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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: EBEORL-HNS Exam

100 MCQs

The written Part 1 has 100 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions

EBEORL-HNS official site

2 parts

A written Part 1 and an oral viva voce Part 2 held yearly in Vienna

CEORL-HNS Education

No negative marking

Incorrect answers are not penalised on the written exam

EBEORL-HNS official site

Created 2008

Established by the UEMS ORL Section as a European diploma exam

UEMS ORL Section

About 80%

Historical average pass rate of the written exam

ENT & Audiology News

English

The exam is conducted exclusively in the English language

EBEORL-HNS official site

FEBORL-HNS

Successful candidates may use the Fellow of the European Board designation

CEORL-HNS Education

100

Free original single-best-answer practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

The EBEORL-HNS is the European Board diploma exam in otorhinolaryngology - head and neck surgery, run by the UEMS ORL Section since 2008. Part 1 is a written exam of 100 single-best-answer MCQs delivered in English with no negative marking; candidates must pass it to sit the oral Part 2 in Vienna. The written pass rate has historically averaged around 80%, and a standard-setting process fixes the pass mark each cycle. It is open to qualified ORL-HNS specialists or final-year trainees. This 100-question bank provides original single-best-answer practice across otology-neurotology, rhinology, head and neck oncology, laryngology, paediatric ENT, facial plastics, salivary, thyroid and general ENT.

Sample EBEORL-HNS Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your EBEORL-HNS exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1On pure-tone audiometry a patient shows an air-bone gap of 30 dB with normal bone-conduction thresholds and a type B (flat) tympanogram with normal canal volume. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A.Otosclerosis
B.Middle-ear effusion
C.Sensorineural hearing loss
D.Tympanic membrane perforation
Explanation: An air-bone gap indicates conductive loss, and a type B tympanogram with a NORMAL canal volume indicates a non-mobile but intact middle-ear system, most consistent with a middle-ear effusion. Normal bone conduction excludes a sensorineural component.
2A patient has a left conductive hearing loss. Weber lateralises to the left and Rinne is negative on the left (bone conduction greater than air conduction). These findings are consistent with:
A.Right sensorineural loss
B.Left conductive loss
C.Bilateral normal hearing
D.Left sensorineural loss
Explanation: Weber lateralises to the affected ear in a conductive loss, and a negative Rinne (bone conduction louder than air conduction) on the left confirms a conductive defect on that side. Together they localise a left conductive hearing loss.
3A 40-year-old woman has progressive bilateral conductive hearing loss, a family history of deafness, and a normal tympanic membrane. Audiometry shows a notch at 2 kHz in bone conduction. The most likely diagnosis is:
A.Otosclerosis
B.Cholesteatoma
C.Glomus tympanicum
D.Otitis externa
Explanation: Progressive bilateral conductive loss with a normal drum, family history, and a Carhart notch (a dip in bone conduction around 2 kHz) is the classic picture of otosclerosis, caused by stapes fixation at the oval window.
4A patient reports brief episodes of rotatory vertigo lasting under a minute, triggered by lying down and turning the head in bed. The Dix-Hallpike test reproduces vertigo with up-beating torsional nystagmus. The most appropriate treatment is:
A.Epley particle-repositioning manoeuvre
B.Intratympanic gentamicin
C.Lifelong vestibular sedatives
D.Endolymphatic sac decompression
Explanation: These features are diagnostic of posterior-canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). The Epley canalith-repositioning manoeuvre relocates displaced otoconia out of the posterior semicircular canal and is first-line treatment.
5A patient has recurrent attacks of vertigo lasting hours, fluctuating low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus and aural fullness. The most likely diagnosis is:
A.Meniere's disease
B.Vestibular neuritis
C.Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
D.Vestibular schwannoma
Explanation: The tetrad of episodic vertigo lasting minutes to hours, fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss (initially low-frequency), tinnitus and aural fullness is characteristic of Meniere's disease (endolymphatic hydrops).
6A 50-year-old man has progressive unilateral sensorineural hearing loss with poor speech discrimination out of proportion to the pure-tone loss, plus unilateral tinnitus. Which investigation is most appropriate?
A.MRI of the internal auditory meatus with gadolinium
B.Plain mastoid radiographs
C.Caloric testing alone
D.Tympanometry
Explanation: Asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss with disproportionately poor speech discrimination and unilateral tinnitus raises concern for a retrocochlear lesion such as a vestibular schwannoma. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the internal auditory meatus is the investigation of choice.
7A child has a painless attic retraction pocket with accumulating keratin debris and recurrent scanty foul-smelling otorrhoea. The most appropriate definitive management is:
A.Surgical removal by mastoidectomy
B.Long-term oral antibiotics only
C.Reassurance and discharge
D.Grommet insertion
Explanation: An attic retraction pocket retaining keratin with foul discharge describes cholesteatoma. Because it can erode bone and cause serious complications, definitive treatment is surgical removal, typically by mastoidectomy with or without tympanoplasty.
8Which structure is most at risk of injury during a cortical mastoidectomy because it runs in the posterior wall of the middle ear and mastoid?
A.Facial nerve
B.Internal carotid artery
C.Abducens nerve
D.Eustachian tube
Explanation: The facial nerve runs through the temporal bone in its mastoid (vertical) segment behind the middle ear, making it the structure most vulnerable during mastoid surgery. Knowledge of its course is essential to avoid iatrogenic palsy.
9A patient develops sudden severe one-sided sensorineural hearing loss over 12 hours with no identifiable cause. After excluding a retrocochlear lesion, the most widely accepted initial treatment is:
A.Systemic corticosteroids
B.Aspirin
C.Aciclovir alone
D.Observation for three months
Explanation: Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss is treated as an otological emergency. Prompt systemic (or intratympanic) corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment, giving the best chance of recovery if started early.
10A patient with poorly controlled diabetes has severe deep ear pain, granulation tissue at the bony-cartilaginous junction of the ear canal and a normal drum. Which diagnosis must be excluded urgently?
A.Necrotising (malignant) otitis externa
B.Simple bacterial otitis externa
C.Furunculosis
D.Keratosis obturans
Explanation: Severe otalgia, granulation tissue at the bony-cartilaginous junction and an immunocompromised or diabetic host suggest necrotising (malignant) otitis externa, usually due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa with skull-base osteomyelitis. It requires prolonged anti-pseudomonal therapy and imaging.

