The Acute Medicine SCE syllabus is defined by the Federation’s blueprint: 200 questions across 13 categories, with cardiovascular, gastroenterology and hepatology, neurology and ophthalmology, and respiratory medicine carrying 20 questions each, and a mixed “Other” category carrying 22. The content behind those categories comes from the Acute Internal Medicine curriculum and current UK guidance.
This guide sets out the official blueprint, explains what sits in each category and suggests how to turn it into a revision plan.
Exam information checked on 31 October 2026.
The Acute Medicine SCE syllabus: official blueprint
The SCE in Acute Medicine blueprint, linked from the Federation’s Acute Medicine page, gives the likely number of questions in each category across both papers.
| Category | Questions | Share of exam |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular medicine | 20 | 10% |
| Gastroenterology and hepatology | 20 | 10% |
| Neurology and ophthalmology | 20 | 10% |
| Respiratory medicine | 20 | 10% |
| Other (see below) | 22 | 11% |
| Medicine in the elderly | 18 | 9% |
| Diabetes and endocrine medicine | 14 | 7% |
| Infectious diseases | 14 | 7% |
| Musculoskeletal system | 12 | 6% |
| Cancer and palliative care and haematology | 10 | 5% |
| Clinical pharmacology and poisoning | 10 | 5% |
| Critical care medicine | 10 | 5% |
| Renal medicine | 10 | 5% |
| Total | 200 | 100% |
The blueprint says these numbers are an indication and the actual number may vary. In practice, the Federation’s annual reports show recent papers following it closely. The questions in each category are distributed across both papers, so you will not get all of one topic in a single sitting.
What is in the “Other” category?
“Other” is the largest single category at 22 questions. The blueprint lists seven subjects within it:
- Allergy
- Clinical genetics
- Dermatology
- Immunology
- Patient safety and risk management
- Psychiatry
- Public health and health promotion
These subjects are easy to leave until last. Together, though, they are worth more than any single system. Anaphylaxis, urticaria and angioedema, self-harm and medication safety are all typical acute medicine territory.
Older revision material sometimes shows a previous version of the blueprint with a “Cardiorespiratory arrest and shock” category. The current blueprint uses “Critical care medicine” instead. Work from the Federation’s current PDF.
Which curriculum does the exam follow?
The blueprint states that candidates are tested on common and important disorders as set out in the curriculum. The current Acute Internal Medicine curriculum was approved by the GMC and implemented in August 2022. It is built around capabilities in practice, including specialty capabilities for running acute medical services, same day emergency care, prioritising patients by severity and escalation, working with intensive care, cardiology, respiratory and geriatric medicine, and managing the interface with community services.
The Federation’s SCE page still links the older 2009 curriculum (amended 2012). Both centre on the unselected acute take, the deteriorating patient and the common emergencies of each system.
The exam regulations state that candidates are tested on UK medical practice, including NICE and SIGN guidelines. The Society for Acute Medicine publishes an SCE revision resources document (updated December 2024) that maps guidelines to each system. Check each guideline against the current version before relying on it.
How should I use the blueprint to plan revision?
Use the question counts to set the time you spend on each area. Cardiovascular, gastroenterology, neurology and respiratory medicine together make up 40% of the exam. Medicine in the elderly, at 18 questions, deserves more time than many candidates give it.
Then look at where candidates lose marks. In the 2025 report, UK resident doctors scored lowest in clinical pharmacology and poisoning (51.6%). In 2024 the lowest category was infectious diseases (52.9%). A 10-question category can still decide a close result.
Finally, keep a simple tracker: the 13 categories, the number of questions you have attempted in each and your first-attempt score. Our 12-week Acute Medicine SCE revision plan turns the blueprint into a weekly timetable, and the question bank guide includes 10 free sample questions across 10 categories.
Revise all 13 categories
Revision Pro’s Acute Medicine SCE course has 293 revision notes and 1,766 questions mapped to the blueprint categories, plus a Mock Mode weighted the same way. See the full course.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a separate SCE syllabus document?
No separate syllabus was found. The Federation publishes the blueprint, and the content comes from the Acute Internal Medicine curriculum and current UK guidelines.
Does every paper follow the blueprint exactly?
The blueprint says the numbers are an indication and may vary. Recent annual reports show papers close to the published counts.
Which guidelines matter most?
UK guidance such as NICE, SIGN, the British Thoracic Society and the Resuscitation Council UK. Use the most recent version and note when guidance has changed.
