NSA Anatomy Exam

GetThru™ is a dedicated question bank for the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia (NSA) SET selection anatomy examination.

Every question is written and marked against Last's Anatomy, Regional and Applied (9th edition) — the exam's prescribed text — in the exam's own Type 1 and Type 2 formats.

Timed mock papers scored out of 240, progress by topic, and a free renewal if you don't pass. Opening soon.

NSA Anatomy Preparation Toolkit

Type 1 & Type 2 Questions

(every question written from, and referenced to, a page of Last's Anatomy)

Types of Questions:

Type 1 — four True/False stems20 questions per paper. Each question has four statements; mark each True or False for 1 mark per stem.

Type 2 — single best answer (A–E)40 questions per paper, 4 marks each. A short stem and five options of the same kind, one of them correct.

Study guideA module-by-module study guide built on Last's Anatomy, with practice launched from each lesson.

What is the NSA Anatomy Exam?

The Neurosurgical Society of Australasia (NSA) Anatomy Examination is part of selection into Surgical Education and Training (SET) in neurosurgery across Australia and New Zealand. It is a single written paper of 60 multiple-choice questions sat in 100 minutes, with no reading time.

The paper is worth 240 marks and the pass mark is 70%. The result counts for 30% of the selection score, so a strong anatomy mark is one of the biggest levers a candidate has. Roughly 115 candidates sit each year; in 2026, 48.7% passed.

What are the question formats?

Two formats, both of which GetThru reproduces exactly:

•Type 1 (20 questions). Four True/False stems per question, 1 mark per stem.
•Type 2 (40 questions). Single best answer: a short stem and five options of the same kind, one correct, for 4 marks each.

Practising in the real format matters: Type 1 marks every statement on its own, so a half-known fact costs you, and Type 2 asks you to pick one answer from five structures that all look plausible.

Last's Anatomy is the marking standard

The NSA marks the exam against Last's Anatomy, Regional and Applied (9th edition and the revised 9th edition). Where a textbook and Last's disagree, Last's wins.

That is why every GetThru NSA question is written from the wording of Last's and every explanation cites the page it comes from. Where sections of Last's are themselves ambiguous — the NSA's own 2026 report notes this happens, and accepts either answer — we flag the ambiguity as an exam pitfall rather than hide it.

When are the sittings?

•Friday 19 February 2027. Registration opens 9 November 2026 and closes 7 December 2026.
•December 2027 (date to be confirmed). From December 2027 the exam moves to an annual December sitting, so 2027 has two.

Confirm dates and registration with the NSA directly before relying on them.

What will GetThru NSA Anatomy include?

•Type 1 and Type 2 questions in the exam's own format, organised by the thirteen topic areas of the syllabus
•Timed mock papers — 60 questions, 100 minutes, scored out of 240 against the 70% pass line
•Explanations that quote and cite the relevant page of Last's Anatomy
•Progress tracking by topic, spaced repetition and sub-topic selection
•A Last's-based study guide (coming soon)

Pass guarantee

If you don't pass after preparing with a paid GetThru NSA Anatomy subscription, we'll give you a free subscription of the same length as your most recent paid one. You can redeem it whenever suits you, for example ahead of your next sitting. The guarantee is a free renewal rather than a refund, and the conditions are set out in our terms and conditions.

Disclaimer

GetThru is an independent educational resource developed to support candidates preparing for the NSA Anatomy Examination. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia or the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. All content is created independently and is intended as a supplementary study tool.