About the EBEORL-HNS Exam

The European Board Examination in Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (EBEORL-HNS) is the European diploma examination for the specialty, created in 2008 by the UEMS ORL Section. It has two parts. Part 1 is a written exam of 100 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions, delivered in English at international test centres, with no negative marking. Part 2 is an oral viva voce held yearly in Vienna in which candidates are examined across otology-neurotology, rhinology and head and neck, paediatric ENT and facial plastics. The exam is open to qualified ORL-HNS specialists and trainees in their final year, and successful candidates may use the FEBORL-HNS designation. This practice bank covers the written Part 1 only.

Assessment

Two parts. Part 1 (written) is 100 single-best-answer MCQs covering the full breadth of ORL-HNS. Part 2 is an oral viva voce held yearly in Vienna (outside the scope of this practice bank). Candidates must pass Part 1 before sitting Part 2.

Time Limit

The written Part 1 is a single timed online sitting of approximately 2 to 3 hours; exact duration is confirmed on the official portal each cycle.

Passing Score

No single fixed pass percentage is published; a standard-setting process sets the pass mark for each written sitting. The written-exam pass rate has historically averaged around 80%. There is no negative marking.

Exam Fee

The examination fee is set by the UEMS ORL Section and published on the official application portal each cycle (typically several hundred euros for the written Part 1). Confirm the current fee on ebeorl-hns.org. (UEMS ORL Section in cooperation with the European Academy of ORL-HNS and CCS (CEORL-HNS))

EBEORL-HNS Exam Content Outline

20%

Otology and Neurotology

Conductive and sensorineural hearing loss, audiometry and tympanometry, otitis media and externa, cholesteatoma, otosclerosis, vertigo (BPPV, Meniere's, vestibular neuritis), tinnitus, facial nerve, cochlear implantation and lateral skull base.

