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MRCP (UK) Part 2 – a guide for overseas medicine doctors

• January 27, 2023

 

MRCP Part 2 is the second of three exams to attain full MRCP UK. 

This article is written for overseas doctors taking the MRCP route to GMC registration, written to help you prepare fir & sit the Part 2 examination. We consider the following topics:

• What is MRCP Part 2?
• Am I eligible to sit MRCP Part 2?
• What is the exam content & format?
• Where I can take the exam? 
• When is the exam sat and when can I apply?
• How much does it cost?
• How can I prepare for the exam?
• Passed? What next?

What is MRCP Part 2?

Building on the knowledge assessed in Part 1, the exam tests your acquisition of a representative sample of medical knowledge, skills and behavior as specified in the UK Specialty Training Curriculum for Core Medical Training. 

It is designed to test your application of clinical understanding and capacity to make clinical judgments, including:

• prioritisation of diagnostic or problem lists
• investigation planning
• selection of a plan for immediate management
• selection a plan for long-term management
• assessment prognosis

Am I eligible to sit MRCP Part 2?

You are eligible if you have passed the MRCP(UK) Part 1 examination. A reminder that to be eligible for Part 1, you require 12 months experience and a recognised Primary Medical Qualification. 

The Part 2 written examination moved to a single day format at the beginning of 2018. The new examination consists of two, three-hour papers each with 100 questions.

What is the examination format and content?

A good understanding of the examination format is a great foundation for your exam preparation, so below we have summarised the Royal College’s guidance on the Part 2 examination format and content.

Format:

The exam consists of two-papers, sat over the course of one day in an examination hall. Each paper is 3 hours in duration and contains 100 multiple choice questions in ‘best of five’ format (200 questions in total).

Composition of the papers are as follows:

*This should be taken as an indication of the likely number of questions – the actual number may vary by up to 2%. A proportion of the questions will be on adolescent medicine.

Question Content:

Questions are centred on the diagnosis, investigation, management and prognosis of a patient.

They usually have a clinical scenario and may include results of investigations and images such as:

• clinical photographs
• pathology slides
• inheritance trees
• ECGs, X-rays, CT and MR scans and echocardiograms.

In addition to testing core knowledge & comprehension, the exam assesses your ability to interpret information and solve clinical problems.

Best of Five question format and marking:

There will be five options: one correct answer and four alternatives to the correct answer. 

The four distracters will be closely related to the preferred option but less correct, therefore acting as plausible alternatives. 

Each correct answer is awarded one mark and there is no negative marking.

A more detailed explanation of the marking system used can be found here on the exam pass mark page of the Royal College website in MRCP(UK) Regulations.

Where can I take the exam? 

MRCP(UK) Part 2 can be taken in the UK and overseas, see below:

*Please note these differ slightly from MRCP(UK) Part 1 examination centers

** UK test centres dependent on availability

When is the exam sat and when can I apply?

Exam dates and their application periods can be found here.

It is important to note that you must apply for each MRCP exam during the specified application period. Application made outside the designated period will not be accepted.

How much does the exam cost?

UK applications cost £419

International applications cost £594*

Please note, the application process and fees applicable for Hong Kong and Singapore centres differ. Applications should be made directly to the administration team for this centre.

How can I prepare for the exam?

With lots of resources available online, we have discussed with IMGs the best place to start looking for 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: 

Curriculum: Applicants are tested on a range of common and important disorders in General Medicine as set out in the Joint Royal Colleges Specialty Training Curriculum for Core-Medical Training.

We recommend getting to know this as early as possible, using it as a road map for your study plan.

MRCP(UK) mock exams: We suggest registering for the MRCP mock exams here. These will provide you with the most accurate and relevant mock questions to prepare you for the real thing.

Sample questions: Test your knowledge using example questions from the current exam syllabus provided by the Royal College, found herePart 2 sample questions

For a useful overview of how to prepare for exams, including advice on study groups, online community support, best use of online resources & Royal College materials and courses - take a look at our blog: IMG Connects Top Tips for exam preparation.

Passed? What next?

Now you have passed your MRCP Part 2 you can apply to take PACES - the practical and final examination within the MRCP set of examinations. 

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