Clinical Radiology Exams 

Important notice: Dates and locations confirmed for 2021 written examinations

• The College is aware of the situation in NSW and Queensland with COVID-19 outbreaks
• Examinations are planned to continue but the situation is being monitored
• If candidates are not able to sit or not comfortable sitting the examinations, they must submit special considerations and sit at the next sitting

Written examination locations and format details

Due to COVID-19 we have had to deliver our Part 1 and Part 2 examinations in different formats for Series 2 2020 and Series 1 2021. The written examinations were successfully facilitated on the new examination platform, Practique, at multiple locations, and we plan for this to continue.

Part 2 vivas

We are pleased to be able to share with you that the Series 2 2021 vivas will be delivered in a digital format. Hardcopy film cases will no longer be used. This is a long awaited and significant milestone for the College.

The examinations will align with the current examination format but will be delivered on the new Practique electronic examination platform, which has already been introduced for the e-film and written examinations.

All examination cases will be blueprinted, standardised and prepared prior to the viva examination. Examiners will examine for 25 mins showing digital cases for a candidate to review using the Practique system. Candidates will be able to control how they view the cases and scroll through a series of images. The viva examination on Practique will have similar viewing tools to those of the current written examinations on Practique. The same case set will be used for all candidates examined on the same day, by all examiners across multiple jurisdictions.

A demonstration examination is being prepared so that candidates may become familiar with the new delivery method.

Due to the continued international and Australian border closures it is planned that the Viva examinations will take place in a virtual format, held over three days from 10 – 12 November 2021. Candidates will be allocated to the Clifton's Training Centre (or affiliated site) within the Branch where they reside. Candidates will be virtually connected to the examination and examiners using the Practique system. Examiners will be located at four locations (Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Auckland).

The College sent a communique to all candidates on 4 August 2021 confirming the location and format of Part 1 and Part 2 examinations. A copy of that communique is available here: Letter to trainees Clinical Radiology confirmation of locations Series 2 Part 1&2 Examinations


2022 Examinations:

Series 1 Phase 1 Exams

Series 1 Part 2 Exams

Series 2 Phase 1 Exams

Series 2 Part 2 Exams

From 2022, all Clinical Radiology Examinations will be aligned to the 2022 Training Program Learning Outcomes, regardless of examination format. Please see Related Documents at the bottom of this page to access RANZCRs new Learning Outcomes.

About the Exams

There are two major exams in the clinical radiology training program:

Phase  1

The Part 1 exams consists of examinations in Anatomy and Applied Imaging Technology (AIT) and must be completed within two years of commencing training:

• Anatomy 

  One three-hour paper to assess trainee knowledge of radiologic anatomy: 

  • Labelling

             120 labels worth ¼ mark each, across six body regions. Minimum one diagram per region and maximum of two. 

  • Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) 

             60 MCQs worth one mark per question 

  • Very Short Answer Questions (VSAs) 

             30 VSAs worth one mark per question 

  • Short Answer Questions (SAQs) 

             20 SAQs worth three marks per question

  There are six topic areas (body regions) covered in the examination. Please note, these percentages provide approximate weightings and may vary slightly between examinations: 

  1. Brain                                    20% 
  2. Head and neck                    15% 
  3. Spine                                   10% 
  4. Thorax                                 15% 
  5. Abdomen and pelvis            25% 
  6. Limbs                                   15%
     
     

• Applied Imaging Technology 

  One three-hour paper to assess trainee knowledge on imaging technology, quality and safety: 

  • Constructed Response Questions (CRQs) 

             Nine CRQs worth 10 marks per question 

  • Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) 

             60 MCQs worth one mark per question 

  Trainees may apply to sit the Anatomy and AIT examinations together, or independent of each other. Irrespective of whether they sit the examinations together or separately, trainees have four consecutive opportunities to sit the Phase 1 Examinations from the date of commencement of training. This rule applies regardless of the trainee’s full-time equivalent (FTE) status or the number of examinations sat at an opportunity. Not sitting the examination at an opportunity is considered and recorded as a missed opportunity unless the trainee is on College approved remediation or interrupted training or has been approved by the College to defer or withdraw from the examination under the Consideration of Special Circumstances Policy. 

  Trainees who fail to sit the first available opportunity following commencement of training (where the commencement of training date is prior to the examination application closing date) will be deemed to have lost that examination opportunity. 

  Once an examination has been successfully passed, only the remaining examination needs to be completed. 
  
  

Part 2

The Part 2 exam consists of two examinations in Clinical Radiology and one examination in Pathology, and seven Vivas (oral exams), and is usually taken in Year 4 or 5.

