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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. How to Pass the Fellowship of the College of Anaesthetists of South Africa (Part II): Study Tips That Actually Work [ Study Tips ](https://mdster.com/blog?category=study-tips) How to Pass the Fellowship of the College of Anaesthetists of South Africa (Part II): Study Tips That Actually Work ===================================================================================================================== A practical, exam-format-first plan to master the written papers and OSCE—without wasting months on low-yield reading. [ MDster Editorial Team ](https://mdster.com/about) · Feb 07, 2026 · 6 min read · 152 [ 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) [ FCA(SA) ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=fcasa) [ Anesthesiology Boards ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=anesthesiology-boards) [ OSCE Prep ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=osce-prep) [ Study Schedule ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=study-schedule) [ Exam Strategy ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=exam-strategy) Share this article Share this post On this page 1. [ Train the two products: (1) written decisions and (2) OSCE performance ](#train-the-two-products-1-written-decisions-and-2-osce-performance) 2. [ Your “examiner lens” (what you’re really being marked on) ](#your-examiner-lens-what-youre-really-being-marked-on) 3. [ Study schedule template (12 weeks): build, then sharpen ](#study-schedule-template-12-weeks-build-then-sharpen) 4. [ Weekly cadence (non-negotiable) ](#weekly-cadence-non-negotiable) 5. [ 12-week template ](#12-week-template) 6. [ Written papers: stop “revising topics,” start “rehearsing answers” ](#written-papers-stop-revising-topics-start-rehearsing-answers) 7. [ SBA/MCQ-focused papers: build a predictable approach ](#sbamcq-focused-papers-build-a-predictable-approach) 8. [ SAQ/data interpretation: write like you’re on call ](#saqdata-interpretation-write-like-youre-on-call) 9. [ OSCE: practise performance, not knowledge ](#osce-practise-performance-not-knowledge) 10. [ Your OSCE script (works for most stations) ](#your-osce-script-works-for-most-stations) 11. [ How to run an OSCE session (45 minutes) ](#how-to-run-an-osce-session-45-minutes) 12. [ Use resources like a candidate, not like a librarian (no wasted hours) ](#use-resources-like-a-candidate-not-like-a-librarian-no-wasted-hours) 13. [ Common pitfalls that repeatedly sink Part II candidates ](#common-pitfalls-that-repeatedly-sink-part-ii-candidates) 14. [ Key Takeaways: what to implement this week ](#key-takeaways-what-to-implement-this-week) On this page 1. [ Train the two products: (1) written decisions and (2) OSCE performance ](#train-the-two-products-1-written-decisions-and-2-osce-performance) 2. [ Your “examiner lens” (what you’re really being marked on) ](#your-examiner-lens-what-youre-really-being-marked-on) 3. [ Study schedule template (12 weeks): build, then sharpen ](#study-schedule-template-12-weeks-build-then-sharpen) 4. [ Weekly cadence (non-negotiable) ](#weekly-cadence-non-negotiable) 5. [ 12-week template ](#12-week-template) 6. [ Written papers: stop “revising topics,” start “rehearsing answers” ](#written-papers-stop-revising-topics-start-rehearsing-answers) 7. [ SBA/MCQ-focused papers: build a predictable approach ](#sbamcq-focused-papers-build-a-predictable-approach) 8. [ SAQ/data interpretation: write like you’re on call ](#saqdata-interpretation-write-like-youre-on-call) 9. [ OSCE: practise performance, not knowledge ](#osce-practise-performance-not-knowledge) 10. [ Your OSCE script (works for most stations) ](#your-osce-script-works-for-most-stations) 11. [ How to run an OSCE session (45 minutes) ](#how-to-run-an-osce-session-45-minutes) 12. [ Use resources like a candidate, not like a librarian (no wasted hours) ](#use-resources-like-a-candidate-not-like-a-librarian-no-wasted-hours) 13. [ Common pitfalls that repeatedly sink Part II candidates ](#common-pitfalls-that-repeatedly-sink-part-ii-candidates) 14. [ Key Takeaways: what to implement this week ](#key-takeaways-what-to-implement-this-week) Most FCA(SA) Part II candidates don’t fail from “not knowing