100+ Free FRCPath Part 2 Practice Questions
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Sample FRCPath Part 2 Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your FRCPath Part 2 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1A surgical short-case slide shows a breast core biopsy with a proliferation of small, regular epithelial cells in a cribriform and solid pattern filling and distending ducts, with no myoepithelial layer demonstrable on p63 immunostaining around the involved spaces but preserved myoepithelium peripherally. There is no stromal invasion. What is the correct FRCPath-level diagnosis?
2In an FRCPath Part 2 surgical histology short case, a colonic polyp shows serrated crypt architecture with dilatation and lateral (boot-shaped) growth at the crypt base, crypt branching, and no overt cytological dysplasia. Which lesion best fits these features?
3A renal core biopsy long case shows diffuse global thickening of glomerular basement membranes with subepithelial 'spikes' on silver stain and granular capillary-loop IgG and C3 on immunofluorescence. PLA2R immunostaining is positive. What is the diagnosis?
4A soft tissue long case shows a deep thigh tumour with sheets of uniform small round blue cells, a delicate fibrous septal network and strong membranous CD99. FISH demonstrates an EWSR1 gene rearrangement. Which diagnosis is most appropriate?
5On a surgical short case, a thyroid lobectomy slide shows a well-circumscribed encapsulated follicular-patterned tumour. The nuclei are enlarged, overlapping, with nuclear grooves and occasional pseudoinclusions, but there is no capsular or vascular invasion. What is the most accurate diagnosis to give?
6A lymph node long case shows effacement by a nodular proliferation with large cells having multilobated 'popcorn' nuclei (LP cells) in a background of small B cells and follicular dendritic meshworks. The large cells are CD20-positive, CD15-negative and CD30-negative. What is the diagnosis?
7A gastric biopsy short case shows full-thickness mucosal architectural distortion, dense lamina propria plasma cells, basal lymphoplasmacytosis and Paneth cell metaplasia in the antrum, with no Helicobacter on special stains. Which diagnosis is best supported?
8A skin excision short case shows an asymmetric melanocytic proliferation with poor maturation, deep mitoses, pagetoid upward spread and confluent junctional nests of variably sized atypical melanocytes. What is the most appropriate diagnosis?
9In a long case, a liver biopsy from a patient with deranged liver function shows a portal-based lymphocytic infiltrate with florid duct lesions (granulomatous bile duct destruction) and ductopenia. AMA serology is positive. Which is the correct diagnosis?
10A surgical short case of a uterine curettage shows back-to-back endometrial glands with cribriforming, loss of intervening stroma over an area greater than 2.1 mm, and cytological atypia. What is the diagnosis according to current WHO terminology?
About the FRCPath Part 2 Exam
FRCPath Part 2 is the final Fellowship examination of the Royal College of Pathologists, taken after FRCPath Part 1 and at least three years of specialty training. In Histopathology, the most common specialty, it is a two-day practical and oral assessment of applied diagnostic pathology across surgical histology, cytopathology, frozen sections, long cases, macroscopic pathology and OSPE.
Assessment
Two-day practical exam with six components: surgical histology, cytopathology, frozen sections, long cases, macroscopic pathology and OSPE. All components must be passed.
Time Limit
Two-day practical examination (e.g. surgical short cases run over 3 hours 20 minutes).
Passing Score
Criterion-referenced; each component must be passed independently. Serious errors (e.g. benign vs malignant) in 15-25% of cases within a station fail that station.
Exam Fee
Approximately £1,416 for Histopathology Part 2 (RCPath, 2025/26); verify the current fee on the RCPath website. (Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath))
FRCPath Part 2 Exam Content Outline
Surgical Histology (short cases)
20 H&E short cases across organ systems; concise diagnosis with added clinical value, immunohistochemistry interpretation and grading.
Long Cases
4 in-depth cases needing immunohistochemistry, special stains, immunofluorescence or molecular correlation to reach an integrated diagnosis.
Cytopathology (non-gynaecological)
16 cytology cases including effusion, urine (Paris System), respiratory, thyroid (Thy/Milan) and pancreaticobiliary samples, with ancillary cell-block testing.
Frozen Sections
6 intraoperative cases with concise bottom-line diagnoses, margin and adequacy assessment, and safe communication of limitations to surgeons.
Macroscopic Pathology
Gross specimen dissection and viva on block selection, RCPath minimum datasets, margin assessment, lymph node yield and TNM staging.
OSPE (management, governance, MDT)
Management and clinical-governance scenarios: error handling, duty of candour, EQA, accreditation, Human Tissue Act, MDT working and predictive testing.
How to Pass the FRCPath Part 2 Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Criterion-referenced; each component must be passed independently. Serious errors (e.g. benign vs malignant) in 15-25% of cases within a station fail that station.
- Assessment: Two-day practical exam with six components: surgical histology, cytopathology, frozen sections, long cases, macroscopic pathology and OSPE. All components must be passed.
- Time limit: Two-day practical examination (e.g. surgical short cases run over 3 hours 20 minutes).
- Exam fee: Approximately £1,416 for Histopathology Part 2 (RCPath, 2025/26); verify the current fee on the RCPath website.
Keys to Passing
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
FRCPath Part 2 Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FRCPath Part 2 a multiple-choice exam?
No. FRCPath Part 2 (Histopathology) is a two-day practical and oral examination with six components - surgical histology, cytopathology, frozen sections, long cases, macroscopic pathology and OSPE - each of which must be passed independently. These practice questions are study aids built around that real content.
How is FRCPath Part 2 marked?
Marking is criterion-referenced against predetermined schemes. Each station is marked pass or fail, and serious diagnostic errors such as misclassifying benign versus malignant in 15-25% of cases within a station result in failing that station regardless of performance elsewhere.
What does FRCPath Part 2 cost and who administers it?
The Royal College of Pathologists administers FRCPath Part 2 in person at UK and approved international centres (not via Pearson VUE or Prometric). The Histopathology Part 2 fee is approximately £1,416 for 2025/26; always confirm the current fee on the RCPath website.
How many attempts are allowed at FRCPath Part 2?
Candidates normally have up to four attempts at FRCPath Part 2 and up to seven years to complete the full FRCPath qualification after passing Part 1.