Are you an overseas psychiatrist preparing to take the MRCPsych CASC exam?  International doctors often have questions about how to prepare for the CASC exam, particularly when there are so many materials and information online which can be overwhelming or mostly geared towards UK applicants and trainees.  What study materials, courses and support are available for IMGs? Here we have compiled some of the best advice and resources available to help in your preparation for the exam.  The topics we’ll cover are as follows - skip to one of these sections if you know what you're looking for: What is MRCPsych CASC? How do I get started with my preparation? What other resources are available? #IMG Tips How have the exams been affected by COVID-19? What’s next for me? If you’d like an overview of the entire examination series, take a look at the article published in our IMG Library here.  What is MRCPsych CASC?  Let’s begin with a quick recap of the CASC exam. The Clinical Assessment of Skills and Competencies or CASC is a practical exam which takes the format of an OSCE and tests your clinical skills in a range of competencies.  It is made up of two circuits of individual stations made up of:  Five stations on history taking, including risk assessment  Five stations on examination, including physical and mental state  Six stations on patient management  For full guidance on the structure of the exam, visit the examination page of the Royal College website or see our detailed blog on the MRCPsych CASC exam here.  Getting started with preparation It can be tough to know the best place to start, and after talking with some psychiatry consultants (both IMGs and UK trainees), the general consensus was that the Royal College website is the best place to begin. There are some great resources on their website to help applicants to prepare for the exam.  Royal College Materials  Syllabus: this is the best place to start - you should always plan your study and preparation around the topics within the curriculum to start you off on the best path to success. You can find this here.  CASC candidate guide: this handy guide contains information on domain-based marking, candidate instructions, pass mark, exam criteria and grade descriptors, which you can access here.  Blueprint: the CASC blueprint is a more detailed breakdown of the skills being assessed within the exam and the categories and stations candidates should expect to find. This is available here.  Marksheets: copies of the marksheets which are used in the exam are available online for history, management and examination and allow candidates to familiarise themselves with the marksheets in advance, found here.   Sample stations videos: you can watch videos of sample stations from a face-to-face examination – this will be similar to what you can expect on the day as the principles will remain the same for online exams. You can access these here.  What other resources are available?  IMG Connect have a library of written resources geared towards preparation for the CASC exam. If you’re interested in any of these, please get in touch here and we would be delighted to share these with you.   Other online resources available for the exam include a mixture of paid and free resources. These include:  Books  These are the most highly rated books for MRCPsych CASC on Amazon:   Pass the CASC for MRCPsych – Seshni Moodliar (£34.70)  Get Through MRCPsych CASC – Melvyn W. B. Zhang (£45)*  How to Pass the MRCPsych CASC – Andrew Iles (£33.99)  * Get Through MRCPsych CASC is particularly highly regarded by recent CASC candidates who have passed the exam.  Other resources  Passing the MRCPsych Exams – an insider’s guide: a useful guide to the MRCPsych CASC exam written by former trainees and members of the Psychiatric Trainees’ Committee (PTC). This can be found here.  MRCPsych CASC flashcards: flashcards created by a former candidate who has passed the exam. 136 flashcards which cover different aspects of the exam. These are available for free here on Brainscape.  CASC Cluster Cards – Oxfordpsych revision cards written by a consultant psychiatrist in the UK. This is a set of 100 CASC scenarios with instructions and guidance to remember. These can be found here at a cost of £169.  CASC Videos – SPMM: 86 exam stations performed by consultants and role players under exam conditions, featuring advice and tips from examiners for each task. 6 months access is priced at £180 and is available on demand. These are available here.  