enough.” They fail because their prep doesn’t match the exam’s *outputs*: a structured written answer under time pressure, and a safe, consultant-level OSCE performance across multiple stations. If your current plan is “read widely, then do questions near the end,” you’re training the wrong skill. Part II rewards **prioritisation, pattern recognition, and structured communication**—the same way you’ll practise as a specialist. Train the two products: (1) written decisions and (2) OSCE performance ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FCA(SA) Part II is a **written component (SBA/MCQ-focused + SAQ/data-interpretation style questions)** and an **OSCE with multiple stations**. Your prep must run on two parallel tracks from week 1. ### Your “examiner lens” (what you’re really being marked on) In both written and OSCE, examiners look for: - **Safety-first sequencing** (prioritise life threats, anticipate deterioration) - **A defensible plan** (choice + justification + backup) - **Context-aware practice** (resources, comorbidity burden, common SA pathology) - **Clear structure** (headings, algorithms, closed-loop communication) > **Pro Tip:** When unsure, ask: “What would I do *next* in a real theatre/ICU, and what would make this patient die in the next 10 minutes?” Build your answer around that. Study schedule template (12 weeks): build, then sharpen ------------------------------------------------------- Below is a template you can repeat and compress (e.g., into 8–10 weeks) depending on your timeline. The key is a weekly deliverable: *timed written output + recorded OSCE reps*. ### Weekly cadence (non-negotiable) - **3 timed written blocks/week** (60–90 min): mixed SBA + SAQ/data interpretation - **2 OSCE sessions/week** (45–60 min): one communication-heavy, one technical/crisis - **1 consolidation block/week** (60 min): error log → “rules I will follow” ### 12-week template WeeksWritten focus (deliverable)OSCE focus (deliverable)1–2Build your “core frameworks” (peri-op risk, airway plan, shock, sepsis, obstetric haemorrhage). Deliverable: 10 model SAQ outlines.Communication structure + consent + pre-op assessment. Deliverable: 8 recorded stations with feedback.3–4Cardiac/resp/renal/hepatic comorbidity applied to anaesthesia. Deliverable: 6 timed mixed papers (mini-mocks).Airway + ventilation troubleshooting + machine/monitoring checks. Deliverable: 2 crisis scripts memorised + practised.5–6Obstetrics + paeds + regional (complications + rescue). Deliverable: error-log themes list + rewrite 5 weak SAQs.Neuraxial/regional “talk-through” + LAST/high spinal/failed intubation drills. Deliverable: 10 short OSCE reps (6–8 min).7–8ICU/HD: sedation, ARDS, sepsis, vasopressors, weaning, analgesia. Deliverable: 4 data-interpretation sets (ABG/ECG/CXR/labs).ICU handover + ethics/capacity + peri-op critical care decision-making. Deliverable: 6 stations with tight structure.9–10Neuro/trauma + bleeding/massive transfusion + anticoagulants. Deliverable: 2 full timed mocks + post-mortem notes.Trauma/team communication + peri-arrest algorithms + neonatal resus talk-through. Deliverable: 6 crisis stations under timer.11–12Exam simulation and refinement. Deliverable: 3 mixed full written sessions + marking against your own rubric.Full OSCE circuits. Deliverable: 2 circuits with external feedback (consultant/senior peer). Written papers: stop “revising topics,” start “rehearsing answers” ------------------------------------------------------------------ ### SBA/MCQ-focused papers: build a predictable approach What to do differently: 1. **Do SBA in sets of 20–30 under time** (not one-by-one). Afterward, review *only*: - Questions you got wrong - Questions you got right for the wrong reason 2. Keep an **error log** with three columns: - *Trigger:* what fooled you (wording? guideline? physiology?) - *Rule:* the principle you’ll apply next time - *Fix:* one reference line (local protocol / guideline / textbook section) 3. Convert recurring errors into **micro-drills** (5–10 questions) you repeat weekly. > **Pro Tip:** SBA rewards “best next step.” Practise choosing between two plausible answers by asking: “Which option is safest *now* and most consistent with physiology and common peri-op pathways?” ### SAQ/data interpretation: write like