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[ Home ](https://mdster.com) 2. [ Blog ](https://mdster.com/blog) 3. [ Study Tips ](https://mdster.com/blog?category=study-tips) 4. Fellowship of the Hong Kong College of Anaesthesiologists (Intermediate Fellowship Examinations): A Practical Study Plan [ Study Tips ](https://mdster.com/blog?category=study-tips) Fellowship of the Hong Kong College of Anaesthesiologists (Intermediate Fellowship Examinations): A Practical Study Plan ========================================================================================================================== Prepare for both basic-science written papers and the oral examination without letting one crowd out the other. [ MDster Editorial Team ](https://mdster.com/about) · Oct 09, 2026 · 6 min read · 26 [ Reviewed by Dr. Ali Ragab, MBBCH, MSc, MCAI ](https://mdster.com/medical-reviewers/dr-ali-ragab) [Editorial Policy](https://mdster.com/editorial-policy) | [Corrections Policy](https://mdster.com/corrections) [ Anesthesiology ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=anesthesiology) [ Study Tips ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=study-tips) [ Oral Examination ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=oral-examination) [ Anaesthesiology ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=anaesthesiology) [ HKCA Intermediate ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=hkca-intermediate) [ Short-Answer Questions ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=short-answer-questions) ![Fellowship of the Hong Kong College of Anaesthesiologists (Intermediate Fellowship Examinations): A Practical Study Plan](https://mdster.com/storage/blog/images/fellowship-of-the-hong-kong-college-of-anaesthesiologists-intermediate-fellowship-examin-1.png) Share this article Share this post On this page 1. [ Start with the Intermediate blueprint ](#start-with-the-intermediate-blueprint) 2. [ Build a topic map before choosing resources ](#build-a-topic-map-before-choosing-resources) 3. [ Train for the written paper’s ten-minute decisions ](#train-for-the-written-papers-ten-minute-decisions) 4. [ Rehearse the oral examination from the first month ](#rehearse-the-oral-examination-from-the-first-month) 5. [ Study Schedule Template: 12 weeks to the written papers ](#study-schedule-template-12-weeks-to-the-written-papers) 6. [ Common pitfalls and key takeaways ](#common-pitfalls-and-key-takeaways) 7. [ Frequently Asked Questions ](#blog-faqs) 8. [ References ](#references-heading) On this page 1. [ Start with the Intermediate blueprint ](#start-with-the-intermediate-blueprint) 2. [ Build a topic map before choosing resources ](#build-a-topic-map-before-choosing-resources) 3. [ Train for the written paper’s ten-minute decisions ](#train-for-the-written-papers-ten-minute-decisions) 4. [ Rehearse the oral examination from the first month ](#rehearse-the-oral-examination-from-the-first-month) 5. [ Study Schedule Template: 12 weeks to the written papers ](#study-schedule-template-12-weeks-to-the-written-papers) 6. [ Common pitfalls and key takeaways ](#common-pitfalls-and-key-takeaways) 7. [ Frequently Asked Questions ](#blog-faqs) 8. [ References ](#references-heading) You can explain a drug’s effects during a case, then struggle to write a focused answer about its pharmacology in ten minutes. That mismatch is common in the HKCA Intermediate Fellowship Examinations. Prepare for the written papers and oral examination together, rather than assuming clinical experience will automatically translate into exam answers. Start with the Intermediate blueprint ------------------------------------- The Intermediate examination tests physiology, including clinical measurements, and pharmacology, including statistics. Each subject has a written paper and an oral examination; the written and oral sections carry equal marks, and you must pass both subjects. You need an acceptable written standard to proceed to the oral section, so neither format can be postponed until after the other. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") This is not the Final Fellowship Examination in miniature. The HKCA describes Intermediate as assessing the scientific foundations of clinical anaesthesia, while Final focuses on integrating knowledge and skills in clinical practice. When you discuss a clinical example, bring your answer back to the underlying mechanism, measurement principle or pharmacology being tested. [\[2\]](#cite-2 "Reference [2]") ### Build a topic map before choosing resources Open Appendix 4 of the HKCA anaesthesia training curriculum and list its Intermediate learning outcomes under the two subjects. Mark each outcome **confident**, **partly understood** or **cannot explain aloud**; use the last two categories to allocate your next study sessions. [\[2\]](#cite-2 "Reference [2]") - **Physiology:** Start with respiratory and cardiovascular physiology, then cover renal and acid–base physiology, maternal physiology and clinical measurement. Draw a labelled figure or trace whenever the concept has a visual explanation. - **Pharmacology:** Compare anaesthetic drug classes by mechanism, pharmacokinetics, effects and important differences. Set aside a recurring session for statistics rather than leaving it until the final week. - **Coverage check:** Sample topics beyond your familiar theatre work. A recent physiology paper also asked about sleep, transfusion reactions and flow through a rotameter; clinical familiarity alone would not cover that breadth. [\[3\]](#cite-3 "Reference [3]") Train for the written paper’s ten-minute decisions -------------------------------------------------- Each subject’s written paper has 12 short-answer questions in two hours. HKCA recommends roughly ten minutes per question and warns against leaving questions unanswered. Practise writing in English, using concise notes and abbreviations only when their meaning is clear to a marker. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") 1. Spend the first minute identifying the command word and any stated mark split. If a question assigns separate marks to a diagram and an explanation, give each part visible space. 2. Write a brief structure before adding detail: definition or principle, key mechanisms, then the requested application. For a measurement question, include what is measured, how the method works and relevant limitations. 3. Stop at approximately ten minutes. If an answer is incomplete, add its strongest missing points in concise form and move on; do not sacrifice a whole question to polish one response. 