Preparing for the GSSE

The General Surgical Sciences Exam (GSSE) — also known as the Part One or Primary Surgical Exam — is one of the earliest milestones in your surgical career. While not always a prerequisite for registrar jobs, it is essential for entry into specialty training across all surgical disciplines.

The exam covers three major components: Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology. With such a wide breadth of knowledge, preparation can feel overwhelming — but getting started early will make all the difference.

When Should I Sit the GSSE?

Our recommendation: aim for PGY2 (second year as a house officer or intern).

This is often the sweet spot:

• You’ve had a year to adjust to clinical life.

• Your workload is still manageable compared to registrar years.

• Passing early shows commitment to a surgical career and builds a strong knowledge base before stepping up.

Why not earlier? (PGY1)

Your first year is about becoming a good doctor — learning the ropes, managing the stress of transition, and building strong references. Adding GSSE study on top of this steep learning curve can be unnecessarily overwhelming.

Why not later? (Registrar years)

As a registrar, you’ll be juggling on-call rosters, operating lists, teaching, and service demands. It’s one of the steepest learning curves in surgery, leaving little time for sustained study. While it’s possible (many have done it), the exam will feel much harder to fit in.

That said, timing is personal. Some sit it earlier, some later. The best time is ultimately the one that aligns with your life, workload, and support systems.

How Long Should I Prepare?

There’s no magic number — everyone’s different.

• Some say 6 months.

• Others estimate 1000 hours.

• Realistically: it depends on your study style and how much of med school knowledge you’ve retained.

For most, steady preparation with focused “study sprints” works better than last-minute cramming. If you can secure a week or two of study leave before the exam, even better.

What Resources Should I Use?

With so many resources — textbooks, online courses, YouTube, notes from friends — it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The key is to pick a strategy and stick to it, rather than spreading yourself too thin.

That’s where SERGNZ can help.

We’ve built an online hub for surgical trainees:

• Structured notes

• Tutorials and teaching modules

• Question banks

• Peer discussion groups

It’s a one-stop shop designed to guide your GSSE preparation and connect you with others on the same journey.

Final Thoughts

The GSSE is tough, but it’s also a gateway exam that sets the foundation for your surgical training. Preparing well — and at the right time — will not only help you pass but will also make you a smarter, more confident doctor when the registrar years arrive.

At SERGNZ, we’re here to support you through it.

Explore our GSSE resources today.