Oxfordpsych – access to the Oxfordpsych online video bank featuring short and long instruction CASC stations, covering the range of stations and tasks listed in the CASC blueprint. 6 months access costs £169 and £99 for 3 months and can be found here.  Online courses  CASC Prepare mock exam  This exam consists of 16 stations which have all featured in previous RCPsych CASC exams. The mock will be conducted in the format of the actual exam and detailed written feedback on RCPsych marking sheets will be provided after the exam. Other aspects of the exam such ass time management, and communication strategies will also be discussed.  Duration  4 hours  Cost  £310  Next start date  Ongoing Website  https://www.cascprepare.com/mock-exam    Oxfordpsych CASC mock exam  These online exams are based on the RCPsych CASC blueprint. Candidates take the 16 stations under exam conditions and interview with professional actors with CASC experience. Candidates will receive written feedback for each station.  Duration  4 hours  Cost  £475  Next start date  Autumn 2022 Website  http://www.oxfordpsychcourse.co.uk/index.php/online-registration    CASC Master mock exam  This mock exam is carried out over skype or zoom and has 8 continuous stations with one 20-minute break, followed by the final 8 stations. It is set according to the CASC blueprint and is available with or without an actor.  Duration  4 hours  Cost  £325  Next start date  TBC Website  https://www.cascmaster.com/skypemockcasc    IMG Psychiatrists MRCPsych CASC Crash Course This is a tailored MRCPsych CASC course for overseas psychiatrists sitting the CASC exam. This course offers weekly sessions covering the entire exam and its various domains, including marking and station requirements. This is accompanied by small group role play sessions to allow IMGs to practice stations across various scenarios with feedback on each station, delivered by an experienced NHS psychiatrist and specialist psychiatry recruiters. These sessions are completely free to all doctors. The course is supplemented by additional advice and guidance on MRCPsych as a whole, GMC registration support, as well as guidance and webinars on other topics such as finding work in the NHS, relocation support and specialist registration. You can access our IMG Psychiatrists CASC Study Course by joining the Facebook group here. #IMG Tips  Start your revision early – starting in advance allows you to pace yourself and get ahead of the stresses of last-minute revision and anxiety.  Find the right materials for you – whether its online courses, books or flashcards, try to figure out what the best materials are to jumpstart your preparation  Speak to your peers and colleagues – your senior colleagues may have been through this process themselves and may have helpful tips and guidance to share. Or maybe you’ll find a like-minded peer with whom you can be study buddies! Take advantage of those around you to support you on this journey.  Practise, practise, practise - Our IMGs have shared that it’s crucial that you practice your clinical examinations as often as possible, preferably under the supervision of a senior colleague which will allow you to receive feedback.  Join our online psychiatry community - for news and updates about all things psychiatry for IMGs, follow IMG Connect on social media and join the conversation.  I've passed, what’s next?  Once you’ve passed MRCPsych CASC, you’ve completed the Royal College of Psychiatrists examination suite. Great stuff, this is a massive achievement! Armed with this and your English language test, you are ready to apply for full GMC registration with license to practice.   You may want to start looking for NHS jobs and with the click of a button, you can receive them directly to your inbox. To receive jobs postings which you can tailor to your desired grade, specialty and sub-specialism, sign up here.  If you have any questions about any element of CASC, the Royal College exams as a whole or any other queries related to the processes involved in IMGs coming to the UK to work in the NHS, please get in touch and our psychiatry specialist will be more than happy to assist you.  For access to a community of like-minded MRCPsych aspirants and dedicated psychiatry recruiters, join the IMG Psychiatrists Facebook group.   To receive the latest news and updates on all things psychiatry, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.              

