EDAIC Part 2: A Four-Week Revision Plan for the Structured Oral Exam

You have passed Part 1, booked your Part 2 sitting and spent months building your knowledge base. Now the structured oral examination (SOE) is four weeks away and you need a focused EDAIC Part 2 revision plan to convert scattered preparation into confident, fluent performance. This article maps out a four-week execution schedule—baseline viva, domain rotation, data interpretation practice, mixed mocks and targeted repair—designed to sharpen your answers, tighten your timing and walk into the exam room ready.

Why a Four-Week Plan?

The EDAIC Part 2 is a structured oral examination that tests your ability to think aloud, integrate clinical reasoning and communicate clearly under pressure. Unlike written papers, the viva rewards fluency, structure and the confidence to say "I don't know, but here's how I would find out." Four weeks is enough time to:

Identify weak domains through a baseline mock.
Rotate systematically through all clinical areas.
Drill data interpretation (ECGs, chest radiographs, blood gases, lung function).
Run mixed-domain mocks that simulate exam conditions.
Repair specific gaps and taper into the exam without burnout.

This EDAIC Part 2 four-week plan assumes you already have a solid foundation—you have read the core texts, reviewed guidelines and practised viva technique. If you are starting from scratch, extend this timeline or focus on the highest-yield domains first.

Week 1: Baseline Assessment and Domain Inventory

Day 1–2: Run a Full Baseline Mock

Book a mock viva with a colleague, mentor or study partner. Use the official EDAIC Part 2 structure: four stations covering Anaesthesia, Intensive Care, General Topics (including resuscitation, physics, equipment) and Communication/Professionalism. Set a timer (15 minutes per station) and record yourself if possible.

The goal is diagnostic: which domains feel fluent? Where do you hesitate, ramble or lose structure? Note specific knowledge gaps (e.g., "Could not describe the Bohr effect clearly" or "Struggled with ventilator modes in ARDS").

Day 3–7: Domain Inventory and Priority List

Map your performance against the EDAIC Part 2 syllabus. The exam spans:

Anaesthesia: general, regional, subspecialty (cardiac, thoracic, neuro, obstetric, paediatric), airway management.
Intensive Care: shock, sepsis, respiratory failure, renal replacement, nutrition, neurocritical care.
General Topics: resuscitation (ALS, APLS), physics and clinical measurement, equipment, statistics, professionalism.
Communication: consent, breaking bad news, handover, conflict resolution.

Rank domains by confidence: strong, adequate, weak. Allocate more time to weak areas in weeks 2–3, but do not abandon strong topics—maintenance revision prevents decay.

Exam tip: The Part 2 examiners expect depth in common scenarios (e.g., failed intubation, post-operative hypoxia, septic shock) and breadth across subspecialties. Prioritise fluency in high-frequency topics before chasing rare zebras.

Week 2: Domain Rotation and Structured Answers

Day 8–14: One Domain Per Day

Dedicate each day to a single domain. For example:

Monday: Cardiac anaesthesia (valvular disease, coronary revascularisation, TOE basics).
Tuesday: Intensive care respiratory (ARDS, ventilator modes, weaning).
Wednesday: Regional anaesthesia (neuraxial techniques, peripheral blocks, complications).
Thursday: Obstetric anaesthesia (pre-eclampsia, haemorrhage, failed intubation).
Friday: Neurocritical care (traumatic brain injury, raised ICP, status epilepticus).
Weekend: General topics (ALS algorithms, capnography, consent scenarios).

For each domain:

Review core knowledge: Read relevant chapters in standard texts (e.g., Oxford Handbook of Anaesthesia, Oh's Intensive Care Manual), guidelines (e.g., ESAIC, Surviving Sepsis, DAS) and your own notes.
Practise structured answers: Use the "STOP" framework (Situation, Task, Options, Plan) or "ABCDE" where appropriate. Speak your answers aloud—viva performance is oral fluency, not silent reading.
Drill likely questions: "Describe your anaesthetic plan for a patient with severe aortic stenosis undergoing hip replacement." "How would you manage refractory hypoxia in a ventilated patient?" Rehearse opening statements, differential diagnoses and step-wise management.

Adjust the Rotation

If a domain feels solid after one session, move on. If it remains shaky, return to it in week 3. The EDAIC SOE study plan is not rigid—adapt to your own gaps.

Week 3: Data Interpretation and Mixed Mocks

Day 15–17: Data Interpretation Drills

The Part 2 viva frequently presents clinical data: ECGs, arterial blood gases, chest radiographs, pulmonary function tests, laboratory results. Examiners expect systematic interpretation and clinical correlation.

Dedicate three days to:

ECGs: Practise the rate–rhythm–axis–morphology approach. Cover common arrhythmias (AF, VT, heart blocks), ischaemia, electrolyte disturbances (hyperkalaemia, hypocalcaemia), paced rhythms.
Blood gases: Memorise the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, base excess, anion gap. Drill mixed disorders (e.g., metabolic acidosis with respiratory compensation).
Chest radiographs: Systematic ABCDE review (Airway, Bones, Cardiac, Diaphragm, Everything else). Recognise pneumothorax, pulmonary oedema, consolidation, pleural effusion, malpositioned lines.
Lung function: Interpret spirometry (obstructive vs restrictive patterns), flow-volume loops, transfer factor.

