First of all: this is normal
The chambers do not publish pass rates uniformly, but the reports of those that do, together with hundreds of exam accounts, paint a clear picture: failing the first attempt is common – and the retake is the rule, not the exception. Most people who pass on the second or third attempt did not learn “more” between attempts but differently: out loud, more structured, with a counterpart.
The most important thing right after the exam: write down what the board told you – which part, what reason. Those two sentences are the entire curriculum for the coming weeks. If you did not get them, ask the chamber in writing; many give a short reason on request.
What it usually comes down to
Part 1: jargon and gaps
The patient did not understand you, or areas were missing (substance use, allergies, social history). Both are structural problems, not vocabulary problems – and both disappear with a fixed structure and the plain forms of the 50 most common terms.
Part 2: spelling and register
Mistakes in medical terms, plain language in the report, missing suspected diagnosis. What helps: write the 20 most common diagnoses correctly once a day, practise the report in a fixed order – diagnosis and plan first.
Part 3: read off, unstructured, no reasoning
The presentation sounded like the report read aloud, the senior physician could not find the key message, follow-up questions threw you off. What helps: the structure by heart, one presentation aloud with a stopwatch every day, and preparing the ten standard follow-up questions.
Across all parts: nerves and pace
Spoke too fast or too quietly, broke off sentences, did not understand follow-up questions. Only one thing helps: repeat exam situations until they become routine – in real time, with a counterpart.
How good is my German for the FSP?
Eight questions, about three minutes: plain language, Konjunktiv I, sequence, politeness, documentation – the points where the exam is decided. At the end you get a recommendation on where to start.
8 questions · about 3 minutes
Retakes: rules and deadlines
How often you may retake and how long you have to wait is decided by each chamber. In most federal states you can retake several times; some require a waiting period of a few weeks to months, others give you the next free date. The fee is usually charged again. The specific rules for your state, with source, are on its page:
Your four-week plan
The plan assumes you know which part was decisive – that is where the focus lies. Each day has one building block of 30 to 60 minutes. A little every day beats a lot once a week: speaking is a muscle.
Your plan up to the retake
0 of 28 doneFour weeks, one building block every day. Tick off what you have done — your progress stays on this device.
Week 1 – Structure in place
The structures of all three parts by heart, plain forms of the most common terms.
Frequently asked questions after failing
How often may I retake the FSP?
That is decided by the chamber of your federal state – in most states several times, sometimes without limit, sometimes with a waiting period. The rule, with source, is on the respective state page.
Do I have to retake the whole exam or only the part that went badly?
The whole exam. The FSP is graded as a unit; there is no partial pass.
Can I take the exam in a different federal state?
The responsible state is the one in which you apply for the Approbation. Switching usually means a new application with a different authority – with all documents. It is possible, but rarely the faster route.
Will I get a reason?
Often orally right after the exam. Ask explicitly – „Welcher Teil war ausschlaggebend?“ (Which part was decisive?) – and if necessary ask the chamber in writing for brief feedback. This information is worth more for your preparation than any textbook.