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100+ Free Neurology SCE Practice Questions

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Question 1
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Sudden thunderclap headache at maximal intensity at onset is concerning for what?

A
B
C
D
to track
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Neurology SCE Exam

18 Nov 2026

Neurology 2026/02 exam date

Federation Neurology specialty page

200

Official exam questions

SCE/ESE regulations and Neurology blueprint

2 x 3 hours

Paper timing

SCE/ESE regulations

GBP 700

UK centre fee

Federation dates and fees page

26/200

Largest blueprint allocation

SCE in Neurology blueprint

100

Free practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

The Federation lists Neurology SCE 2026/02 for 18 November 2026, with applications from 29 July to 26 August 2026, reasonable adjustment deadline 3 September 2026, results six weeks after the exam, and certificates eight weeks after results release. The SCE/ESE regulations state that the exam is an in-centre computer-based two-paper test; each paper lasts three hours and contains 100 best-of-five questions. The 2026 fees page lists GBP 700 for UK centres and GBP 875 for international centres.

Sample Neurology SCE Practice Questions

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

1A woman with epilepsy planning pregnancy is taking sodium valproate. What counselling point is most important?
A.Parkinson disease psychosis
B.Trigeminal neuralgia
C.Cervical myelopathy
D.Valproate has major teratogenic and neurodevelopmental risk and should be avoided where possible
Explanation: Valproate is highly teratogenic; pregnancy planning should involve specialist review and safer alternatives where feasible.
2A pregnant patient on lamotrigine has worsening seizures despite adherence. What pharmacokinetic issue is likely?
A.Lamotrigine clearance can increase in pregnancy, lowering serum concentrations
B.Parkinson disease psychosis
C.Trigeminal neuralgia
D.Cervical myelopathy
Explanation: Lamotrigine levels often fall during pregnancy due to increased clearance and may need monitoring and dose adjustment.
3An elderly inpatient develops acute fluctuating confusion after infection. What diagnosis best fits?
A.Cervical myelopathy
B.Delirium
C.Parkinson disease psychosis
D.Trigeminal neuralgia
Explanation: Acute fluctuating attention and cognition in the context of illness is delirium until proven otherwise.
4A child has brief staring episodes with 3-Hz spike-wave on EEG. What seizure type is most likely?
A.Trigeminal neuralgia
B.Cervical myelopathy
C.Absence seizures
D.Parkinson disease psychosis
Explanation: Typical absence epilepsy causes brief impaired awareness and 3-Hz generalised spike-wave discharges.
5A terminally ill patient has recurrent seizures and cannot swallow. What route is commonly used for urgent benzodiazepine treatment?
A.Parkinson disease psychosis
B.Trigeminal neuralgia
C.Cervical myelopathy
D.Buccal or intranasal midazolam
Explanation: Non-oral benzodiazepines such as buccal or intranasal midazolam are useful when swallowing is unsafe or impossible.
6A patient with learning disability and epilepsy has new behaviour change. What principle is important?
A.Look for pain, infection, medication toxicity and seizure change rather than assuming behavioural cause
B.Parkinson disease psychosis
C.Trigeminal neuralgia
D.Cervical myelopathy
Explanation: New behavioural change in learning disability needs medical and neurological assessment for reversible causes.
7A teenager has a first unprovoked seizure. What advice is essential while assessment proceeds?
A.Cervical myelopathy
B.Discuss safety restrictions including driving, swimming alone, heights and machinery
C.Parkinson disease psychosis
D.Trigeminal neuralgia
Explanation: First seizure counselling should address immediate safety and legal driving restrictions.
8Loud snoring, witnessed apnoeas and daytime sleepiness most suggest what diagnosis?
A.Lamotrigine toxicity
B.Carotid stenosis
C.Obstructive sleep apnoea
D.Alzheimer disease
Explanation: OSA causes snoring, witnessed apnoea and daytime somnolence and is confirmed with sleep testing.
9Daytime sleep attacks with cataplexy and sleep paralysis suggest what diagnosis?
A.Alzheimer disease
B.Lamotrigine toxicity
C.Carotid stenosis
D.Narcolepsy type 1
Explanation: Cataplexy with sleep attacks strongly suggests narcolepsy type 1.
10Headache, papilloedema, sixth nerve palsy and high opening pressure with normal CSF composition suggest what?
A.Idiopathic intracranial hypertension
B.Alzheimer disease
C.Lamotrigine toxicity
D.Carotid stenosis
Explanation: IIH presents with raised intracranial pressure, papilloedema and normal CSF contents after secondary causes are excluded.

About the Neurology SCE Exam

The Specialty Certificate Examination in Neurology is the Federation SCE for physicians training in neurology and equivalent candidates. It assesses applied neurological knowledge and judgement across the UK neurology curriculum, including stroke, epilepsy, movement disorders, neuroinflammation, neuromuscular disease, headache, cognition, consciousness, neurodiagnostics, special populations and functional/neuropsychiatric presentations.

