RCVS Statutory Membership Exam resits: what happens if you fail a paper

Updated 20 October 2026

Failing part of the SME is not the end of the process. The RCVS lets you resit only what you did not pass, though there are limits. This page summarises the rules as published. Confirm them in the current guidance.

Written papers

If you fail a written paper, you can resit it in May of the same year without retaking the whole written exam. A resit is subject to the resit fee, listed as £513 per area for the 2027 cycle.

The OSCE

OSCE areas you fail can be retaken in the next exam period, and you do not have to sit the written exam again. A full retake is listed at £1,437 and a single area at £513. If you fail the OSCE for a second time, any further attempt must start again from the beginning, with both the written and the practical parts.

Feedback

Candidates who fail a domain receive feedback showing how far their score was from the pass mark in each failed domain.

Getting ready for a resit

Study the feedback and the areas you lost most marks in.
Redo your missed-question list, not only new questions.
Sit timed papers again to rebuild pace.
For the OSCE, rehearse the stations where you hit an automatic fail, and practise saying your steps out loud.

Frequently asked questions

Can I resit just one RCVS written paper?

Yes. The RCVS lets you resit the papers you did not pass in May of the same year, subject to the resit fee.

What if I fail the OSCE twice?

The RCVS says further attempts must start again from the beginning, including the written stage.