The MRCEM Intermediate SBA is the second of three exams on the route to membership of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine. It's a clinical knowledge test, and most candidates take it while juggling demanding rota work in the emergency department. That makes choosing the right MRCEM resources one of the most important decisions in your preparation.
There are more options on the market than there were a few years ago. Some focus on a large question bank. Others lead with video teaching, anatomy modules, or in-person courses. The right pick depends on how you study, how much time you have, and which gaps you're trying to close.
What Is the MRCEM Intermediate SBA Exam?
The MRCEM Intermediate Single Best Answer (SBA) exam is the second stage of the MRCEM. It tests applied clinical knowledge across the 12 specialty learning outcomes set out in the 2021 RCEM curriculum. It covers everything from resuscitation and acute presentations to safeguarding, palliative care, and major incident management.
The paper is computer-based and contains 180 SBA questions, split into two 90-minute sessions sat on the same day. Each question gives you a clinical scenario and five options, and you pick the single best answer. There's no negative marking.
Candidates sit the Intermediate SBA after passing the MRCEM Primary, and many take it during early specialty training in emergency medicine or as international medical graduates working towards UK practice. Pass rates vary by diet but typically sit in the 45–50% range, so it isn't an exam to underestimate.
MRCEM Intermediate SBA question banks explained
A question bank is the backbone of most MRCEM revision plans. Working through SBAs under timed conditions is the closest practice you'll get to the real exam, and a good question bank does more than just test recall. It teaches you to read the stem carefully, weigh up the options, and spot the kind of distractors examiners use.
Most online platforms let you filter your practice in a few different ways:
-
Random mix – questions pulled from across the syllabus, closest to the live exam feel.
-
By specialty learning outcome – useful when you want to focus on a single curriculum area.
-
By topic or system – ideal early on, when you're still building knowledge in specific subjects.
Beyond the questions themselves, the things worth comparing across MRCEM resources are:
-
How recently the bank was updated to the 2021 curriculum
-
Whether explanations are detailed enough to learn from
-
Whether anatomy and imaging are included
-
What additional study material (textbook, videos, past papers) comes with the subscription
The most popular MRCEM Intermediate question banks
Here's how the main MRCEM resources stack up.
1. Pastest
Pastest has produced revision material for UK medical exams for over 50 years, starting with textbooks and now running an online learning platform across MRCP, MRCS, MRCPCH, MSRA, PLAB, FRCA, and more.
The Pastest MRCEM Intermediate question bank brings together 1,500 expert-written SBA questions mapped to the current RCEM syllabus, with questions built around themes from past exam diets. Each question comes with a detailed explanation, and integrated 3D anatomy images run through both the question bank and the accompanying textbook. This is especially useful for the radiology and anatomy-heavy parts of the paper.
The subscription also includes Tutor Mode, an on-demand AI tutor that lets you ask follow-up questions on a stem, get a concept clarified, or work through why a wrong answer is wrong. Past papers and performance tracking tools sit alongside the QBank so you can see which topics you've covered and where you're losing marks.
This is a new MRCEM resource, built using the same approach Pastest applies across its other postgraduate exam banks.
2. MRCEM Success
MRCEM Success offers over 1,800 SBA questions mapped to the 2021 curriculum, written by UK doctors with MRCEM experience. The platform leans heavily on illustrated explanations and links to current guidelines, and it's widely recommended in candidate forums.
3. Bromley Emergency Courses
Bromley Emergency Courses runs one of the longest-established MRCEM Intermediate SBA preparation courses, offered as a two-day in-person session or a live online session. The package includes a bank of online practice questions and pre-recorded webinars covering the curriculum areas most likely to come up in the exam. It's course-led rather than a standalone question bank, so it might work best paired with one of the larger SBA banks. They also offer a monthly package that gives you access to past webinars and practice questions.
4. FRCEM Tutor
FRCEM Tutor's MRCEM Intermediate SBA resource holds around 1,250 questions mapped to the specialty learning outcomes, with illustrated teaching notes and highlighted learning points after each question. The platform includes timed test mode, performance analytics, and a histogram that lets you compare your scores against other candidates sitting the exam.
