FREC 4 (FREC 4 First Response Emergency Care Level 4) EXAM
ACTUAL 2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
Patient Assessment, ABCDE and Clinical Decision-Making
1. What is the primary purpose of the initial patient assessment?
A. Obtain a complete medical history
B. Identify and manage immediate life threats
C. Complete all documentation
D. Establish a definitive diagnosis
Answer: B
Rationale: The initial assessment prioritises immediately life-
threatening problems so that critical interventions are not delayed.
2. In the ABCDE approach, what does represent?
A. Consciousness
B. Catastrophic haemorrhage
C. Circulation
D. Capnography
Answer: B
Rationale: Catastrophic external haemorrhage must be identified and
controlled immediately before progressing through the remaining
primary survey.
3. What should a responder do before approaching an incident?
A. Obtain a full history
B. Ensure the scene is reasonably safe
C. Apply oxygen
D. Check blood pressure
,Answer: B
Rationale: Responder, patient and bystander safety must be considered
before clinical assessment.
4. A patient is unresponsive and breathing abnormally. What should
be assumed?
A. Simple faint
B. Cardiac arrest
C. Hypoglycaemia only
D. Stroke only
Answer: B
Rationale: Unresponsiveness with abnormal breathing should be
treated as cardiac arrest until proven otherwise. Current 2025 UK
guidance emphasises prompt recognition and initiation of CPR.
5. Which assessment provides the quickest broad indication of
consciousness?
A. AVPU
B. ECG
C. Blood pressure
D. Peak flow
Answer: A
Rationale: AVPU rapidly categorises responsiveness as Alert,
responding to Voice, responding to Pain, or Unresponsive.
6. What does the "A" in AVPU mean?
A. Airway
B. Alert
C. Assessment
D. Ambulance
,Answer: B
Rationale: A represents Alert.
7. A patient responds only when spoken to loudly. Which AVPU
category applies?
A. Alert
B. Voice
C. Pain
D. Unresponsive
Answer: B
Rationale: A patient who responds to verbal stimulation is classified as
responding to Voice.
8. What is the purpose of a secondary assessment?
A. Replace the primary survey
B. Identify additional injuries or illness after immediate threats have
been addressed
C. Delay urgent treatment
D. Determine the patient's insurance status
Answer: B
Rationale: The secondary assessment provides a more detailed
examination once immediate life threats are being managed.
9. Which mnemonic is commonly used to structure a pain history?
A. SOCRATES
B. SAMPLE
C. AVPU
D. ATMIST
Answer: A
Rationale: SOCRATES helps structure assessment of symptoms such as
pain.
, 10. In SOCRATES, what does "O" commonly represent?
A. Oxygen
B. Onset
C. Observation
D. Output
Answer: B
Rationale: Onset explores when and how the symptom began.
11. In SAMPLE history, what does "A" represent?
A. Airway
B. Allergies
C. Assessment
D. Age
Answer: B
Rationale: SAMPLE includes Signs and symptoms, Allergies,
Medications, Past medical history, Last oral intake and Events.
12. Why is medication history important?
A. It can identify relevant conditions, treatments and possible
medication-related problems
B. It replaces vital signs
C. It determines the patient's occupation
D. It is only required for trauma
Answer: A
Rationale: Medications can provide important information about
existing conditions, treatment and potential adverse effects.
13. Why should a patient's last oral intake be established when
relevant?
A. It may influence clinical management and procedural considerations
B. It determines blood group
ACTUAL 2026/2027 QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
Patient Assessment, ABCDE and Clinical Decision-Making
1. What is the primary purpose of the initial patient assessment?
A. Obtain a complete medical history
B. Identify and manage immediate life threats
C. Complete all documentation
D. Establish a definitive diagnosis
Answer: B
Rationale: The initial assessment prioritises immediately life-
threatening problems so that critical interventions are not delayed.
2. In the ABCDE approach, what does represent?
A. Consciousness
B. Catastrophic haemorrhage
C. Circulation
D. Capnography
Answer: B
Rationale: Catastrophic external haemorrhage must be identified and
controlled immediately before progressing through the remaining
primary survey.
3. What should a responder do before approaching an incident?
A. Obtain a full history
B. Ensure the scene is reasonably safe
C. Apply oxygen
D. Check blood pressure
,Answer: B
Rationale: Responder, patient and bystander safety must be considered
before clinical assessment.
4. A patient is unresponsive and breathing abnormally. What should
be assumed?
A. Simple faint
B. Cardiac arrest
C. Hypoglycaemia only
D. Stroke only
Answer: B
Rationale: Unresponsiveness with abnormal breathing should be
treated as cardiac arrest until proven otherwise. Current 2025 UK
guidance emphasises prompt recognition and initiation of CPR.
5. Which assessment provides the quickest broad indication of
consciousness?
A. AVPU
B. ECG
C. Blood pressure
D. Peak flow
Answer: A
Rationale: AVPU rapidly categorises responsiveness as Alert,
responding to Voice, responding to Pain, or Unresponsive.
6. What does the "A" in AVPU mean?
A. Airway
B. Alert
C. Assessment
D. Ambulance
,Answer: B
Rationale: A represents Alert.
7. A patient responds only when spoken to loudly. Which AVPU
category applies?
A. Alert
B. Voice
C. Pain
D. Unresponsive
Answer: B
Rationale: A patient who responds to verbal stimulation is classified as
responding to Voice.
8. What is the purpose of a secondary assessment?
A. Replace the primary survey
B. Identify additional injuries or illness after immediate threats have
been addressed
C. Delay urgent treatment
D. Determine the patient's insurance status
Answer: B
Rationale: The secondary assessment provides a more detailed
examination once immediate life threats are being managed.
9. Which mnemonic is commonly used to structure a pain history?
A. SOCRATES
B. SAMPLE
C. AVPU
D. ATMIST
Answer: A
Rationale: SOCRATES helps structure assessment of symptoms such as
pain.
, 10. In SOCRATES, what does "O" commonly represent?
A. Oxygen
B. Onset
C. Observation
D. Output
Answer: B
Rationale: Onset explores when and how the symptom began.
11. In SAMPLE history, what does "A" represent?
A. Airway
B. Allergies
C. Assessment
D. Age
Answer: B
Rationale: SAMPLE includes Signs and symptoms, Allergies,
Medications, Past medical history, Last oral intake and Events.
12. Why is medication history important?
A. It can identify relevant conditions, treatments and possible
medication-related problems
B. It replaces vital signs
C. It determines the patient's occupation
D. It is only required for trauma
Answer: A
Rationale: Medications can provide important information about
existing conditions, treatment and potential adverse effects.
13. Why should a patient's last oral intake be established when
relevant?
A. It may influence clinical management and procedural considerations
B. It determines blood group