15%

Rhinology and Anterior Skull Base

Acute and chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal polyps, allergic rhinitis, epistaxis, deviated septum, turbinate hypertrophy, endoscopic sinus surgery anatomy and complications, fungal sinusitis and CSF rhinorrhoea.

18%

Head and Neck Oncology

Laryngeal, oral cavity, oropharyngeal (HPV-related), nasopharyngeal, hypopharyngeal and sinonasal malignancy, TNM staging, neck node levels and dissection, principles of chemoradiotherapy and reconstruction.

10%

Laryngology and Voice

Dysphonia, vocal-fold nodules, polyps and cysts, recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, laryngeal and subglottic stenosis, stridor, laryngopharyngeal reflux and dysphagia.

12%

Paediatric ENT

Otitis media with effusion and grommets, tonsillitis and adenoid disease, obstructive sleep apnoea in children, laryngomalacia and congenital airway lesions, paediatric hearing loss and congenital neck masses.

8%

Facial Plastics and Reconstruction

Septorhinoplasty principles, nasal valve, facial nerve rehabilitation, local and regional flaps, cutaneous head and neck cancer and facial trauma management.

17%

Salivary, Thyroid and General ENT

Salivary gland tumours and sialadenitis, sialolithiasis, thyroid nodules and cancer, parathyroid disease, sleep-disordered breathing surgery, and head and neck anatomy and physiology.

How to Pass the EBEORL-HNS Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: No single fixed pass percentage is published; a standard-setting process sets the pass mark for each written sitting. The written-exam pass rate has historically averaged around 80%. There is no negative marking.
  • Assessment: Two parts. Part 1 (written) is 100 single-best-answer MCQs covering the full breadth of ORL-HNS. Part 2 is an oral viva voce held yearly in Vienna (outside the scope of this practice bank). Candidates must pass Part 1 before sitting Part 2.
  • Time limit: The written Part 1 is a single timed online sitting of approximately 2 to 3 hours; exact duration is confirmed on the official portal each cycle.
  • Exam fee: The examination fee is set by the UEMS ORL Section and published on the official application portal each cycle (typically several hundred euros for the written Part 1). Confirm the current fee on ebeorl-hns.org.

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

EBEORL-HNS Study Tips from Top Performers

1Cover the whole specialty: the written Part 1 samples every subspecialty, so do not neglect rhinology or paediatric ENT to focus only on your daily practice area.
2Use a single comprehensive ENT reference (such as Scott-Brown or the European training curriculum) as your spine and practise single-best-answer MCQs across all topics.
3Master core audiology: be able to read a pure-tone audiogram, distinguish conductive from sensorineural loss, and interpret tympanograms and Rinne/Weber results quickly.
4Know the TNM staging and neck-level anatomy for head and neck cancer cold, as these are reliable high-yield written-exam topics.
5Practise reasoning to the single best answer: several options may be partly correct, so choose the most appropriate next step or most likely diagnosis.
6Revise red-flag presentations (unilateral hearing loss, persistent hoarseness, neck lump) and their guideline-driven referral and imaging pathways.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the EBEORL-HNS written exam?

The written Part 1 consists of 100 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions, each with one correct option. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.

What is the format of the EBEORL-HNS exam?

It has two parts: a written exam (Part 1) of 100 single-best-answer MCQs delivered in English, and an oral viva voce (Part 2) held yearly in Vienna. You must pass Part 1 to sit Part 2.

Who is eligible to sit the EBEORL-HNS?

The exam is open to qualified specialists in otorhinolaryngology - head and neck surgery and to trainees in their final year of recognised ORL-HNS specialist training. Documents must be submitted in officially translated English form.

Is the EBEORL-HNS compulsory?

No. It is a voluntary European diploma that complements national specialist qualifications. Passing both parts allows use of the FEBORL-HNS (Fellow of the European Board) designation.

What is the pass rate of the written exam?

There is no single fixed pass percentage; a standard-setting process sets the mark each cycle. Historically the written-exam pass rate has averaged around 80%, and there is no negative marking.

Are these official EBEORL-HNS questions?

No. These are original OpenExamPrep practice questions modelled on the written Part 1 syllabus and single-best-answer format. They are not reproduced from any official EBEORL-HNS question bank.