VIVAs · 2024A

2024 First Sitting VIVAs

16 VIVA stations from the CICM examiner report for this sitting. Examiner wording, report provenance and reported performance data are preserved.

View 2024A SAQs →

Exam outcomes

58% (52/89)Written pass · MCQ + SAQ

98% (52/53)Oral pass · VIVAs

57.8% (52/90)*Overall pass · CICMWrecks-derived

How passing worked

Written pass: candidates successful in both written components (MCQ + SAQ) and progressing to the oral examination, divided by candidates presenting for the written examination.

Oral pass: candidates successful after the oral component, divided by candidates sitting the oral examination. The First Part oral component consists of VIVAs.

Carry-over: 1 candidate entered the oral component carrying a written pass from a previous sitting.

* Overall pass: a CICMWrecks-derived contextual figure: final successful candidates ÷ (candidates presenting for the written examination + candidates carrying a written pass). It is not a CICM-reported pass percentage.

Day 1

2024A

VIVA 1

Respiratory Physiology

Opening prompt

This VIVA will examine respiratory physiology. Define work of breathing (WOB) and discuss its components using the diagram below. (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) C3.x · primary

Official source: 2024A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2024A

VIVA 2

Blood Pressure Physiology and Measurement What Are the Changes in the Arterial Blood Pressure Waveform as It Moves from the Level of the Ascending Aorta to the Peripheral Blood Vessels and What Accounts for This?

Opening prompt

This VIVA will examine blood pressure physiology and measurement What are the changes in the arterial blood pressure waveform as it moves from the level of the ascending aorta to the peripheral blood vessels and what accounts for this?

Current · V5 (2025) D6.ii · primary

Official source: 2024A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2024A

VIVA 3

Neuromuscular Junction Monitoring and Neuromuscular Blocking Agents

Opening prompt

This VIVA will examine neuromuscular junction monitoring and neuromuscular blocking agents. Describe in detail the train of four (TOF)?

Current · V5 (2025) I1.iii · primary I2.i I3.i

Official source: 2024A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2024A

VIVA 4

Acid-Base Physiology

Opening prompt

This VIVA will examine acid-base physiology. Describe the following arterial blood gas. (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) G2.i · primary

Official source: 2024A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2024A

VIVA 5

Respiratory Anatomy and General Pharmacology

Opening prompt

This VIVA will examine respiratory anatomy and general pharmacology. This is a schematic diagram of the terminal respiratory unit. Please take us through the structures labelled from 1 to 5 and outline their functions? (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) C1.i · primary

Official source: 2024A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2024A

VIVA 6

Hepatobiliary Physiology

Opening prompt

This VIVA will examine hepatobiliary physiology. How is bile produced and secreted by the liver?

Current · V5 (2025) J2.iv · primary

Official source: 2024A CICM Examiner Report · page 10

2024A

VIVA 7

Coagulation Physiology

Opening prompt

This VIVA will examine coagulation physiology. This figure represents a thrombo-elastography tracing. What is a thrombo-elastography, what does it show and what is indicated by a, b, c, & d? (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) N1.iv · primary

Official source: 2024A CICM Examiner Report · page 11

2024A

VIVA 8

Adrenal Physiology and Pharmacology

Opening prompt

This VIVA will examine adrenal physiology and pharmacology. How is ACTH secretion controlled?

Current · V5 (2025) L1.iii · primary L1.v L2.i

Official source: 2024A CICM Examiner Report · page 11

Day 2

2024A

VIVA 1

Respiratory Physiology and Measurement

Opening prompt

This VIVA will examine respiratory physiology and measurement. Explain how factors that vary between AND within healthy individuals can alter the Functional Residual Capacity (FRC)?

Current · V5 (2025) C4.ii · primary

Official source: 2024A CICM Examiner Report · page 11

2024A

VIVA 2

Cardiovascular Physiology and Monitoring

Opening prompt

This VIVA will examine cardiovascular physiology and monitoring. Relate the parts of the cardiac cycle and ECG to the CVP waveform below? (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) D6.i · primary D2.ii D6.iii

Official source: 2024A CICM Examiner Report · page 11

2024A

VIVA 3

Pain Physiology and Pharmacology

Opening prompt

This VIVA will examine pain physiology and pharmacology. Describe the steps that lead to the perception of pain following a noxious stimulus?

Current · V5 (2025) H4.i · primary

Official source: 2024A CICM Examiner Report · page 11

2024A

VIVA 4

Your Potassium Physiology and Pharmacology

Opening prompt

This VIVA will examine your potassium physiology and pharmacology. Beginning at the glomerulus, describe how potassium is handled along the nephron? (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) E1.v · primary F1.v

Official source: 2024A CICM Examiner Report · page 11

2024A

VIVA 5

General Pharmacology

Opening prompt

This VIVA will examine general pharmacology. Define bioavailability and explain how can you use this curve to calculate it? (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) B1.ii · primary

Official source: 2024A CICM Examiner Report · page 12

2024A

VIVA 6

Digestion and Nutrition

Opening prompt

This VIVA will examine digestion and nutrition. Outline the main phases of gastrointestinal secretion that occur when eating a meal?

Current · V5 (2025) J1.ii · primary J1.vi

Official source: 2024A CICM Examiner Report · page 12

2024A

VIVA 7

Haematological Pharmacology

Opening prompt

This VIVA will examine haematological pharmacology. What are the steps involved in performing a group and screen?

Current · V5 (2025) N1.iii · primary N4.ii

Official source: 2024A CICM Examiner Report · page 12

2024A

VIVA 8

Maternofoetal Physiology and Pharmacology

Opening prompt

This VIVA will examine maternofoetal physiology and pharmacology. How is oxygen delivered to the placenta and then fetus? What factors influence that delivery? (Image removed from report.)

Current · V5 (2025) P1.iii · primary P2.iii P2.v

Official source: 2024A CICM Examiner Report · page 12