4. After the session, compare your answer with a reliable physiology or pharmacology text. Record missing concepts and unclear wording separately: they require different fixes. Use HKCA’s published Intermediate papers for timed practice, not merely as a reading list. Alternate subjects and repeat previously missed concepts after a delay; practice testing and distributed study have stronger evidence for learning than repeated rereading. [\[4\]](#cite-4 "Reference [4]") > **Pro Tip:** Turn each mistake into two prompts: “Explain the mechanism” and “State its anaesthetic relevance.” If you can answer only the second, revisit the basic science before attempting another paper. Rehearse the oral examination from the first month -------------------------------------------------- HKCA describes two oral tables per subject, with 20 minutes at each table and two examiners asking questions for about ten minutes each. Arrange a weekly practice session in which a colleague interrupts, asks you to clarify terms and changes topic; uninterrupted presentations do not reproduce that format. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Use a repeatable opening: define the concept, give the governing mechanism, then add a clinical illustration if relevant. For example, when asked about a cardiovascular response, explain the physiological determinants before describing what you might observe during anaesthesia. If you do not know a detail, state what you can justify and avoid guessing a value. Record one mock answer each week. Listen for delayed starts, unexplained abbreviations and statements you cannot defend; then ask a senior colleague to challenge your weakest explanation. Use a mock-viva course, if available, for feedback on reasoning rather than memorising its questions. Study Schedule Template: 12 weeks to the written papers ------------------------------------------------------- As of October 2026, HKCA lists the next Intermediate written sitting for **19 February 2027**, oral examinations for **9–10 April 2027**, and an application closing date of **8 January 2027**. Check the College page again before committing leave or submitting an application. [\[4\]](#cite-4 "Reference [4]") PeriodWritten-paper workOral workWeeks 1–4Map Appendix 4; cover major systems and core drug classes; write four timed answers weekly.One short, recorded explanation each week.Weeks 5–8Add measurement and statistics; complete one timed set per subject each week.One colleague-led session weekly, alternating subjects.Weeks 9–10Complete full two-hour papers; review omissions and mark-split errors.Practise interruptions and unfamiliar topics.Weeks 11–12Revisit weak outcomes; preserve the ten-minute limit in final mocks.Continue weekly sessions; do not wait for written results. On a demanding rotation, protect two focused sessions for one weak topic and one timed answer rather than attempting a broad, unfinished chapter. After the written papers, shift more time to oral rehearsal while retaining brief recall sessions across both subjects. Common pitfalls and key takeaways --------------------------------- - **Do not study only past-paper favourites.** Use the curriculum to find unpractised outcomes, then test a sample every week. - **Do not substitute MCQs for short answers.** A question bank can expose gaps, but follow each missed item with a written explanation in your own words. - **Do not collect textbooks without a task.** Choose a core text for each subject and use it to correct a specific answer or diagram. - **Do not leave oral practice until the invitation arrives.** Book a colleague-led session this week and explain one physiology and one pharmacology topic aloud. Your next step is small but measurable: map your weak outcomes, write two answers under the ten-minute limit, and ask someone to question your reasoning. That routine trains the breadth, clarity and pace this examination demands. Frequently Asked Questions ---------------------------- ### Should I wait for my HKCA Intermediate written result before practising for the oral examination? No. The oral sections carry equal marks with the written sections, so begin weekly spoken explanations while preparing for the written papers. ### How should I divide time across an Intermediate written paper? HKCA recommends approximately ten minutes for each of the 12 questions in a two-hour subject paper. Practise moving on rather than leaving later questions unanswered. ### Are MCQ question banks enough for the Intermediate examination? No. Use MCQs to identify knowledge gaps, then practise written short answers and spoken explanations that match the examination formats. ### Which HKCA document should guide my topic checklist? Use Appendix 4 of the HKCA anaesthesia training curriculum, which identifies learning outcomes assessed in the Intermediate examination. References (5) ------------------ 1. 1. [ Hong Kong College of Anaesthesiologists. Intermediate Fellowship Examination FAQ. ](https://www.hkca.edu.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Exam_FAQ_202112_Intermediate-Exam.pdf) [↩](#cite-ref-1-1 "Back to text") 2. 2. [ Hong Kong College of Anaesthesiologists. Anaesthesia Training Curriculum, Appendix 4. ](https://www.hkca.edu.hk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/ANS-training-curriculum-new_curriculum_2017.pdf) [↩](#cite-ref-2-1 "Back to text") 3. 3. [ www.hkca.edu.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/I20261\_Physiology\_Written-Question-Paper.pdf ](https://www.hkca.edu.hk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/I20261_Physiology_Written-Question-Paper.pdf) [↩](#cite-ref-3-1 "Back to text") 4. 4. [ Hong Kong College of Anaesthesiologists. Anaesthesia Examinations: dates, past papers and candidate resources. ](https://www.hkca.edu.hk/anaesthesiology/examinations/) [↩](#cite-ref-4-1 "Back to text") 5. 5. [ Dunlosky J, et al. Improving Students’ Learning With Effective Learning Techniques. Psychological Science in the Public Interest. 2013. ](https://www.psychologicalscience.org/journals/pspi/1529100612453266/) Next step Build momentum in Anesthesiology with focused, exam‑style practice -------------------------------------------------------------------- - Airway, ventilation, and crisis drills - High‑yield anesthesia pharmacology made practical - Track weak topics and improve faster [ Start practicing ](https://mdster.com/user/dashboard) [ Explore Anesthesiology ](https://mdster.com/speciality/anesthesiology) [ View pricing ](https://mdster.com/pricing) [ Explore features ](https://mdster.com/features) No credit card required. Full access to all features\*. No commitment. Cancel anytime. \*AI SOE Examiner is limited to 10 cases monthly for Advanced & Bundle subscribers. 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