CSHK Part 2 EMQ
CSHK Part 2 EMQ (Membership Examination, Part 1 and 2 Examination)
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Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
The Membership Examination of The College of Surgeons of Hong Kong is structured as a Part 1 and 2 Examination followed by a Part 3 Examination, and the College's site lists it as a distinct examination pathway alongside the Fellowship Examination in the surgical subspecialties. Part 2 is the stage candidates typically meet after clearing the written Part 1, and it is delivered in the Extended Matching Question format together with multiple choice items. It is aimed at surgical trainees progressing through Basic Surgical Training toward Higher Surgical Training and eventual Fellowship, so the content assumes working clinical exposure rather than textbook-only knowledge. The four domains that carry the assessment are surgical sciences and core principles, system-based diagnosis and management, perioperative and critical care including complications, and emergency surgery and trauma, each weighted equally. Preparation should be active rather than passive: work through EMQ-style option lists to build discrimination between close differentials, rehearse structured clinical reasoning for the perioperative and emergency scenarios, and revise core sciences in parallel with ward experience. Because the College publishes examination information and schedules separately, candidates should confirm diet dates, format details and result arrangements directly with the College rather than relying on second-hand summaries. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the College.
What you'll study
About CSHK Part 2 EMQ preparation
What is the EMQ format actually testing?
Extended Matching Questions give you a list of options and a series of stems, so the skill being tested is discrimination: choosing the single best option when several are plausible. Practise ranking close differentials rather than recalling isolated facts, and always justify why the second-best option fails.
How is Part 2 weighted across topics?
The published blueprint splits content evenly: surgical sciences and principles, system-based diagnosis and management, perioperative and critical care, and emergency surgery and trauma each carry roughly a quarter. That means no topic can be safely dropped, and a weak emergency or critical care performance cannot be offset by strength elsewhere.
How long is the exam and what is the pass mark?
Duration, item counts and the passing standard are not stated in the source material used for this page, so no figure is given here. Confirm the current diet's timing and marking arrangements with the College's examination information before you plan your revision timetable around them.
Can I retake Part 2 if I fail?
The retake policy and any limit on attempts are not specified in the available source, so treat this as something to verify with the College directly. Do not assume unlimited attempts or an automatic next-diet resit; plan your preparation as though you have one clear opportunity.
Should I study basic sciences or clinical topics first?
Build the sciences alongside clinical work rather than as a separate phase. Anatomy, physiology and pathology underpin the perioperative and emergency stems, and candidates who leave sciences until late usually run out of time. Rotate topics weekly so each of the four domains gets regular contact.
What are the most common failure modes?
Three recur: reading the option list before the stem and anchoring on a familiar answer; ignoring the specific question asked, such as next best step rather than diagnosis; and shallow coverage of critical care and trauma because those topics feel less examinable. Slow, deliberate stem-reading practice fixes most of these.
How much time do I need to prepare?
There is no published recommended preparation period, so judge it from your own gaps. A practical approach is several months of consistent weekly sessions covering all four domains, with the final weeks spent on timed EMQ sets under exam conditions to build pacing and stamina.
Where can I confirm exam dates and fees?
Only the College can confirm schedules, fees and application deadlines; this page does not reproduce them because they change between diets. Check the College's examination schedule and information pages, and note that the site also publishes bad weather arrangements that can affect examination days.