Practice Question Bank--- Foundation of Practice

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FOP Question Bank

Practise MRCPCH Foundation of Practice BO5 SBA questions with safe thinking, clear explanations and focused wrong-answer revision.

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How to Use This FOP Question Bank

FOP tests basic paediatric knowledge, safe clinical thinking and common paediatric problems. It is not only a memory exam. It also tests whether you can choose the safest and most appropriate answer.

My original method: Do questions first. If you get a question wrong, read the relevant section from your book, mark it, and revise it again later.

Updated method: Current FOP uses BO5 SBA questions. Practise choosing the single best answer, not just any correct answer.

FOP Exam Snapshot

Question Type

BO5 SBA questions.

Choose the single best answer from five options.

Number of Questions

100 SBA questions.

Each question is worth one mark.

Time

120 minutes.

Approximately 1.2 minutes per question.

Main Focus

Common paediatrics, safeguarding, development, ethics and safe practice.

High-Yield FOP Question Areas

Common Paediatrics

Fever, asthma, diarrhoea, vomiting, seizures, rashes, growth, nutrition and emergency presentations.

Safeguarding

Bruising, neglect, child maltreatment, non-accidental injury, escalation and professional responsibility.

Development

Milestones, developmental delay, red flags, hearing, vision, speech and parental concerns.

Ethics and Communication

Consent, confidentiality, capacity, professional behaviour and explaining clearly to families.

Question of the Day

FOP BO5 SBA Safeguarding

Daily Practice Question

A 9-month-old baby is brought to the emergency department with a bruise on the cheek. The parent says the baby rolled off the sofa. The baby is not yet cruising. There is no clear accidental explanation. What is the best next step?

A. Reassure and discharge with safety-net advice B. Arrange routine GP review in one week C. Discuss with senior paediatrician and follow safeguarding procedures D. Prescribe analgesia and discharge E. Ignore the bruise because babies commonly fall

Best answer: C. Discuss with senior paediatrician and follow safeguarding procedures.

A bruise in a non-mobile or not-yet-cruising infant is concerning. The safest answer is senior discussion and safeguarding assessment. In FOP, safeguarding questions often test safe recognition and escalation.

FOP Practice Questions

Development BO5 SBA

Question 1

A 2-year-old child has no single words, poor eye contact and does not respond consistently to name. What is the best next step?

A. Reassure parents that boys speak late B. Review at school entry C. Refer for hearing assessment and developmental assessment D. Prescribe antibiotics E. Discharge from follow-up

Best answer: C. Refer for hearing assessment and developmental assessment.

Speech delay with poor response to name and poor eye contact needs proper assessment. Hearing should be checked and developmental concerns explored.

Fever Safety

Question 2

A 3-year-old child has fever, drowsiness and a non-blanching rash. What is the best immediate action?

A. Give antipyretic and discharge B. Observe in waiting room C. Urgent assessment and treatment for possible sepsis/meningococcal disease D. Routine outpatient referral E. Reassure parents

Best answer: C. Urgent assessment and treatment for possible sepsis/meningococcal disease.

Fever, drowsiness and non-blanching rash are red flags. The safest next step is urgent assessment and treatment.

Ethics Communication

Question 3

A parent asks you not to tell a competent teenager about their diagnosis. What is the best approach?

A. Always follow the parent’s request B. Ignore the teenager completely C. Consider the young person’s competence, confidentiality and best interests D. Discharge immediately E. Tell the parent that confidentiality never applies to children

Best answer: C. Consider the young person’s competence, confidentiality and best interests.

FOP ethics questions test safe, balanced professional judgement. The young person’s competence and best interests must be considered.

Respiratory Asthma

Question 4

A 6-year-old with known asthma presents with wheeze, increased work of breathing and reduced oxygen saturation. What is the best first approach?

A. Wait for outpatient spirometry B. Assess severity, give oxygen if needed and start acute asthma treatment C. Prescribe cough syrup D. Discharge without treatment E. Arrange routine allergy testing only

Best answer: B. Assess severity, give oxygen if needed and start acute asthma treatment.

In acute respiratory illness, assessment of severity and immediate treatment are important. Choose the safest clinical action.

How to Revise Wrong FOP Questions

1. Save the Question

Write the topic: safeguarding, development, ethics, fever, asthma or another area.

2. Identify the Mistake

Was it lack of knowledge, poor reading, unsafe answer choice or confusion between two options?

3. Read Only the Relevant Topic

Do not read the whole book. Read the section related to your wrong answer.

4. Repeat the Point

Revise the same wrong point again after a few days and before the exam.

My best method: Question → wrong answer → targeted reading → short note → repeated revision.

BO5 SBA Technique for FOP

Read the Last Line

Check whether the question asks for diagnosis, next step, treatment, investigation or safeguarding action.

Find the Red Flag

Look for safeguarding concerns, non-blanching rash, respiratory distress, altered consciousness or dehydration.

Remove Unsafe Options

Eliminate answers that delay care, ignore safeguarding or miss serious illness.

Choose the Best Answer

More than one option may appear possible. Choose the safest and most appropriate answer.

Useful Official Resources

RCPCH Sample Papers

Official sample papers for MRCPCH theory exams.

Open Sample Papers

RCPCH FOP Structure

Official structure and syllabus information.

Open RCPCH Structure

How to Study

Practical MRCPCH study strategy.

Read Study Guide

FOP Forum

Discuss difficult FOP questions with other candidates.

Open FOP Forum

Search This FOP Question Page

Popular FOP Question Tags

Safeguarding Development Ethics Communication Fever Asthma Seizures Nutrition BO5

Common FOP Question Mistakes

• Ignoring safeguarding clues.
• Missing the age of the child.
• Choosing reassurance when red flags are present.
• Not recognising developmental delay.
• Choosing a correct answer instead of the best answer.
• Spending too long on one difficult question.
• Not revising wrong answers repeatedly.

Final FOP Advice

FOP is the foundation of MRCPCH. Do not underestimate common paediatrics, safeguarding, ethics and development. These areas are very important.

Simple rule: Practise BO5 questions daily, revise wrong answers carefully and always choose the safest answer.

Guide to MRCPCH — FOP Question Bank

BO5 SBA practice, safe thinking and wrong-answer revision for Foundation of Practice.

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