In this blog we will explore MRCPsych Clinical Assessment of Skills and Competencies (CASC) including dates, exam locations, fees and eligibility.  In our exploration of CASC, we will take a broad look at the following topics: What is the format of the CASC exam? How is the CASC marked? Am I eligible? Assessment Portfolio for Overseas Candidates Sponsorship requirements How do I apply? How much will it cost me?  Where can I sit the CASC exam? How do I prepare for the CASC exam? Passed? What next? For a more general overview of the MRCPsych examinations, click here.  MRCPsych CASC is a practical exam taking the format of an OSCE and tests your clinical skills in a range of competencies.  What is the format of the CASC exam?  The CASC format is like an OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination). The exam is made up of two circuits of individual stations which will test your clinical skills: The morning circuit will have 4 minutes to read the instructions and 7 minutes to complete the task The afternoon circuit will have 90 seconds to read the instructions and 7 minutes to complete the task. The sixteen CASC station exam is made up of: five stations focused on History Taking, including risk assessment five stations focused on Examination - both physical and mental state, including capacity assessment. six stations focused on patient Management Each circuit follows the topics below:  Circuit 1: 6 stations focused on Management 1 x station focused on Examination 1 x station focused on History Taking 4 minutes reading 7 minute task Circuit 2: 4 x stations focused on Examination 4 x stations focused on History Taking 90 seconds reading 7 minute task How is the CASC marked? You can find details on how the test is marked here. See also marksheets for your information.  History Marksheet  Management Marksheet  Examination Marksheet  The Royal College also suggest taking a look at Passing the MRCPsych - an insider’s guide - a useful guide to help you to get over the first steps.  As ever at IMG Connect we believe in preparation. In order to succeed in the clinical exam, IMGs have told us that it is vital that you practice your clinical examinations as frequently as possible, preferably under the supervision of a senior colleague. This will give you confidence in approaching and examining patients with examiners present. Am I eligible for the CASC exam?  You are eligible to take CASC if you have 24 months post internship experience in Psychiatry, by the time of sitting the CASC. AND You have a pass in both Paper A and B AND You can demonstrate the following: AND  You have sponsorship in place – sponsorship forms must be submitted by an appropriate medical education lead confirming that the eligibility requirements to sit the MRCPsych examinations have been met.  Overseas candidates must show their sponsor evidence of having achieved equivalent competencies at appropriate competency levels (year 1, 2, 3) for each component of the examination. Assessment Portfolio for Overseas Candidates: As above, one aspect of eligibility for CASC as to complete an Assessment Portfolio. This must demonstrate achievement of equivalent competencies to those defined in the ARCP documented on the application form, this must include competencies in Psychotherapy AND Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, or Learning Disability have been achieved by the time of applying for the MRCPsych CASC. In addition, overseas candidates must demonstrate that they undertake the following activities as part of their structured job plans: observation in interviewing patients in ward rounds for specified reasons  observation in interviewing patients in out-patient or community settings or other contexts for specified reasons  assessment via formal presentation of cases with their medical notes; discuss management of cases with their Clinical or Educational Supervisor formal assessment in having achieved competencies in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry or Learning Disability AND Psychotherapy. Assessments and achievement of competencies should take place in a range of settings and psychiatric specialties with structured, documented feedback on performance having been provided.   Whilst there is not an assessment criteria form available as this is incorporated into the online submission, take a look at the ARCP assessment portfolio form for CT1-3 in the UK, which should help give you a starting point for your own portfolio.  Sponsorship requirements:  International candidates must have a sponsor in place in order to support evidence that their three years of training satisfy Royal College criteria of having achieved equivalent competencies at appropriate competency levels (year 1, 2, 3) for each component of the examination.  Sponsorship is required by all applicants for entry to the CASC examination.  Your sponsor should be an appropriate medical education lead confirming you have met the requirements to sit the MRCPsych examinations.  You will be required to provide the sponsor’s title, full name and email.  Acceptable sponsors are:  College Tutor Training Programme Director Educational Supervisor Head of School Director of Medical Education (or equivalent) Head of Department of Psychiatry Consultant responsible for employee/trainee appraisal Once your sponsor has authorised your application, you will receive a confirmation email from the Royal College, and you will be asked to complete your application and proceed to payment. How do I apply?  To apply you’ll need to complete the Royal College online application form. This form is only available during the published application dates and must be submitted prior to the closing date, if you miss the cut-off, your application will not be considered.  