Use online question banks, textbooks with practice cases or AnesCORE's data interpretation modules. Time yourself: aim for a structured interpretation in under two minutes, leaving time for clinical correlation ("This ECG shows anterolateral ST elevation; I would activate the catheterisation laboratory and prepare for emergency coronary intervention").

Day 18–21: Mixed-Domain Mocks

Run at least two full four-station mocks, mixing domains unpredictably. Invite different examiners (colleagues, consultants, online study groups) to vary questioning style. Simulate exam conditions: dress smartly, stand or sit as you will on the day, keep answers concise.

After each mock:

Debrief immediately: What went well? Where did you hesitate? Did you structure your answers clearly?
Note specific gaps: "Could not explain the mechanism of suxamethonium apnoea" or "Forgot the NICE sepsis six bundle."
Practise repair: Re-read the relevant section, then re-answer the question aloud the next day.

Key point: The viva rewards clarity and structure over exhaustive detail. If you don't know an answer, acknowledge it and describe your approach: "I'm not certain of the exact dose, but I would consult the BNF and discuss with pharmacy before administration."

Week 4: Targeted Repair and Taper

Day 22–25: Repair Weak Spots

Review your mock debriefs and domain inventory. Identify the 5–10 highest-priority gaps and address them systematically:

Knowledge gaps: Re-read the relevant guideline or textbook section. Summarise in one page.
Communication gaps: Practise consent or breaking-bad-news scenarios with a colleague. Record and critique your tone, pace and empathy.
Fluency gaps: Rehearse opening statements for common scenarios until they flow naturally. "For a patient with severe pre-eclampsia requiring emergency caesarean section, my priorities are maternal safety, fetal wellbeing and multidisciplinary communication…"

Do not attempt to learn new domains in week 4—consolidate what you know.

Day 26–27: Light Review and Confidence Builders

Run one final short mock (two stations) or practise high-yield topics (ALS algorithms, difficult airway management, sepsis bundles). Keep sessions brief—60–90 minutes maximum. The goal is confidence, not cramming.

Review your summary sheets, mnemonics and structured frameworks. Visualise walking into the exam room, greeting the examiners and delivering a clear, structured answer.

Day 28: Rest and Logistics

No new study. Check your exam venue, travel arrangements and required identification. Lay out your clothes. Go to bed early. Trust your preparation.

Adjusting the Plan to Your Schedule

This EDAIC viva revision timetable assumes full-time study. If you are working clinically:

Compress domain rotation: Cover two domains per day in shorter sessions (30–45 minutes each).
Use commute time: Listen to podcasts (e.g., ESAIC podcasts, ICCU tutorials) or rehearse answers mentally.
Prioritise mocks: Even one full mock per week provides invaluable feedback.

If you have more than four weeks, extend the domain rotation phase and add extra mock cycles. If you have less, focus on high-frequency topics and accept that breadth will be limited—depth in common scenarios beats superficial coverage of rare cases.

What This Plan Does Not Guarantee

No revision plan guarantees a pass. The EDAIC Part 2 is criterion-referenced: examiners assess whether you meet a defined standard of safe, competent practice. Your performance on the day—clarity, structure, clinical reasoning, professionalism—determines the outcome. This plan maximises your readiness; it does not eliminate the need for months of prior preparation or the inherent variability of oral examinations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many mock vivas should I do in four weeks?

Aim for at least three full four-station mocks (one baseline, two mixed in week 3, optionally one short mock in week 4). More is better if you can arrange them, but quality feedback matters more than quantity—debrief thoroughly after each session.

Should I memorise guidelines word-for-word?

No. Examiners expect you to know the principles and key steps (e.g., the DAS difficult airway algorithm, the Surviving Sepsis Campaign bundles), not verbatim text. Practise explaining guidelines in your own words, demonstrating understanding rather than rote recall.

What if I run out of time in week 4?

Prioritise repair of your weakest domain and one final mock. Accept that you cannot cover everything—focus on fluency in high-frequency topics and trust that your baseline knowledge will carry you through less familiar questions. Confidence and structure often matter more than exhaustive detail.

Can I use this plan if I'm also working clinically?

Yes, but compress the daily sessions and prioritise mocks and targeted repair over exhaustive domain coverage. Clinical work provides real-world context—use it to reinforce viva scenarios (e.g., reflect on your last difficult airway case and rehearse how you would present it in the exam).

Final Thoughts

The EDAIC Part 2 structured oral examination tests not just what you know, but how you think, communicate and respond under pressure. This four-week EDAIC Part 2 revision plan gives you a roadmap: baseline assessment, systematic domain rotation, data interpretation drills, mixed mocks and targeted repair. Adapt the schedule to your own gaps and commitments, but keep the core principles—structure, fluency, feedback and confidence—at the centre of your preparation.

Four weeks is enough time to sharpen your performance and walk into the exam room ready. Start today.

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