FCPS Part 1 ENT MCQs: Practice Questions With Explanations

FCPS Part 1 ENT rewards candidates who can connect anatomy to clinical findings. Here is a short set of practice MCQs across the specialty, each with the reasoning that makes the answer stick. The full bank has 3,700+ questions with an explanation on every one.

Ear

1. The narrowest part of the facial nerve canal, and the usual site of compression in Bell's palsy, is the:

• A) Tympanic segment
• B) Labyrinthine segment ✅
• C) Mastoid segment
• D) Meatal segment

The labyrinthine segment is about 0.7 mm wide, so swelling compresses the nerve there.

2. A dip in bone conduction at 2 kHz on the audiogram (Carhart's notch) is characteristic of:

• A) Meniere's disease
• B) Noise-induced hearing loss
• C) Otosclerosis ✅
• D) Presbycusis

Stapes fixation alters bone conduction mechanics around 2 kHz; the notch disappears after successful stapedectomy.

Nose and Sinuses

3. The frontal, maxillary and anterior ethmoid sinuses drain into the:

• A) Inferior meatus
• B) Superior meatus
• C) Sphenoethmoidal recess
• D) Middle meatus ✅

This region is the ostiomeatal complex; blockage here explains recurrent sinusitis and is the target of endoscopic sinus surgery.

4. The commonest site of anterior epistaxis is:

• A) Woodruff's plexus
• B) Kiesselbach's plexus in Little's area ✅
• C) Anterior end of the middle turbinate
• D) Roof of the nose

Four arteries anastomose on the anterior septum: superior labial, anterior ethmoidal, greater palatine and sphenopalatine.

Pharynx and Oral Cavity

5. A pharyngeal pouch (Zenker's diverticulum) arises through Killian's dehiscence, which lies between:

• A) Superior and middle constrictors
• B) Thyropharyngeus and cricopharyngeus ✅
• C) Palatopharyngeus and salpingopharyngeus
• D) Stylopharyngeus and middle constrictor

The weak triangle sits in the inferior constrictor, above the cricopharyngeal sphincter.

Larynx and Airway

6. The only abductor of the vocal cords is the:

• A) Lateral cricoarytenoid
• B) Posterior cricoarytenoid ✅
• C) Cricothyroid
• D) Interarytenoid

Bilateral paralysis of this muscle leaves the cords near the midline and causes stridor with a good voice.

7. The commonest cause of stridor in a newborn is:

• A) Laryngeal web
• B) Subglottic stenosis
• C) Laryngomalacia ✅
• D) Vocal cord paralysis

The omega-shaped epiglottis and floppy aryepiglottic folds collapse in inspiration; most cases resolve by 12 to 18 months.

Head and Neck

8. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is associated with which virus?

• A) HPV 16
• B) Epstein-Barr virus ✅
• C) Herpes simplex virus
• D) Cytomegalovirus

Raised IgA titres against EBV viral capsid antigen support the diagnosis and are used in screening in high-risk groups.

How to Use MCQs Well

Do timed blocks of 40 to 50 questions, then spend at least as long on the explanations as on answering. The explanation is where the learning happens: it tells you which distractor you fell for and why. Track errors by region, not just by total score.

Practise With Explanations

HighYield's FCPS Part 1 ENT QBank has 3,700+ MCQs across ear, nose and paranasal sinuses, larynx and airway, pharynx and oral cavity, and head and neck, plus the shared basic sciences. Every question has a written explanation, and subject analytics show which region needs another pass. Your first 20 questions are free, no card required.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many ENT MCQs should I solve before the exam?

Quality matters more than raw count, but most candidates aim to complete a full bank at least once and re-attempt every question they got wrong.

Are these real CPSP questions?

No. Our questions are modelled on the topics, style and difficulty of past papers and recalls, and are not copies of CPSP papers.