EDAIC Part 1 Sample Questions, With Explanations

If you have ever wanted to sit down with a handful of EDAIC Part 1 sample questions and see exactly how each statement is judged, this article is for you. Below you will find original, EDAIC-style multiple true/false (MTF) questions covering both Paper A (Basic Sciences) and Paper B (Clinical Anaesthesia and Intensive Care), each fully worked through statement by statement. These are teaching examples written to mirror the real format honestly — they are not reproductions of any past paper.

The aim is simple. By the time you reach the bottom, you should understand how an MTF stem is built, how the no-negative-marking rule changes the way you answer, and roughly where your knowledge sits. Then you can take what you have learned into a much larger pool of EDAIC practice questions and revise properly.

How EDAIC Part 1 questions actually work

The EDAIC (European Diploma in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care), awarded by ESAIC, tests Part 1 entirely in the MTF format. Every question gives you a stem — a short clinical or scientific premise — followed by five statements labelled A to E. You judge each statement independently as True or False. There is no "best answer", no single correct option, and no relationship between the five statements other than the shared stem.

Two features of the format matter enormously for your strategy:

Each statement is marked on its own. Statement C being true tells you nothing about statement D. Treat all five as separate mini-questions.
There is no negative marking. Negative marking was removed in 2014. A correct statement scores; a wrong or blank statement simply scores zero. So you should answer every statement, even where you are unsure — leaving a blank can only cost you marks you might otherwise have earned by a sensible decision.

The pass mark is set using a criterion-referenced, Angoff-style standard. In plain terms, the bar reflects a defined level of competence rather than a fixed quota — you are not competing against other candidates for a limited number of passes. If you reach the standard, you pass. For a fuller breakdown of how the two papers are structured, see our guide to the Part 1 format, Paper A and Paper B.

Why MTF rewards a specific technique

Because statements are independent and there is nothing to lose, the optimal approach is methodical. Read the stem, then attack each statement as an absolute claim. Watch for the words that flip a statement's truth value — always, never, only, all, the most common. A statement that is true "usually" may be false when written as "always". We go deeper into this in our dedicated piece on MTF question strategy for the EDAIC, but the worked examples below will let you feel it in action.

EDAIC Part 1 sample questions: Paper A (Basic Sciences) with answers

Paper A covers anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, physics and clinical measurement, equipment and statistics. Here are three worked examples that show the format and the reasoning behind each answer.

Sample question 1 — Pharmacology: local anaesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST)

Stem: Regarding local anaesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST):

	Statement	Answer	Why
A	Bupivacaine is more cardiotoxic than lidocaine	True	Bupivacaine binds avidly to cardiac sodium channels and dissociates slowly, making refractory arrhythmias more likely.
B	Central nervous system signs typically appear after cardiovascular collapse	False	CNS features (perioral tingling, tinnitus, agitation, seizures) usually precede cardiovascular collapse.
C	Intravenous lipid emulsion is a recommended treatment	True	Lipid emulsion ("lipid rescue") is a standard part of LAST management alongside airway, oxygenation and ACLS.
D	The maximum safe dose is independent of the use of adrenaline	False	Adding adrenaline reduces systemic absorption and raises the recommended maximum dose for many agents.
E	Metabolic acidosis increases the risk of toxicity	True	Acidosis and hypercarbia increase the free fraction of drug and lower the seizure threshold, worsening toxicity.

This stem rewards a candidate who knows the sequence of LAST and the pharmacology behind it. In real practice, always follow your current local and published LAST guidelines for exact doses and the lipid emulsion regimen.

Sample question 2 — Physiology: oxygen carriage in blood

Stem: Concerning oxygen transport in arterial blood:

	Statement	Answer	Why
A	Most oxygen is carried dissolved in plasma	False	The overwhelming majority is bound to haemoglobin; dissolved oxygen contributes only a small fraction of total content.
B	A right shift of the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve is caused by an increase in temperature	True	Pyrexia, a rise in CO₂, acidosis and raised 2,3-DPG all shift the curve right, favouring offloading at the tissues.
C	The curve has a sigmoid shape due to cooperative binding	True	Cooperativity between the four haem groups produces the characteristic S-shape.
D	Carbon monoxide shifts the curve to the right	False	Carbon monoxide shifts the curve left and reduces carrying capacity, impairing offloading at the tissues.
E	The P₅₀ of adult haemoglobin is around 3.5 kPa	True	The P₅₀ (the PO₂ at which haemoglobin is 50% saturated) is approximately 3.5 kPa (≈26 mmHg).

