Even though a very broad factual knowledge is required, there are many facts and figures that tend to pop up repeatedly in exam questions (such as angles, thicknesses, volumes and percentages). The more that candidates practise with mock papers, the more conversant they will be with these specifics and the better prepared they will be.

Writing multiple choice questions is not an easy task, as examiners have to ensure that correct answers are incontrovertibly true and not just possibilities. They must also ensure distractors (the incorrect answer options) are not so obviously wrong that the question becomes too easy, or not so nearly right that they could, in fact, be right. The good exam MCQ must therefore be written with careful thought, and only by working through an extensive collection of such questions can candidates gain familiarity with the format, and confidence in their ability to answer them correctly.

Constructed response questions test knowledge across a range of scenarios. Thankfully, candidates for the FRCOpth Part 1 will have had some clinical experience and will have developed a broad working knowledge. Only with practice, however, will candidates become familiar with the topics commonly tested using this format. Again, this familiarity will help candidates tackle these questions successfully by teaching them the importance of paying attention to detail, of reading questions carefully and of managing their time effectively.

The extensive explanation sections in this book not only provide in-depth reasoning behind the correct answers, but also provide candidates with a wealth of information relevant to the FRCOpth Part 1. To pass this exam you must have clinical experience and you must know your facts. But equally you must know how to pass. This book will give you the confidence and knowledge to achieve that goal.

The examination comprises 120 single best answer questions (SBAs), which are in best-of-four multiple choice format, followed by 12 CRQs. The latter are multi-part short answer questions, typically working around a ray diagram, photo or clinical investigation. CRQs constitute half of the examination marks, so practice is essential in order to achieve a pass mark. The good news is that they are often clinically relevant and make for comparatively enjoyable revision.

The question layout in each chapter mimics the structure of the exam, with SBAs followed by CRQs. The questions are grouped by subject in the first two chapters to facilitate focused study, whereas the final chapter is unstructured. You may wish to use this as a complete mock exam. The questions presented here are deliberately skewed to the more challenging end of the spectrum. By tackling conceptually difficult topics that could and do appear in the exam, we hope that the actual exam will feel a lot more achievable. Do not be discouraged if you don't get questions right the first time. The feedback section, with its clear explanations, key diagrams and tables, will ensure you learn something worthwhile and make efficient use of your study time. We also recommend background reading from the publications listed in the bibliography.

This book has broad coverage of the FRCOphth Part 1 exam syllabus in one portable volume. We hope it will maximise your chances of examination success.