You will need to provide the following:  Personal details Primary Medical Qualifications & Registration  Training  Written paper selection Sponsor evidence for Assessment Portfolio for Overseas Candidates How much will it cost me?  At the end of your application you will be directed to an online payment system where you can pay be credit or debit card, so make sure you have your details ready.  Once your application is complete you will receive two confirmation emails, one to confirm receipt of the application and one to confirm the payment has been received.  The fees for MRCPsych CASC for 2023 are as follows: PMPT Trainees and Affiliates - £1,054 Non-PMPT Trainees and Affiliates - £1,171 Where can I sit the CASC exam?  The final diet of the CASC exam which will involve online delivery will be in May 2023. From September 2023, the exam will be back in-person, being delivered in the UK with international test centres to be confirmed from 2024. Examination dates can be found here and results from the CASC examinations will be released around 1 month later. How do I prepare for the CASC examination?  With lots of materials online we have discussed with IMGs the best place to start looking for resources and materials relating to the exams. Most IMGs recommended starting with the Royal College, who have created useful resources to help you to prepare for the exams. See below:  Syllabus: We always suggest that this is the best place to start – plan your study around the curriculum topics and make a road map to your success in the exams.  Syllabus: summary of areas of core medical knowledge underpinning specialist training in psychiatry  Marking scheme (CASC): A good start with CASC preparation is to get to know how you will be assessed, take a look at the criteria for scoring a pass mark in CASC, as well as the History Marksheet, Management Marksheet and Examination Marksheet.  CASC examination guide: The Royal College have produced a helpful guide for candidates which provides information on stations, role plays and assessment. CASC preparation videos: Here you will have the opportunity to see CASC stations in action. This will give you a good idea of what to expect and help you prepare.  CASC Blueprint: This helpful summary details stations in some detail and gives a useful overview of the exam format.  The Royal College also suggests taking a look at Passing the MRCPsych - an insider’s guide - a useful guide to help you to get over the first steps.  IMG Psychiatrists MRCPsych CASC Study Course This is a tailored MRCPscyh CASC course for overseas psychiatrists sitting the CASC exam. This course offers weekly sessions beginning with an overview and in-depth breakdown of the exam and its various domains, including marking and station requirements. This is followed by small group role play sessions to allow IMGs preparing for the exam to practice stations across various scenarios with feedback on each station, delivered by an experienced NHS psychiatrist and specialist psychiatry recruiters. These sessions are completely free to all doctors. The course is supplemented by additional advice and guidance on MRCPsych as a whole, GMC registration support, as well as guidance and webinars on other topics such as finding work in the NHS, relocation support and specialist registration. You can access our IMG Psychiatrists CASC Study Course by joining the Facebook group here. #IMG Tips  Start your revision early – starting in advance allows you to pace yourself and get ahead of the stresses of last-minute revision and anxiety.  Find the right materials for you – whether its online courses, books or flashcards, try to figure out what the best materials are to jumpstart your preparation  Speak to your peers and colleagues – your senior colleagues may have been through this process themselves and may have helpful tips and guidance to share. Or maybe you’ll find a like-minded peer with whom you can be study buddies! Take advantage of those around you to support you on this journey.  Practise, practise, practise - Our IMGs have shared that it’s crucial that you practice your clinical examinations as often as possible, preferably under the supervision of a senior colleague which will allow you to receive feedback.  Join the online psychiatry community - for news and updates about all things psychiatry for IMGs, follow IMG Connect on social media and join the conversation.  I've passed, what’s next?  Once you’ve passed MRCPsych CASC, you’ve completed the Royal College of Psychiatrists examination suite. Great stuff, this is a massive achievement! Armed with this and your English language test, you are ready to apply for full GMC registration with license to practice.   You may want to start looking for NHS jobs and with the click of a button, you can receive them directly to your inbox. To receive jobs postings which you can tailor to your desired grade, specialty and sub-specialism, sign up here.  As ever at IMG Connect, we believe in preparation. In order to succeed in the clinical exam, IMGs have told us that it is vital that you practise your clinical examinations as frequently as possible, preferably under the supervision of a senior colleague. This will give you confidence in approaching and examining children with examiners present. Getting started If you have any questions about any element of CASC, the Royal College exams as a whole or any other queries related to the processes involved in IMGs coming to the UK to work in the NHS, please get in touch and one of our psychiatry specialists will be more than happy to assist you.  For access to a community of like-minded MRCPsych aspirants and dedicated psychiatry recruiters, join the IMG Psychiatrists Facebook group.   To receive the latest news and updates on all things psychiatry, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.              