you’re on call Most candidates lose marks because their answers are unstructured or they list facts without decisions. Use a fixed skeleton. **High-yield SAQ skeleton (copy/paste into your practice):** - **Problem representation:** 1–2 lines (who + what + why now) - **Immediate priorities (ABCD):** what you’ll do in the first 1–3 minutes - **Differential diagnosis:** 3–5 ranked causes linked to clues - **Investigations:** only those that change management - **Management:** immediate + definitive + prevention/anticipation - **Complications & rescue plan:** what you’ll do when plan A fails For data interpretation (ABG/ECG/CXR/labs): - Write **a one-line interpretation** first, then show your working. - Always state the **clinical implication** (e.g., “This mandates ventilatory change/urgent potassium management/massive transfusion activation”). OSCE: practise performance, not knowledge ----------------------------------------- Reading isn’t OSCE prep. OSCE is a timed performance with observable behaviours. ### Your OSCE script (works for most stations) 1. **Opening (10–15 sec):** “My priority is patient safety. I’ll assess X, then do Y.” 2. **Structured assessment:** headings (history / exam / tests / risks) 3. **Plan:** primary plan + justification 4. **Back-up:** what you’ll do if it fails 5. **Communication:** consent, risks, team roles, escalation ### How to run an OSCE session (45 minutes) - Pick **3 stations** (e.g., airway, obstetrics, ICU) - **8 minutes each** (include reading time) on a stopwatch - **2 minutes debrief** per station using a checklist: - Did you state priorities early? - Did you give a clear plan + backup? - Did you verbalise monitoring and safety steps? - Did you close the loop (call for help, allocate roles, re-assess)? > **Pro Tip:** Record yourself. Most “I ran out of time” problems are actually “I talked in paragraphs.” Train in headings and short commands. Use resources like a candidate, not like a librarian (no wasted hours) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Use three resource types, each with a job: - **Blueprint/standards:** CMSA regulations + your department’s protocols + widely used peri-op/ICU guidelines (job: what “acceptable practice” looks like). - **Knowledge base:** a core anaesthesia reference text + focused review articles (job: fill gaps identified by your error log). - **Output trainers:** mixed-question sets, past-style SAQs, and peer OSCE practice (job: speed + structure + decision-making). A simple rule: **70% output (questions/OSCE), 20% targeted reading, 10% summaries.** Your notes should be *checklists and algorithms*, not chapters. Common pitfalls that repeatedly sink Part II candidates ------------------------------------------------------- - Treating OSCE as “the last-month problem” instead of a weekly skill. - Writing SAQs as essays (no headings, no prioritisation, no rescue plan). - Doing untimed questions and overestimating readiness. - Studying “rare zebras” while missing peri-op crisis bread-and-butter (airway failure, hypotension, hypoxia, obstetric haemorrhage, sepsis). - No feedback loop: you repeat questions but don’t convert errors into rules and drills. Key Takeaways: what to implement this week ------------------------------------------ - Schedule **3 timed written blocks** (mixed SBA + SAQ/data) and mark them with a strict rubric: structure, priorities, plan, backup. - Start an **error log** and extract **5 rules** (e.g., “In hypotension after spinal: treat immediately, don’t ‘watch and wait’”). - Run **2 OSCE sessions** with a timer and a recording (one communication station, one crisis/technical station). - Build **10 SAQ outlines** using the fixed skeleton (problem → priorities → differential → management → rescue). - Arrange **one senior review** (consultant/senior registrar) of your weakest OSCE station type and your worst written script. You don’t need a perfect life schedule to pass FCA(SA) Part II—you need repeated, timed reps that look like the exam. Make your prep judgeable: written pages produced, stations recorded, errors converted into rules. Then repeat until your “exam performance” becomes your default clinical rhythm. Keep going 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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