Assessment

Computer-based Specialty Certificate Examination in Neurology with 200 best-of-five questions across two 3-hour papers. The blueprint covers special groups, specific presentations, diagnostics and applied science, cognition and consciousness, headache and pain, seizures and epilepsy, inflammatory and infectious disorders, movement disorders, neuromuscular disorders, traumatic brain injury and rehabilitation, neuropsychiatric/functional disorders, and stroke/TIA.

Time Limit

Two 3-hour papers with a one-hour break

Passing Score

Criterion-referenced standard setting; no fixed current percentage is listed on the reviewed current specialty page.

Exam Fee

GBP 700 UK centre fee for 2026; GBP 875 international centre fee (Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK)

Neurology SCE Exam Content Outline

13/200

Special groups

Pregnancy, intellectual or learning disability, terminal illness, teenagers, paediatrics and elderly patients.

26/200

Specific presentations

Sleep disorders, cancer complications, CSF disorders, cranial nerve disorders, spinal cord and root disorders, autonomic disorders and neuro-otology.

14/200

Diagnostics, applied and basic science

Neuroradiology, neurophysiology, neuropathology, neurogenetics and clinical pharmacology.

20/200

Cognition and consciousness

Dementia syndromes, delirium, coma, encephalopathy, rapidly progressive cognitive decline and reversible causes.

15/200

Headache and pain

Migraine, cluster headache, trigeminal neuralgia, medication-overuse headache, IIH, GCA and thunderclap headache.

20/200

Seizures and epilepsy

Focal and generalised epilepsies, status epilepticus, antiseizure medication, pregnancy, safety and mimics.

24/200

Inflammatory and infectious disorders

MS, optic neuritis, NMO/MOG disease, GBS, meningitis, encephalitis, PML, neuroinflammatory and neuroinfectious emergencies.

20/200

Movement disorders

Parkinson disease, atypical parkinsonism, tremor, dystonia, chorea, Wilson disease, drug-induced movement disorders and emergencies.

15/200

Neuromuscular disorders

Myasthenia gravis, LEMS, motor neuron disease, peripheral neuropathy, myopathy, dystrophy and neuromuscular respiratory failure.

9/200

Traumatic brain injury and rehabilitation

Concussion, raised intracranial pressure, post-traumatic seizures, spasticity and multidisciplinary neurorehabilitation.

9/200

Neuropsychiatric and functional disorders

Functional neurological disorder, dissociative seizures, neuropsychiatric complications and communication of diagnosis.

15/200

Acute stroke and TIA

Thrombolysis, thrombectomy, TIA, carotid disease, AF anticoagulation, lacunar syndromes, posterior circulation and secondary prevention.

How to Pass the Neurology SCE Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Criterion-referenced standard setting; no fixed current percentage is listed on the reviewed current specialty page.
  • Assessment: Computer-based Specialty Certificate Examination in Neurology with 200 best-of-five questions across two 3-hour papers. The blueprint covers special groups, specific presentations, diagnostics and applied science, cognition and consciousness, headache and pain, seizures and epilepsy, inflammatory and infectious disorders, movement disorders, neuromuscular disorders, traumatic brain injury and rehabilitation, neuropsychiatric/functional disorders, and stroke/TIA.
  • Time limit: Two 3-hour papers with a one-hour break
  • Exam fee: GBP 700 UK centre fee for 2026; GBP 875 international centre fee

Keys to Passing

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

Neurology SCE Study Tips from Top Performers

1Use the 200-question blueprint to plan revision time rather than revising only stroke and epilepsy.
2Practise BOF stems that combine localisation, time course, investigation choice and immediate management.
3Keep emergency pathways sharp: thrombolysis/thrombectomy, status epilepticus, meningitis/encephalitis, myasthenic crisis, cord compression and GCA.
4Review neurodiagnostics actively, including MRI patterns, EEG, EMG/NCS, CSF interpretation and genetic testing indications.
5For movement and neuromuscular disease, focus on medication adverse effects, red flags for atypical syndromes and respiratory/swallowing risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the next listed Neurology SCE in 2026?

The Federation lists Neurology 2026/02 for 18 November 2026, with applications from 29 July to 26 August 2026 and the reasonable adjustment deadline on 3 September 2026.

What is the Neurology SCE format?

The SCE/ESE regulations describe a two-paper in-centre CBT examination. Each paper lasts three hours and contains 100 best-of-five questions.

Are there entry requirements?

The Federation Neurology page states there are no entry requirements, although UK trainees normally take the SCE in their penultimate year of higher specialty training.

What are the 2026 fees?

The Federation dates and fees page lists GBP 700 for UK centres and GBP 875 for international centres.

What does the blueprint emphasise?

The largest areas are specific presentations at 26/200, inflammatory and infectious disorders at 24/200, and several 20-question areas including cognition/consciousness, seizures/epilepsy and movement disorders.