How to Prepare for the MRCEM SBA January 2027 Exam in 90 Days

Are you an MRCEM aspirant who has completed the Primary examination and is now preparing for the MRCEM SBA in January 2027?

If yes, you may already have noticed that the SBA requires a different approach to preparation. While the Primary focuses largely on the basic sciences that underpin emergency medicine, the SBA tests whether you can apply your knowledge to real clinical situations. You will be expected to interpret a presentation, identify the priorities and select the most appropriate investigation, treatment or next step.

With demanding clinical duties and a vast syllabus, preparing for the exam can feel overwhelming. But with a focused plan, 90 days can give you enough time to cover the curriculum, practise questions and refine your exam technique.

So, where should you begin, which topics need more attention and how can you use the next three months effectively? This blog explains the MRCEM exam format, important curriculum areas, a practical 90-day preparation plan and how StudyMRCEM’s three-month course can support your journey.

MRCEM SBA Exam Format

The MRCEM SBA examination is a computer-based test consisting of 180 single best answer questions. These are divided into two papers containing 90 questions each. Candidates have two hours to complete each paper, with a one-hour break between them.

With around 80 seconds available per question, you need more than subject knowledge. You must be able to recognise patterns, prioritise information and make decisions efficiently.

What Does the MRCEM SBA Cover?

The examination is mapped to the RCEM Emergency Medicine Curriculum and organised around Specialty Learning Outcomes, commonly known as SLOs.

The currently published blueprint distributes the 180 questions as follows:

SLO 1 is the largest section. It covers allergy, cardiology, dermatology, ENT, elderly care, endocrinology, environmental emergencies, gastroenterology, hepatology, haematology, infectious diseases, mental health, neurology, nephrology, respiratory medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, oncology, ophthalmology, pharmacology, poisoning, surgical emergencies, urology and vascular conditions.

The remaining sections assess resuscitation, major trauma, paediatric and neonatal emergencies, procedural skills, pain and sedation, safeguarding, legislation, information governance and evidence-based practice.

This weightage should guide your preparation. It makes sense to dedicate more time to SLO 1, but overlooking the smaller sections could still cost valuable marks.

Your 90-Day MRCEM SBA Preparation Plan

A good preparation plan should move through three stages: building knowledge, applying that knowledge and preparing to perform under exam conditions.

Days 1–30: Build a Strong Clinical Foundation

Use the first month to familiarise yourself with the curriculum and revise the key concepts within each subject.

Start with the high-weightage SLO 1 areas and study them systematically. After each topic, answer related SBA questions to check whether you can apply what you have learned.

During this stage:

• Review the official curriculum and exam blueprint.
• Create a realistic timetable around your clinical commitments.
• Begin with frequently encountered emergency presentations.
• Revise current management guidelines and clinical algorithms.
• Complete a small set of topic-based questions every day.
• Keep a record of incorrect and uncertain answers.
• Use one day each week to revise previously covered topics.

Do not spend the entire first month reading textbooks or watching videos without attempting questions. SBA practice should begin from the start because it shows you how knowledge is tested in a clinical context.

Days 31–60: Apply Your Knowledge

The second month should focus more heavily on case-based learning and question practice.

Move gradually from topic-based questions to mixed-question sets. When reviewing an answer, do not simply note whether it was correct. Understand why the correct option is appropriate and why the other choices are less suitable.

Focus on:

• Completing timed SBA question sets.
• Revisiting subjects in which your accuracy is low.
• Practising diagnosis, investigation and management questions.
• Reviewing resuscitation and trauma algorithms.
• Strengthening paediatric and neonatal emergency medicine.
• Revising indications, contraindications and complications of procedures.
• Covering safeguarding, ethics, legislation and information governance.
• Discussing difficult concepts with experienced mentors.

Maintain an error log throughout this phase. This will help you identify whether you are losing marks because of a knowledge gap, poor interpretation, incorrect prioritisation or rushed decision-making.

Days 61–90: Prepare for Exam Conditions

The final month should bring all areas of your preparation together.

Begin attempting full-length mocks and mixed papers under timed conditions. Sitting 180 questions across two papers requires concentration and stamina, so your practice should reflect the actual examination as closely as possible.

In the final weeks:

• Attempt realistic mock examinations.
• Analyse every incorrect or uncertain response.
• Revise your notes, algorithms and error log.
• Repeat questions that you previously answered incorrectly.
• Focus on persistent weak areas.
• Review high-yield emergency medicine guidelines.
• Practise managing your time without rushing.
• Consolidate key drug doses, procedures and management pathways.
• Avoid starting large new resources close to the examination.

Plan your final full mock early enough to review the outcome. The purpose of a mock is not merely to generate a score; it should reveal what you need to improve before exam day.

How StudyMRCEM Structures Your 90-Day Preparation

StudyMRCEM’s three-month regular course is designed to take candidates through the curriculum in a logical and manageable sequence.

Led by Dr. Sreekrishnan T. P, course director, StudyMRCEM, and supported by more than 10 MRCEM-qualified mentors, the online programme combines structured teaching, daily practice, revision and exam-focused assessment.

The course includes:

• 16 live, interactive teaching sessions
• 89 hours of structured learning
• Comprehensive coverage of all relevant SLOs
• Daily activities featuring 10 practice questions
• Three mock examinations and one Mega Mock
• Focused intensive sessions for important curriculum areas
• Question-and-answer discussions with experienced mentors
• Recorded sessions and high-yield learning resources
• Access to an exclusive study group for doubt clarification
• Study materials through the StudyMEDIC LMS and mobile app
• Support through 24/7 web chat
• 89 CPD points through the accredited programme

The teaching begins with the major SLO 1 specialties before progressing to resuscitation, trauma, paediatric emergency medicine, procedural skills and challenging professional situations.

Clinical topics are approached through the decisions you are likely to face in the examination. These include recognising anaphylaxis, managing cardiac emergencies, assessing poisoning, treating diabetic emergencies, interpreting acute neurological presentations and identifying surgical red flags.

Later sessions concentrate on adult and paediatric resuscitation, major trauma, neonatal emergencies, safeguarding, airway management, chest drains, vascular access, point-of-care ultrasound, wound management, pain and sedation. Final discussions reinforce image-based questions, recalls, common mistakes and last-minute exam strategies.

Why Structured Preparation Makes a Difference

A common problem during independent preparation is spending too much time on familiar subjects while postponing difficult areas. Another is completing hundreds of questions without properly reviewing the reasoning behind them.

The StudyMRCEM course gives every section of the curriculum a defined place in your timetable. Daily questions encourage consistency, while live discussions help you understand how experienced emergency physicians approach clinical scenarios. The mocks then show whether you can use that knowledge accurately under pressure.

You also retain access to recorded sessions and high-yield resources until the examination, making it easier to revisit complicated topics without searching through multiple resources.

Start Preparing for January 2027

We hope this guide has given you a clearer idea of how to prepare for the MRCEM SBA January 2027 examination in 90 days.

StudyMRCEM’s upcoming three-month course is designed to help you cover the curriculum systematically, practise consistently and approach the examination with confidence. Admissions will close soon, so this is the right time to organise your preparation.

Connect with the StudyMEDIC team today to learn more about the course.

Autored By: StudyMEDIC Editorial Team