the humerus and is at risk in mid-shaft fractures. Injury causes wrist drop (loss of wrist and finger extensors) and sensory loss over the anatomical snuffbox. The axillary nerve is injured at the surgical neck.
Raftery, Basic Science for the MRCS · Raftery, Upper Limb
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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
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 1120questions
3 hourstimed practice
Mock exam 2
Included in your passRehearse again after reviewing your weaker areas and explanations.
Start mock exam 2Resume mock exam 2120questions
3 hourstimed practice
Same number of questions and time as one real CMSA paper, with questions from the whole syllabus. Mock exams require active access. For official exam formats and dates, consult the CMSA.
Your syllabus
coverage.
Make your basic sciences connect. 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.
9 topic sections
Applied Anatomy & Embryology
Head & Neck · Abdomen & Pelvis · Thorax · Limbs · Embryology · Neuroanatomy
Source references: Raftery, Basic Science for the MRCS
Practise this topicPhysiology & Pathophysiology
Fluid, Electrolyte & Acid-Base · Cardiovascular · Respiratory · Renal · Endocrine · GIT & Hepatic · and more
Source references: Raftery, Basic Science for the MRCS
Practise this topicGeneral Pathology & Oncology
Inflammation & Healing · Cell Injury & Death · Neoplasia · Genetics · Thrombosis & Embolism · Systemic Pathology
Source references: Raftery, Basic Science for the MRCS
Practise this topicMicrobiology & Immunology
Surgical Infection · Asepsis & Antisepsis · Immunology · Transplantation
Source references: Raftery, Basic Science for the MRCS
Practise this topicPharmacology & Therapeutics
Principles · Anticoagulants · Anaesthetic Agents · Drugs in Surgery
Source references: Raftery, Applied Basic Science
Practise this topicHaematology & Transfusion
Haemostasis · Transfusion Reactions · Blood Products · Anaemia · Blood Groups · Massive Transfusion · and more
Source references: Raftery, Basic Science for the MRCS
Practise this topicPerioperative & Critical Care
Shock · Sepsis & SIRS · Fluid Management · Wound & Nutrition · Acid-Base · Blood Gas · and more
Source references: Raftery, Applied Basic Science
Practise this topicStatistics, EBM & Ethics
Diagnostic Tests · Biostatistics · Ethics & Law · Evidence-Based Medicine
Source references: Statistics at Square One; CMSA ethical guidelines
Practise this topicTrue/False & Extended Matching
Multiple true/false sets · Extended matching themes
Source references: Raftery, Basic Science for the MRCS; Rang & Dale; Statistics at Square One
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 FCS Part 1 exam?
The FCS(SA) Primary is the basic-science exam for surgical training, run by the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA). It is two 3-hour MCQ papers with no oral: Paper 1 is anatomy, including embryology, and Paper 2 covers physiology, pathology and pharmacology. Orthopaedic and urology candidates write the same exam.
Last checked 1 October 2026 against the official CMSA page · blueprint (PDF). Certiva is independent of the CMSA, so always confirm details there.
Read the full FCS Part 1 guide: blueprint, textbooks and a 12-week plan →
| Official name | FCS(SA) Primary |
|---|---|
| Run by | Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) |
| Papers | 2 MCQ papers, no oral |
| Questions and content | Paper 1: anatomy (120 questions, incl. embryology). Paper 2: physiology, pathology and pharmacology/principles (120 questions). |
| Duration | 3 hours per paper |
| Eligibility | Post-internship qualification registered with the HPCSA (or another medical council) |
| 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: Thu 11 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.
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What does the FCS Part 1 Exam Pass include?
Your FCS 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 FCS Part 1 exam?
The FCS(SA) Primary is the basic-science exam for surgical training, run by the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA). It is two 3-hour MCQ papers with no oral: Paper 1 is anatomy, including embryology, and Paper 2 covers physiology, pathology and pharmacology. Orthopaedic and urology candidates write the same exam. See the full FCS Part 1 guide for the blueprint and a study plan.
Can I get FCS 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.