The emphasis, if not the content, of the Final FRCA science viva is changing. In response to muted criticism that an otherwise good exam has been diminished by a basic science viva that at times seemed to be little more than ‘Primary Lite’, the College has introduced greater clinical focus. This has meant that many of the answers that appeared in the first edition needed some reorientation. Yet, as before, this book's prime purpose remains to give you a wide range of potential questions presented in a way that is relevant to the exam that you are facing, and organized so that the information is manageable. As before, the introduction still aims to give you some insight into how the clinical science viva works, together with some revised general guidance as to how to improve your chances of success.

The examination questions continue to be divided broadly into the four subject areas of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and physics, although the increased clinical emphasis can mean that the distinction between the subject areas can be somewhat blurred. The anatomy question on the internal jugular vein, for example, may well include some discussion of the physiology of central venous pressure. Equally, some questions on pharmacology may encompass aspects of physiology with which there is obvious potential for overlap. This means that you may not always find all the necessary information within one single answer, but should find most of it covered in other sections.