Notice how statement D is a classic trap: carbon monoxide is dangerous precisely because it shifts the curve the opposite way to what an inattentive reader might assume. For more curated drilling on this theme, see our high-yield physiology topics for EDAIC.

Sample question 3 — Physics and clinical measurement: the pulse oximeter

Stem: Regarding pulse oximetry:

	Statement	Answer	Why
A	It uses two wavelengths of light, typically around 660 nm and 940 nm	True	Red (≈660 nm) and infrared (≈940 nm) light exploit the differing absorption of oxy- and deoxyhaemoglobin.
B	It reliably distinguishes carboxyhaemoglobin from oxyhaemoglobin	False	A standard two-wavelength oximeter cannot distinguish carboxyhaemoglobin, which it tends to read as oxyhaemoglobin, falsely elevating the reading.
C	It relies on the pulsatile (AC) component of the signal	True	The device isolates the pulsatile arterial signal from the constant background absorption.
D	Very high methaemoglobin levels tend to drive the reading towards 85%	True	At high methaemoglobin concentrations the displayed saturation tends to plateau around 85%, regardless of the true value.
E	It is accurate in the presence of severe hypotension and poor perfusion	False	Low perfusion degrades the pulsatile signal and reduces accuracy.

This is a quintessential Paper A topic, blending physics with clinical limitation. If equipment and measurement feel shaky, our overview of physics and clinical measurement high-yield material is a good next stop.

EDAIC sample questions with answers: Paper B (Clinical Anaesthesia and Intensive Care)

Paper B covers clinical anaesthesia, regional and sub-specialty anaesthesia, intensive care, emergency medicine and pain. Here are three more EDAIC sample questions with answers.

Sample question 4 — Airway: the unanticipated difficult airway

Stem: In the management of an unanticipated difficult airway in an adult:

	Statement	Answer	Why
A	A "can't intubate, can't oxygenate" situation is an indication for front-of-neck access	True	When oxygenation cannot be maintained by other means, emergency front-of-neck access is the rescue step.
B	A supraglottic airway device has no role once intubation has failed	False	A second-generation supraglottic airway is an explicit rescue option to restore oxygenation after failed intubation.
C	Maintaining oxygenation takes priority over completing intubation	True	The guiding principle is oxygenation first; securing the tube is secondary to keeping the patient oxygenated.
D	Repeated laryngoscopy attempts improve outcomes	False	Repeated attempts cause trauma and oedema and worsen outcomes; the number of attempts should be limited.
E	Calling for help early is recommended	True	Declaring the emergency and summoning skilled help early is a core element of every difficult airway algorithm.

Difficult-airway questions reward candidates who have internalised the principles of an algorithm rather than memorised one flowchart. In practice, follow your current local and national difficult airway guidelines.

Sample question 5 — Intensive care: sepsis and septic shock

Stem: Regarding the management of septic shock in an adult:

	Statement	Answer	Why
A	Early administration of appropriate antimicrobials is recommended	True	Prompt, appropriate empirical antimicrobials are a cornerstone of management.
B	Noradrenaline is a recommended first-line vasopressor	True	Noradrenaline is the usual first-line vasopressor for septic shock.
C	Blood cultures should always be taken after starting antibiotics	False	Cultures should ideally be obtained before antibiotics, provided this does not unduly delay treatment.
D	A raised serum lactate may reflect tissue hypoperfusion	True	Lactate is a marker of hypoperfusion and is used to guide and monitor resuscitation.
E	Vasopressors should never be started until fluid resuscitation is complete	False	Vasopressors may be started early, often alongside ongoing fluids, to restore an adequate perfusion pressure.

Statements C and E both contain absolute words ("always", "never") that should immediately raise your suspicion. The intensive care component is heavily weighted in Paper B — our intensive care guide for Paper B drills this domain in depth.

Sample question 6 — Pharmacology in practice: context-sensitive half-time

Stem: Concerning context-sensitive half-time (CSHT):

	Statement	Answer	Why
A	It is the time for plasma concentration to fall by 50% after stopping an infusion	True	CSHT is the time for the central (plasma) concentration to halve once a continuous infusion is stopped.
B	It is independent of the duration of the infusion	False	The "context" is the infusion duration; CSHT generally lengthens as an infusion runs longer.
C	Remifentanil has a short, relatively constant context-sensitive half-time	True	Rapid ester hydrolysis gives remifentanil a short CSHT that changes little with infusion duration.
D	It is the same as the elimination half-life	False	CSHT reflects redistribution and metabolism combined and usually differs from the terminal elimination half-life.
E	It is useful for predicting recovery from an infused agent	True	CSHT helps predict how quickly a patient will wake or recover after an infusion is stopped.