Are you an overseas psychiatrist taking the postgraduate route to GMC registration? Are you just beginning your journey through the MRCPsych exams?   Today, we’re back with Dr Kevin Li, who will be sharing some top tips on the MRCPsych Paper A and Paper B for overseas MRCPsych A & B aspirants. Kevin is a brilliant psychiatry specialty doctor who relocated to the UK from Hong Kong, having passed the MRCPsych and received full GMC registration with license to practice.  1. Start with the Royal College website  This is the best place to begin as it has key information including the syllabus - on which the exam is based, helping to guide the course of your preparation and revision.  2. Don’t use resources that are more than 3 years old – 5 years maximum  The curriculum and syllabus for Specialty Training in Psychiatry are updated regularly, so it’s best to find and use resources that are as up-to-date as possible.  3. Don’t combine study for Paper A and Paper B  Focus on each paper as an individual element – they each have different requirements, including what sections of the syllabus they are targeting and how much experience you must have before sitting the exam.   4. Divide your time according to the marks weighting of the sections  For example, general adult and critical review have the most marks in the exam, with 20% and 33.5% respectively, so you should prioritise these in your revision, then try to spend a proportionate amount of time on each section based on the marks it holds.  5. Perfect what you know  If there are any areas you are experienced or confident in, try to perfect these in order to gain the most marks possible in what you find to be the least challenging areas. These areas may also be easier to revise if they are better aligned with your training and practice to date.  6. Which exam should you sit first? It depends  If you want to pass the exams as quickly as possible, it makes sense to apply for the nearest upcoming diet of whichever exam comes first.   Knowledge wise Paper B has more sections and requires a lot more time and practice, particularly for critical review calculations. This combined with the Royal College’s advice of having 12 months’ experience in psychiatry before sitting the exam means that for most people, sitting Paper A first is the best choice.  7. Use diagrams for more challenging topics  Find or better still, create diagrams to better illustrate and explain the mor difficult to understand topics. Especially where you have little experience of a topic, it can be helpful to represent it visually.  8. Keep difficult topics fresh in your mind  If you need longer than 3 months to prepare for either exam, either leave the more difficult topics to the end of your revision or begin with them and be sure to revisit them at the end. You may not retain this information long-term, so it’s important to have it as fresh in your mind as possible when coming up to the exam.  9. Take time off before the exam for intense study  If you can, try to put some time aside in the week(s) coming up to the exam to for a final push of intense study before the exam.  10. Practice is key  Books are great resources for increasing your overall psychiatry knowledge, however they are not necessarily the best resources for the Paper A and Paper B exams. Question banks and past papers such as SPMM are very useful in preparing for the MRCPsych Paper A & B.  Getting started For access to a community of like-minded MRCPsych aspirants and dedicated psychiatry recruiters, join the IMG Psychiatrists Facebook group.   For news and updates on all things psychiatry, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.                         The postgraduate route to GMC registration, whilst not the fastest, can be the most rewarding in the long run. The MRCPsych exams are the central components of psychiatry training in the UK, and as an international psychiatrist, this is the route that allows you to most closely align your qualifications with the requirements of more senior jobs in the NHS. 

Are you a psychiatrist finalising your revision for the MRCPsych CASC exam?  Here are the tips you can't live without!  As you've likely got months of dedicated study behind you already, in the final push to the exam, we’re sharing some of the essential tips from Dr Kevin Li (MRCPsych) for your final days of preparation for CASC.  