100+ Free Respiratory SCE Practice Questions
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A 58-year-old smoker has haemoptysis and weight loss. Chest radiograph shows a right hilar mass. What is the most appropriate pathway?
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Key Facts: Respiratory SCE Exam
200
best-of-five MCQs in the official exam
Federation SCE FAQs
2 September 2026
2026/01 Respiratory Medicine SCE exam date
Federation SCE exam dates and fees
13 May-10 June 2026
2026/01 application period
Federation SCE exam dates and fees
GBP 700
2026 UK-centre fee
Federation SCE exam dates and fees
457
current Respiratory Medicine passing score until next standards review
Federation Respiratory Medicine SCE 2025 exam metrics report
67%
2025 all-candidate pass rate
Federation Respiratory Medicine SCE 2025 exam metrics report
Respiratory Medicine SCE is a Federation Specialty Certificate Examination for higher specialty respiratory medicine trainees and equivalent candidates. The official format is 200 best-of-five MCQs: Paper 1 and Paper 2 each contain 100 questions and last 3 hours, separated by a one-hour break. The 2026/01 Respiratory Medicine SCE is scheduled for 2 September 2026, with applications open 13 May-10 June 2026. The published 2026 UK-centre fee is GBP 700. The Federation's Respiratory Medicine SCE metrics report lists a current passing score of 457, valid until the next standards review, and reports a 2025 pass rate of 67% for all candidates and 80.5% for UK resident doctors. The blueprint weights are airways disease 35, infections 35, thoracic oncology 35, interstitial lung disease 25, pleura and mediastinum 25, pulmonary vascular disease 20, other respiratory medicine 20, and sleep and ventilation 5 out of 200 questions.
Sample Respiratory SCE Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your Respiratory SCE exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1A 72-year-old man with severe COPD is admitted with an infective exacerbation. His oxygen saturation is 84% on air, he is drowsy, and he has a previous admission with hypercapnic respiratory failure. What oxygen prescription is safest while an arterial blood gas is obtained?
2A 24-year-old with acute asthma is unable to complete sentences. Respiratory rate is 32/min, pulse is 126/min, oxygen saturation is 91% on air, and peak flow is 28% of best. Which feature makes this a life-threatening attack?
3Spirometry shows FEV1 1.2 L, FVC 3.1 L, FEV1/FVC ratio 0.39, and little reversibility after bronchodilator. Which interpretation is most appropriate?
4A patient with COPD has two moderate exacerbations despite regular LABA/LAMA therapy. Blood eosinophil count is 360 cells/uL and there is no history of recurrent pneumonia. What escalation is most appropriate?
5A 68-year-old with bronchiectasis has chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolation and three infective exacerbations in the last year. Which management principle is most appropriate?
6A 19-year-old with cystic fibrosis has recurrent productive cough, pancreatic insufficiency and chronic airway infection. Which organism is most associated with long-term decline once chronically established?
7A 45-year-old never-smoker has basal panacinar emphysema and mild liver enzyme abnormalities. Which test is most appropriate to confirm the suspected inherited diagnosis?
8A baker has cough and wheeze on workdays, improves on weekends, and has normal baseline spirometry in clinic. What investigation best supports occupational asthma in routine specialist practice?
9A COPD exacerbation patient has pH 7.28, PaCO2 8.8 kPa and persistent tachypnoea after controlled oxygen, nebulised bronchodilators, steroids and antibiotics. What is the next respiratory support step if there is no contraindication?
10A patient with asthma develops fleeting pulmonary infiltrates, central bronchiectasis, eosinophilia and very high total IgE. Which diagnosis best fits?
About the Respiratory SCE Exam
The Respiratory Medicine Specialty Certificate Examination is the Federation SCE for physicians training in respiratory medicine. The official blueprint allocates 200 best-of-five questions across airways disease, interstitial lung disease, pleura and mediastinum, infections, pulmonary vascular disease, sleep and ventilation, thoracic oncology, and other respiratory medicine. The exam is computer-based, delivered as two 3-hour papers of 100 questions with a one-hour break. For the 2026/01 Respiratory Medicine diet, applications run from 13 May to 10 June 2026 and the exam date is 2 September 2026.
Assessment
Two papers, each with 100 best-of-five multiple-choice questions
Time Limit
Two 3-hour papers with a one-hour break
Passing Score
457 for Respiratory Medicine, published in the Federation's 2025 exam metrics report and applied until the next standards review
Exam Fee
GBP 700 UK centre fee for 2026; GBP 875 international centre fee (Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK)
Respiratory SCE Exam Content Outline
Airways Disease
Asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, airway obstruction, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, inhaled therapy selection and chronic respiratory failure.
Interstitial Lung Disease
IPF and UIP, sarcoidosis, connective tissue disease ILD, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, occupational ILD, HRCT interpretation and multidisciplinary decision-making.
Pleura and Mediastinum
Pleural effusion, pneumothorax, empyema, malignant pleural disease, thoracic ultrasound, pleural procedures and mediastinal pathology.
Infections
Community and hospital-acquired pneumonia, tuberculosis, NTM lung disease, bronchiectasis exacerbations, fungal infection and infection in immunocompromised patients.
Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Pulmonary embolism, right heart strain, anticoagulation, pulmonary hypertension classification, right heart catheterisation and CTEPH pathways.
Sleep and Ventilation
Obstructive sleep apnoea, obesity hypoventilation, COPD-OSA overlap, long-term NIV and domiciliary ventilation service decisions.
Thoracic Oncology
Lung cancer presentation, urgent referral, CT and PET-CT staging, EBUS, bronchoscopy, molecular testing, pleural malignancy and treatment fitness.
Other Respiratory Medicine
Respiratory physiology, imaging, procedures, oxygen and NIV, critical care interface, occupational/environmental lung disease, patient safety and service-level decisions.
How to Pass the Respiratory SCE Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: 457 for Respiratory Medicine, published in the Federation's 2025 exam metrics report and applied until the next standards review
- Assessment: Two papers, each with 100 best-of-five multiple-choice questions
- 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
Respiratory SCE Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Respiratory Medicine SCE format?
The Federation states that SCEs are computer-based examinations with two papers. Each paper contains 100 best-of-five multiple-choice questions, each paper lasts 3 hours, and there is a one-hour break between papers.
When is the 2026 Respiratory Medicine SCE?
The Federation 2026 dates page lists the Respiratory Medicine 2026/01 exam date as 2 September 2026, with applications open from 13 May to 10 June 2026.
How much is the 2026 Respiratory Medicine SCE?
The Federation 2026 exam dates and fees page lists the Respiratory Medicine SCE fee as GBP 700 for UK centres and GBP 875 for international centres.
What passing score should candidates know?
The Federation Respiratory Medicine SCE 2025 metrics report lists the current passing score as 457, valid until the next standards review. The report also states that pass standards are reviewed periodically.
Is MRCP(UK) required before applying?
The Federation how-to-apply guidance states that candidates do not need to have passed MRCP(UK) before applying for an SCE. UK trainees are normally advised to sit the exam in their penultimate year of higher specialty training.