International
Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists - Primary
The primary exam for anaesthetics trainees in Australia and New Zealand. Basic sciences for anaesthesia.
- Exam body
- ANZCA
- Frequency
- Twice yearly
- Eligibility
- Anaesthetics trainees (Australia/NZ)
- Format
- Written (MCQ + SAQ) + viva
ANZCA Primary: overview
Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists - Primary is administered by ANZCA. The primary exam for anaesthetics trainees in Australia and New Zealand. Basic sciences for anaesthesia.
In practical terms the assessment is delivered as Written (multiple-choice questions + SAQ) + viva, and candidates are measured against a component-based. It is scheduled twice yearly, so building a realistic timeline back from the sitting you intend to take is the first planning step.
Exam pattern at a glance
- Exam format
- Written (MCQ + SAQ) + viva
- Pass / selection standard
- Component-based
- Frequency
- Twice yearly
- Eligibility
- Anaesthetics trainees (Australia/NZ)
Subjects covered
Syllabus
- Physics & Measurement
- Pharmacology
- Physiology
- Anatomy
Subject focus and weightage
Candidates who score well tend to protect time for the highest-yield areas rather than reading everything evenly. For ANZCA Primary, the topics that repeatedly carry weight include gas physics, anaesthetic pharmacokinetics, cvs physiology. Working these to mastery first, then broadening outward, is a more reliable use of limited revision time than a single linear pass through the syllabus.
The syllabus spans core subjects including Physics & Measurement, Pharmacology, Physiology, Anatomy. A blueprint-led plan - allocating study hours in proportion to how heavily each subject is examined - usually beats spending equal time on every subject.
High-yield areas
Study priorities
- Gas physics
- Anaesthetic pharmacokinetics
- CVS physiology
How to prepare
A dependable preparation cycle for ANZCA Primary moves through three repeating phases. Learn: build the core concept for each topic once, from structured notes, so the framework is solid before you test it. Recall: convert that understanding into durable memory with active recall and spaced repetition rather than re-reading. Practise: apply it under exam conditions with question banks, reviewing every wrong answer until you understand why the correct option wins - which for this exam is where clinical-reasoning gaps surface.
Timed, full-length practice in the exam's own format is what converts knowledge into a score: it trains pacing, and the stamina a long paper demands. Analyse each mock not just for the total but for which subjects and question-types are dragging the score, then feed that back into the next study block.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ANZCA Primary exam and who conducts it?
Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists - Primary is conducted by ANZCA. The primary exam for anaesthetics trainees in Australia and New Zealand. Basic sciences for anaesthesia.
What is the ANZCA Primary exam pattern?
The stated format is Written (multiple-choice questions + SAQ) + viva. The pass or selection standard is Component-based. Because pattern and marking can be revised between cycles, confirm the current structure on the official notification before you sit.
Who is eligible for the ANZCA Primary?
Broadly, eligibility is: Anaesthetics trainees (Australia/NZ). This is a summary only - the definitive eligibility criteria, documentation and any registration or attempt limits are published by ANZCA for each sitting.
Sources and currency
Sources: official examination-body notifications and information bulletins (NBEMS, NMC, GMC, the relevant UK Royal College, USMLE/NBME, AMC, MCC and the Gulf health authorities as applicable). Exam patterns and eligibility change between cycles - always confirm the current sitting's rules, dates and fees on the official body's own notification before you apply. Last verified July 2026.
Build a plan for ANZCA Primary
Explore clinician-written learning resources, structured revision and practice across the MedNext platform.
See plans