Mental state, history taking and risk assessment (8 stations) It is important to demonstrate your clinical skills in assessing symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations. Prepare for a cognitive examination station! Management and counselling (8 stations) Address any concerns or expectations early on in the station Provide factual knowledge and information - some last minute reading up on topics such as ECT, psychiatric emergencies and ECG is very important! For stations where you encounter angry patients or relatives, demonstrating good communication skills is more important than delivering lots of factual knowledge Prepare stock phrases and questions Empathetic statements I can appreciate this must be very difficult for you I understand that this must be quite concerning Soft questions to elicit sensitive information How are you coping with...? Are you doing anything to manage the stress of the situation? Phrases to manage angry situations I appreciate your concerns and why you feel let down We are all trying our best to help Reflect on your manner and style of speaking It is important to try and demonstrate genuine empathy! Do not sound paternalistic or patronising Take an MDT approach where necessary - the clinical team is good backup where you don't know what to do e.g. next steps like admissions Always be courteous and do not show any anger or frustration Always look at and address the actor Time management Get yourself an analogue countdown timer to allow you to properly manage your time during the stations Look the part Dress professionally, as if you were speaking to a real patient (pick your outfit at least the night before) Finally... As much as it is important to practice a lot near the exam, it is equally important to relax the day before and morning of the exam. At that stage, try not to think about what you have not practiced or not read! You will have sufficient knowledge, it’s just about communicating it and executing it confidently. We hope you find these tips helpful and wish you the best of luck in your exam. Don't forget to share your successes with us on social media using the hashtag #imgstories Join the IMG Psychiatrists Facebook group to become part of a community of like-minded MRCPsych aspirants and dedicated psychiatry recruiters. In the group you will find tailored resources for Psychiatry IMGs including our MRCPsych Crash Course.  This course offers weekly sessions covering the entire exam and its various domains, including marking and station requirements. This is accompanied by small group role play sessions to allow IMGs to practice stations across various scenarios with feedback on each station, delivered by an experienced NHS psychiatrist and specialist psychiatry recruiters. These sessions are completely free to all doctors. You can access our IMG Psychiatrists CASC Study Course by joining the Facebook group here. Get in touch Passed the MRCPsych CASC exam? Get in touch with one of our dedicated psychiatry recruitment specialists here to discuss your next steps towards GMC registration, finding work in the NHS and relocating to the UK.  To receive the latest news and updates on all things psychiatry, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.              

Are you an  overseas psychiatrist just beginning your journey through the MRCPsych exams?   Today, we’re sharing some of the top tips from Dr Kevin Li (MRCPsych) for last minute MRCPsych Paper A revision.   Divide your time according to the marks weighting of the sections  For example, general adult and critical review have the most marks in the exam, with 20% and 33.5% respectively, so you should prioritise these in your revision, then try to spend a proportionate amount of time on each section based on the marks it holds.  Perfect what you know  If there are any areas you are experienced or confident in, try to perfect these in order to gain the most marks possible in what you find to be the least challenging areas. These areas may also be easier to revise if they are better aligned with your training and practice to date.  Keep difficult topics fresh in your mind  If you’ve taken longer than 3 months to prepare for the exam, revisit the more difficult topics at the end of your revision. You may not retain this information long-term, so it’s important to have it as fresh in your mind as possible when coming up to the exam.  Take time off before the exam for intense study  Try to put some time aside in the weeks coming up to the exam to for a final push of intense study.  Use the best tools  Question banks and past papers such as SPMM are very useful in preparing for the MRCPsych Paper A - books are great too, but in the final crunch, you want to focus on material specific to the exams.  For access to a community of likeminded MRCPsych aspirants and dedicated psychiatry recruiters, join the IMG Psychiatrists Facebook group.   For news and updates on all things psychiatry, including the Royal College, GMC registration and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.               MRCPsych Paper A is the first exam in the postgraduate route to GMC registration and can be very rewarding in the long run. The MRCPsych exams are the central components of psychiatry training in the UK, and as an international psychiatrist, passing the exam is the first step towards registering to work as a psychiatrist in the NHS. 