This is a favourite Paper A/B crossover concept. Spotting that statement A is a clean definition while statement B inverts the very meaning of the word "context" is exactly the kind of discrimination MTF questions test.

How to use these worked questions to revise

Six EDAIC MCQ with explanations will not, on their own, get you through Part 1 — but they teach you how to study. Here is how to turn worked examples into real progress.

Score yourself the way the exam does

Mark every statement you got right as one point and ignore wrong ones — no deductions, because there is no negative marking. Then look at the statements you got wrong and, crucially, the ones you got right by luck. A correct answer you were unsure of is a knowledge gap in disguise.

Turn each wrong statement into a flashcard

The single most efficient thing you can do with a missed statement is convert it into a spaced-repetition prompt. Our method article on spaced repetition for long-term memory explains why revisiting a fact at expanding intervals beats re-reading, and it pairs naturally with a structured study plan for the EDAIC.

Practise at volume, under timed conditions

A handful of questions builds intuition; hundreds build exam fitness. The point of working through these EDAIC sample questions with answers is to graduate to a large, explained bank where you can drill a topic, see your accuracy trend, and rehearse pacing. That is exactly what the AnesCORE question bank is built for, and our guide on using a question bank effectively shows how to get the most from it.

Sample question format at a glance

Feature	What it means for you
Stem + five statements (A–E)	Read the stem once, then judge each statement on its own.
Each statement True/False	No "best answer" — independent binary decisions.
No negative marking (since 2014)	Answer every statement; committing an answer can only help.
Criterion-referenced pass mark	You are judged against a competence standard, not a quota.
Multiple European languages (Part 1)	The written exam is offered in several languages; Part 2 is generally in English.

Where these questions fit in your overall plan

Sample questions are a diagnostic and a teaching tool, not a syllabus. Use them to find weak spots, then fill those spots systematically. If you are early in your preparation, start with the big picture in our complete EDAIC Part 1 preparation guide for 2026 and the Part 1 landing page, which set out the domains you will be tested on.

Two practical reminders on logistics. The confirmed 2026 Part 1 written exam date is 19 September 2026, but the registration window for that sitting has already closed. For the current deadlines, fees and the next cycle's dates, always confirm directly on the official ESAIC/EDAIC (myESAIC) website rather than relying on any third-party figure. And if you are weighing the EDAIC against the UK route, our comparison of the EDAIC versus the FRCA explains how these separate qualifications, awarded by different bodies, differ.

Frequently asked questions

Are these real past EDAIC questions?

No. Every question above is an original teaching example written to mirror the genuine MTF format. ESAIC does not release its live questions, and you should be wary of any resource claiming to sell "real" past papers. The value here is in learning the format and reasoning, not in memorising leaked items.

How many statements are on each EDAIC Part 1 question?

Each MTF question has one stem followed by five statements, labelled A to E, and you judge each as True or False independently. We have deliberately matched that structure so your practice feels like the real thing.

Does it hurt my score to guess?

No. Negative marking was removed in 2014, so a wrong statement scores zero rather than minus. Because of this, you should commit an answer to every single statement — leaving blanks only forfeits marks you might have won. Our strategies to pass Part 1 cover how to reason towards an answer when you are unsure.

How is the pass mark decided?

The pass mark is criterion-referenced using an Angoff-style standard, meaning it reflects a defined level of competence rather than a fixed pass quota or a curve. For more on this, see our explainer on the EDAIC pass rate and pass mark.

Can I avoid the written paper through OLA?

Possibly. The On-Line Assessment (OLA) is a formative, in-training assessment using EDAIC Part 1-style content, and passing it under ESAIC's conditions can exempt you from sitting the Part 1 written exam. Read the details in our OLA explained article and confirm your eligibility on the official site.

Ready to move from a handful of examples to hundreds of explained questions? Create a free AnesCORE account and start drilling worked, exam-style items in the EDAIC question bank today — the fastest way to turn weak spots into reliable marks before 19 September 2026.