SBA Question Panel Co-ordinators

Introduction

The acquisition of the FRCR examination is a requirement for all clinical radiology trainees to gain the award of a certificate of specialist training in clinical radiology. It assesses the knowledge and skills developed during core Clinical Radiology training. The written components of the Final Examination (“2A”) use Single Best Answer (SBA) questions to assessing the knowledge and skills developed during core training and must be completed before the trainee can complete the oral and reporting examinations (“2B”). 

Responsibilities

SBA Question Panels are responsible for providing questions to the Final FRCR (Part A) Examination Committee. These questions must provide an appropriate assessment of the knowledge required as defined in the syllabus section of the Specialty Training Curriculum For Clinical Radiology.  

Functions

• Preparing SBA questions for later presentation to the Final FRCR Part A Examination Committee in November
• Writing, reviewing and editing SBA questions, ensuring that they are based on the approved curriculum.
• Submitting up to 50 finalised SBA questions and 5-6 reporting session cases from each Question Panel each year.

Structure and Membership

There are currently up to 40 functioning Question Panels with representation from most of the UK training schemes and special interest groups. Each Question Panel reports to the Final FRCR Part A Examination Committee through its Co-ordinator, and will receive guidance on appropriate topics for the supplement of SBA questions by that Committee.  For each Question Panel, there should be a minimum of six panel members, plus the Question Panel Co-ordinator. New Question Panel Co-ordinators are appointed through recommendation from Training Programme Directors, Regional Advisers and Heads of Special Interest Groups.
 
The College strives for the SBA Question Panel to be as representative as possible of site specialised interests, clinical practice backgrounds and the distribution of UK training schemes.
SBA Question Panel members must be

• Fellows of the RCR by examination 
• Consultants or post-FRCR trainees practising in the UK within an approved training programme
• Prepared to undertake training in the examination procedures of the RCR
• Able to demonstrate that they have undergone appropriate equality and diversity training and are willing to abide by good practice in these areas
• Able to devote time to co-ordinating their question panel, question writing and attending panel meetings
• Able to produce a minimum of 30 questions each year

The term of office for the SBA Question Panel Co-ordinator is normally four years – renewable annually – and the SBA Question Panel Co-ordinator is expected to remain in employment for the duration of their term of office.

Working Practices

Panel members will need to devote time to the writing of questions.  The preparatory meeting should be held away from base hospitals so that the panel can work undisturbed. It is not necessary for question panel meetings to have an agenda or have minutes recorded.