The Specialty Certificate Examination (SCE) in Acute Medicine is the knowledge exam for doctors training in acute internal medicine in the UK, and it is open to candidates worldwide. It is run by the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK. Here is what you need to know about the format, the next dates and how to prepare.

Acute Medicine SCE at a glance

  • Next exam: 5 May 2027 (applications 13 January – 10 February 2027).
  • Frequency: roughly every nine months.
  • Format: best-of-five multiple-choice questions testing core knowledge, interpretation of results and clinical problem-solving. SCEs have traditionally been two three-hour papers of 100 questions each.
  • Where: SCEs are now delivered in test centres in the UK and internationally.
  • Fees: £700 in the UK, £875 internationally.
  • Results: released about six weeks after the exam.

Check the Federation's SCE pages for the latest candidate guidance before you apply.

What is tested?

The exam follows the JRCPTB curriculum for Acute Internal Medicine, sampled by a published blueprint. Because acute medicine covers the whole of general medicine at the front door, the breadth is the main challenge. High-yield areas include:

  • Cardiology – chest pain, acute coronary syndromes, arrhythmias, heart failure and syncope.
  • Respiratory – asthma, COPD, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism and pneumothorax.
  • Neurology – stroke and TIA, seizures, headache and reduced consciousness.
  • Gastroenterology and hepatology – GI bleeding, acute liver injury, decompensated cirrhosis and pancreatitis.
  • Renal and metabolic – acute kidney injury, electrolyte disorders, DKA and HHS.
  • Infection and sepsis, toxicology and poisoning, and the deteriorating patient.
  • Ambulatory emergency care, frailty, and ethics including capacity and treatment escalation.

A 12-week revision plan

Weeks 1–2: read the blueprint, list every topic and do a timed diagnostic block to find your weak areas.

Weeks 3–8: one or two systems a week. Aim for 40–50 best-of-five questions a day and read every explanation. Keep an error log and revisit the relevant NICE guidance and British Thoracic Society or Society for Acute Medicine resources.

Weeks 9–11: mixed, timed practice to build pace across all systems. Review your error log twice a week.

Week 12: a full mock exam, then light review of summaries and data-interpretation (ECGs, blood gases, blood results).

Exam tips

  • Practise data interpretation – ECGs, arterial blood gases and biochemistry appear frequently.
  • Think "what is the most appropriate next step" in an acute setting, not the long-term plan.
  • Do not leave toxicology and ethics until the end – they are reliable marks.

Practise with License Medical

Our Acute Medicine SCE question bank offers 450 best-of-five questions with explanations, written and reviewed by UK consultant physicians and based on UK guidelines. Try the free sample questions to get started.