The Specialty Certificate Examination (SCE) in Neurology is the knowledge-based exam taken by neurology registrars in the UK and by neurologists internationally. It is run by the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK. This guide covers dates, format, key topics and a revision plan.

Neurology SCE at a glance

  • Next exams: 18 November 2026 (applications 29 July – 26 August 2026) and 15 September 2027 (applications 26 May – 23 June 2027).
  • Format: best-of-five multiple-choice questions testing knowledge, interpretation and clinical problem-solving. SCEs have traditionally been two three-hour papers of 100 questions each.
  • Where: test centres in the UK and internationally.
  • Fees: £700 in the UK, £875 internationally.
  • Eligibility: no formal entry requirements; UK trainees usually sit it in their penultimate year of specialty training.

Please confirm dates and guidance on the Federation's website before applying.

High-yield topics

  • Neuroanatomy and localisation – the foundation of many questions.
  • Epilepsy – classification, choice of anti-seizure medication, pregnancy and driving rules.
  • Stroke and cerebrovascular disease, including thrombolysis, thrombectomy and secondary prevention.
  • Multiple sclerosis and other neuroinflammatory disorders, including disease-modifying treatments.
  • Movement disorders – Parkinson's disease and atypical parkinsonism, tremor and dystonia.
  • Neuromuscular disease – neuropathies, myasthenia gravis, myopathies and motor neurone disease.
  • Headache, neuro-ophthalmology, sleep, neurogenetics and neuro-oncology.
  • Investigations – interpreting MRI descriptions, nerve conduction studies, EEG and CSF results.

A 12-week revision plan

Weeks 1–2: diagnostic question block and a review of localisation and neuroanatomy.

Weeks 3–8: topic blocks of 40–50 questions a day, with an error log and a focus on NICE guidance for epilepsy, MS, Parkinson's disease and stroke.

Weeks 9–11: mixed timed practice and investigation-interpretation questions.

Week 12: mock exam and consolidation.

Practise with License Medical

Our Neurology SCE question bank has 250 best-of-five questions with full explanations, written and reviewed by UK consultant physicians. Start with the free sample questions.