• e-Film Reading: Eight short answer questions using radiology film cases
• e-Radiology: 100 multiple choice questions (MCQs)
• e-Pathology: 100 multiple choice questions {(MCQs)
• Vivas: Live oral film reading/pathological image exams. There are seven vivas topics to be passed (six body systems and one Pathology), and each viva will include multiple cases.

Eligibility

To sit the Part 1 exam, you must be in an accredited training position. You must take the whole exam at once, on your first sitting.

To sit the Part 2 exam, you must have passed the Part 1 exam, completed 3 years of training, all Phase 1 assessments and be in an accredited training position.

International medical graduates may be permitted to sit the Part 2 examinations in certain circumstances. See International Medical Graduates

How to Apply

1. Download and print the application form for Part 1 or Part 2 
   
2. Complete the form, including payment for exam fees and any other items required such as passport photos
3. Send the completed application form, including required signed documentation, by mail or email to the address listed on the form. We must receive the application by 4pm on the relevant closing date. Late applications are not accepted
4. An acknowledgement of receipt of application will be emailed within 10 business days of the application being received at the College office.(where reasonably practical). Confirmation of receipt of application will NOT be provided via phone. Contact the College immediately if you have not received an acknowledgement within 10 business days.

A note for Part 1 candidates:
At the time of the examination you must be employed as an accredited radiology trainee and you must have completed all required training program assessments at the time of applying to sit the examination. If you commence in an accredited radiology training position after the closing date for applications, in addition to submitting the examination application form, the completed and required attachments of the Approval of Course in Training Form must be submitted with your examination application prior to the closing date.

Exam Fees

Trainees pay an examination fee to cover the costs of operating the exams. Visit the College Fees page for details on exam fees.

How to Withdraw

If you need to withdraw from an exam, you must inform the College in writing. If you withdraw up to four weeks before the exam, there is no financial penalty. If you withdraw within four weeks of the exam, you will be refunded 50% of the exam fee. If you fail to attend the exam you forfeit the exam fee.

Preparing for Exams

RANZCR has many resources to help you prepare for exams, including user guides and past exam papers.

Demonstration Site and Online Practice Exam (OPE):

The RANZCR Clinical Radiology Written Examinations are now being delivering on a new digital platform. The instructional video below should be watched by all candidates before practicing on the accompanying demonstration site. It is essential that candidates watch the video and familarise themselves with the new platform on the demonstration site before attempting the examination.

Candidates should be aware the “Question Type Demonstration” consists of one sample question from each of the following written examinations:

• Part 1: Anatomy Paper 1
• Part 1: Anatomy Paper 2
• Part 1: AIT Exam Paper 1
• Part 1: AIT Exam Paper 2
• Part 2: Radiology MCQ Exam
• Part 2: Pathology MCQ Exam

Please note, the ‘Question Type Demonstration’ is not intended to be a study tool, but instead a method for candidates to familiarise themselves with the new platform. The platform will include a countdown timer for the RANZCR examinations so that candidates know how much time remains during the live exam. This has intentionally been disabled for the demonstration so that candidates can spend as much time as they desire in the demonstration.

Candidates can now access the Part 2: e-Film online practice examination through the links and login below. The online practice examination replicates the real examination with use of tools and question navigation.

Demonstration Site and Online Practice Exam Instructional Videos:

Question Type Demo Exam Instructional Video

eFilm OPE Exam Instructional Video

Demonstration Site and Online Practice Exam Login:

Login ID is 11001, with password 11001.

The new platform demonstration site requires the following PINs to access the different examinations:

• E-Film Online Practice Exam PIN:        908916
• Question Type Demonstration PIN:       613235

The candidate ID number for the two examinations is 11001. Please note the platform works best on the Google Chrome browser.

Preparing for the Phase 1 Exam

e-Anatomy:

• Phase 1 Anatomy Examination Recommended Reading List
• Phase 1 Anatomy Examination Sample Questions

e-Applied Imaging Technology:

• Phase 1 Applied Imaging Technology Recommended Reading List
• Phase 1 Applied Imaging Technology Sample Questions

Preparing for the Part 2 Exam

e-MCQs (Pathology):

• Pathology A Guide to Candidates RAD Part II Exam

e-Film Reading 

• How to access the eFilm OPE and the Demonstration exam as a candidate

VIVAs

• FAQs for eVIVAs (30 Oct 21 update)
• Exam Platform Demo Webinar 
• VIVA Examination Walk-through
• Candidate VIVA Instruction Guide

Examination Prizes

The College presents prizes to the most successful candidates in College examinations. Visit our Examination Prizes page for more information.

Related Documents