5. MRCEM Exam Prep
MRCEM Exam Prep is a newer entrant with over 2,600 SBA questions written to mirror the exam style, plus more than 310 revision tutorials cross-referenced to the RCEM syllabus. It's built by UK doctors who have sat the exam and is increasingly recommended by candidates who want a high question volume.
6. MRCEM Expert
MRCEM Expert positions itself around concise revision notes, quizzes, and question recalls based on previous exam themes. The format is shorter and more focused than the bigger question banks, so some candidates use it alongside another resource rather than as their main bank.
7. Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM)
The RCEM publishes sample questions through its e-learning platform and the regulations pack on its main site. It isn't a full question bank, but the sample SBAs give you a clear picture of the question style and difficulty straight from the source. Worth working through early and again in the final week before your sitting.
Which question bank is best for MRCEM Intermediate?
Most candidates use one main question bank and dip into a second for extra practice in the final weeks.
If you want a single platform that includes a lot of helpful features (large question bank, integrated textbook, 3D anatomy, past paper practice, and a built-in AI tutor), Pastest's MRCEM Intermediate resource is designed to do that in one subscription. If you're working to a tight budget, FRCEM Tutor and the smaller question banks can be paired with the free RCEM sample questions to keep costs down.
If you've already passed MRCEM Primary recently, you may find one question bank plus a course package (rather than two banks) suits the way you've been studying.
Other MRCEM study material worth knowing about
Question banks aren't the whole picture. A few other types of MRCEM study material come up regularly in candidate recommendations:
-
In-person and live MRCEM online courses – several providers run short, focused MRCEM SBA courses in the weeks before each sitting. These work best in the final 4–6 weeks of revision, layered on top of a question bank rather than replacing one.
-
Reference books – Mastering Emergency Medicine and Oxford Handbook of Emergency Medicine remain popular for filling in conceptual gaps, particularly for IMG candidates who didn't train in the UK system.
The mix that works best is usually one main MRCEM SBA course or question bank as the backbone, with free MRCEM resources and a couple of textbooks layered in for the topics you find hardest.
How much time should I spend revising for MRCEM Intermediate?
Three to six months of consistent revision is what most candidates report needing, depending on how recently you sat MRCEM Primary and how much clinical exposure you have to the curriculum areas being tested.
If you're working full-time (which most candidates are), plan for shorter, more frequent sessions rather than long weekend blocks. An hour of focused SBA practice on a quiet night shift adds up quickly across a few months, and spaced repetition is more effective than cramming when the syllabus is this broad.
For more top tips, see our guide on how to prepare for MRCEM Intermediate.
Study with confidence with Pastest
Ready to start your MRCEM revision? The Pastest MRCEM Intermediate QBank combines a comprehensive digital textbook with 1,500 expert-written SBA questions, a full past paper, integrated 3D anatomy, and AI-powered Tutor Mode to help you build confidence as you revise.
With detailed explanations and progress tracking, you can identify knowledge gaps, monitor your improvement, and focus your revision where it's needed most.
Join thousands of doctors who trust Pastest to prepare for high-stakes medical exams and start your MRCEM Intermediate revision today.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in the MRCEM Intermediate SBA exam?
180 single best answer questions, split into two 90-minute papers sat on the same day. Each question presents a clinical scenario with five options, and you select the single best answer. There's no negative marking.
Is one MRCEM question bank enough to pass the Intermediate SBA?
For most candidates, yes. A single large, well-explained question bank worked through thoroughly is usually enough. Many candidates add a second bank or the free RCEM sample questions in the final weeks for variety and to expose themselves to different question styles.
How is the MRCEM Intermediate different from MRCEM Primary?
MRCEM Primary tests basic sciences, including anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, and pathology. MRCEM Intermediate tests applied clinical knowledge across the 12 specialty learning outcomes of the 2021 RCEM curriculum. The Primary is the foundation; the Intermediate is much more clinical.
Are MRCEM Intermediate online courses worth it on top of a question bank?
A focused MRCEM SBA course can be useful in the final weeks, particularly for IMG candidates who want exposure to UK-style decision-making and exam technique. Courses aren't usually a replacement for a question bank, but they pair well with one.