Are you an overseas psychiatrist taking the postgraduate route to GMC registration through the MRCPsych exams? Are you interested in sitting the exams in the future? As part of IMG Stories, we introduce to you Dr Praveen Kumar, a psychiatrist who has recently sat and passed the MRCPsych Paper B exam. Praveen will be sharing with you his experiences of the second of the Royal College of Psychiatrists exams, taking you through his preparation, experience of sitting the exam and sharing some hot tips for international MRCPsych aspirants. 1. Tell us about yourself... what should the IMG Community know about Praveen Kumar? I'm a Malaysian psychiatrist and I completed most of my training as an Ob-Gyn in Borneo. I originally came to the UK for the PLAB 2 exam, with my ultimate aim being to relocate to Australia. I had planned on spending a few weeks in the UK as a vacation, as it was my first time flying to the west. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was stuck in the UK for some time. I decided to enter the psychiatry training programme in Inverness, Scotland (CT1) just out of curiosity, because mental health was hardly spoken about in rural Malaysia, so I knew little about it. This was my main plan while I waited for restrictions to ease in Malaysia so I could return home, however plans changed, and I've been here ever since. 2. What motivated you to sit the MRCPsych exams? I had no experience in psychiatry before starting my training in February 2021, but I felt I owed it to my patients to have at least some basic knowledge. I felt studying for MRCPsych would prepare me for the role, so I took Part A and B early on. 3. At what point in your career and training did you sit the MRCPsych Paper B exam? I sat Paper A in December 2020 and Paper A in October 2021, so this was quite early on in my training.  4. How far in advance did you start preparing for the MRCPsych Paper B and how much time did you spend on revision? I began preparing around 6 months before the exam. I'd have 8-20 hours of zoom study sessions weekly for the 6 months, studying around 4-6 days a week. 5. Did you benefit from speaking to senior colleagues or peers about the exam? Did you study with other candidates? I relied on study groups via a WhatsApp group for discussions and attended weekly zoom study sessions. I formed a study group by seeking out other candidates after posting a message on MRCPsych groups on Facebook. 6. Have you already completed MRCPsych Paper A and how do you feel it prepared you for the Paper B exam? I completed MRCPsych A on Dec 2020. By then I had already conducted many group studies and had 117 group study mates that continued with me into part B. We did the same format of group study that I hosted before. 7. How did you manage to juggle other commitments whilst studying for the exam (without panicking)? Since I am on my own here in the UK, I was able to invest a lot of time and energy in hosting daily study sessions because at the start, it kept me grounded while I was stuck in a foreign country. It gave me the opportunity to communicate with so many people in a setting other than my workplace. It was fairly challenging initially while I moved between Airbnbs (7 in total!) while waiting for flights back home. It was only when I was accepted into a psychiatry training programme in Inverness and acquired stable accommodation that things became a lot easier. 8. What resources did you use to prepare and practice for the MRCPsych Paper B exam? The hardest part was actually statistics which took up 1/3rd of the exam questions, so the goal was to complete the statistics syllabus, then move on to cover clinicals, repeat statistics again, then finally start mocks before the exam. This was the process that was recommended to me by some friends who passed the exam before me. The SPMM mocks and high yield questions were most helpful for clinical and stats, but the Psychmentor notes were also really good with the questions and mocks helping to fortify our knowledge. The Statistics and Research Methods (Cambridge Crash Course) by Dr Paul Wilkinson helped loads with statistics near the end. I didn’t use any notes or SPMM videos, but I’ve heard they helped others quite a lot. 9. Let's face it, exams are not everyone's favourite day out... so on the day of the exam, what did you do to relax? I prepped by reassuring myself that I did practice and study as best I could. I was ultimately looking to gather knowledge that would allow me to better help my patients. Whatever else came out of the process was secondary. 10. What was your experience like on the day? I felt like I could hear the voices of my study mates as I did the exam. It didn't feel particularly difficult to be honest, because I'd had lots of practice sessions. 11. What was the most challenging part of the exam? There were some tricky bits, for example being asked the percentage of patients who have a particular illness! 12. Now that the MRCPsych exam is provided online, how (if at all) was the test different to exams sat in person? I didn't see it as much different to be honest. 13. In hindsight, would you have done anything differently? Nothing really. I genuinely enjoyed the study sessions and I hope others did too. 14. What nugget of advice would you give to any MRCPsych Paper B aspirants? Form or join a study group with people from various backgrounds. Mine had folks from around the globe with psychiatry experience ranging from none at all to 12 years. Their input was gold - more so since the exam is very relevant to our day-to-day practice. 15. What are your plans going forward? I’m actually doing a couple of diplomas at the moment. I plan to collaborate with some people on some research/publication opportunities. This is mostly to bide time during CT2 as I am only allowed to sit the CASC exam during CT3 after 2 years psychiatry experience. The postgraduate route to GMC registration, whilst not the fastest, can be the most rewarding in the long run. The MRCPsych exams are the central components of psychiatry training in the UK, and as an international psychiatrist, this is the route that allows you to most closely align your qualifications with the requirements of more senior roles in the NHS. Join the IMG Psychiatrists Facebook group for access to a community of like-minded overseas MRCPsych aspirants and dedicated psychiatry recruiters. For news and updates on all things psychiatry, including GMC registration, the Royal College and the NHS, follow us on social media and join the conversation.