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Blog Summary
MRCP stands for Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom (MRCP). It is a PG medical diploma in the United Kingdom. Admission is bypassing the prescribed examinations. The examinations are conducted by the Federation of the Medical Royal Colleges. It includes the Royal College of Physicians of London, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. The three Royal Colleges of Physicians all have three-part assessments in general medicine. It consists of two written parts and one clinical exam. Examinations are conducted in the UK and some overseas centres. The MRCP exam consists of three parts: Part 1 (written paper); Part 2 (written paper); and Part 2 Clinical Examination (PACES). One of the best strategies to pass the examination is by looking at the past years’ question papers and taking your cue for the preparation. Texila American University (TAU) program for Fellowship help candidates to prepare impeccably. The 3-year program will help candidates take and clear the MRCP exam with confidence. The program is designed uniquely and encourages doctors to take their existing skills, knowledge, and experience to the next level. Candidates in India can apply for a fellowship after completing MBBS in India. It will help you to pursue clinical training in TAU-associated hospitals with guidance from experienced trainers.
- MRCP Exam Structure
- How to Prepare for the MRCP Exam?
- Number of Questions to Answer in Practice
- Topics to Cover for MRCP Exam Preparation
- Additional Tips to Follow
- 7 Important Tips to Crack Your MRCP Exams
- Previous Year’s Papers are the Best
- Fellowship in Internal Medicine from Texila American University
MRCP (UK) exam assesses candidates based on their basic sciences and clinical skills. To clear this exam, advanced hands-on knowledge of applied basic sciences and medical principles is necessary. As a result, MRCP is difficult; there’s no doubt in that fact. The MRCP (UK) exam preparation is also evolving as the structure is improving. Hence, you can clear this exam without any hassle only if you prepare correctly.
This article discusses everything you need to know about the MRCP exam. If you have completed your MBBS degree, evaluate the structure, eligibility, MRCP exam preparation techniques, and tricks.
MRCP Exam Structure
The MRCP test preparation is necessary for any medical professional who wants to pursue a career in the UK or needs to improve their knowledge, value, and job position. Let’s explore the structure of this exam.
The MRCP exam is conducted in two phases. You have to prepare and clear both the exams separately.
Part 1
MRCP Part 1 is the entry-level exam that has the following structure:
- Examination; one-day
- Two papers; three hours each
- 200 best-of-five or multiple-choice questions
- Images are excluded
The MRCP Part 1 exam covers a range of topics, ensuring that you have proper knowledge as a physician. Therefore, Part 1 consists of questions related to important and common disorders, clinical sciences, and national guidelines of the UK.
In all, the motive is to ensure that the candidate has consumed the appropriate knowledge during their undergraduate training. They are still keeping pace with new developments and discoveries, contributing to valuable clinical decision-making skills.
Eligibility
- GMC recognized qualification
- 12 months of experience after post-graduation
Part 2
MRCP Part 2 is the second exam, which you can give after completion of Part 1 only. Here’s the structure of the exam:
- Two exams in a day; three hours each
- 200 Multiple-choice questions; includes images
Of course, the MRCP Part 2 exam has a high difficulty level. This exam assesses your practical knowledge of Part 1. The candidate is judged based on their medical skills, knowledge, and behavior, including the following:
- Planning and investigation
- Priority of diagnosis or list of problems
- Immediate management plan
- Long-term handling plan
- Prognosis evaluation
PACES
PACES exam is a practical assessment conducted in a clinical setting. The candidate needs to visit five stations that have patients who have varying conditions or trained surrogates.
The structure of the exam includes:
- Half-day exam
- Hospital-like settings
- Assessment of seven core skills
- Eight patients; five stations
- Every station has two examiners
Any trainee doctor who wants to pursue specialist training must clear PACES or Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination. It assesses your skills and knowledge to ensure appropriate competence for high-quality patient care.
Eligibility
- For both Part 2 and PACES, you need to clear MRCP Part 1. (only if you have cleared Part 1 in the last seven years)
How to Prepare for the MRCP Exam?
If you are searching how to prepare for the MRCP exam, then read on:
MRCP exam is crucial after MBBS. Therefore, it is essential to spend a considerable amount of time on preparation. But, before you dedicate your time to this preparation, you need to make a plan for MRCP test preparation.
We have discussed three common strategies below that various candidates use:
Practice Questions
The first method is to answer many MRCP test preparation questions. Randomly select a series of questions and start answering them. The questions are quite random in the exam, so this strategy helps you switch from one topic to another quickly while answering.
Specialty-Oriented Method
The second strategy is to plan. You can create a schedule, which includes dedicated time for every specialty. Start by answering questions for each specialty. Finally, review these 3-5 weeks before the exam.
Comprehensive Method
One of the best techniques for MRCP exam preparation is studying the entire syllabus thoroughly. If you have enough time for MRCP test preparation, then individually learn every specialty and gain deep knowledge in every area. You can refer to MRCP exam preparation books and online courses for this type of preparation. Also, you can make essential revision notes for MRCP on your own.
Number of Questions to Answer in Practice
There’s no dedicated number of questions that you need to answer to pass the exam. The ultimate result depends on your experience, knowledge, and clinical skills. However, according to various candidates who have appeared for the exam and cleared it, at least answer 4,000 questions before you appear for the MRCP exam.
You may be wondering why you need to answer so many questions when you can easily spend that much time on specialty knowledge.
Answering these many questions helps you know patterns. It provides you practical knowledge on how to clear the exam. This pattern recognition allows you to understand the question better before answering.
If you only focus on specialty MRCP test preparation, then you may fail to recognize patterns. You may know the answer, but the question may be framed to confuse the user.
Hence, you need to actively learn how to appear for the MRCP exam. Understand questions, know why specific answers are suitable for some questions and find possible explanations. Based on questions, you can supplement and progress your learning. Pick up topics that you are struggling with consistently, and then focus on them.
Topics to Cover for MRCP Exam Preparation
In the MRCP exam preparation, here is the list of topics that you should study:
- Clinical pharmacology
- Renal medicine
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Rheumatology
- Infectious diseases
- Respiratory medicine
- Psychiatry
- Endocrinology
- Haematology
- Gastroenterology
- Oncology
- Medical ophthalmology
- Palliative medicine
- Geriatric medicine
Additional Tips to Follow
While you may have already selected one strategy for your MRCP test preparation, here are some additional tips that you can follow:
- For the MRCP exam, you need to know the trigger phrases. Especially in MRCP Part 1, you will find these nuances or triggers inside the question, which can help you find the correct answer quickly.
- Since MRCP Part 1 and Part 2 have no negative marking, always attempt every question. Answer everything on the test, even when you have no clue what the answer is.
- Various questions are framed in a way to confuse the candidate. For instance, a lengthy question gives irrelevant information and then leads the candidate to a dedicated answer. For this reason, it may be logical to read the question from the end. If you can’t understand the question, this can give you an idea.
- Taking care of your wellbeing, both physical and mental, before the exam is vital. In both MRCP Part 1 and 2, you have to appear for two papers. During this time, many students get exhausted. Thus, you have to watch your health, carry your lunch, and stay hydrated.
- Remember to avoid studying all night right before the exam to appear with a fresh mind. Complete your MRCP exam preparation in advance.
7 Important Tips to Crack Your MRCP Exams
Previous Year’s Papers are the Best
One thing to keep in mind during preparation for MRCP exam Part 1 and Part 2 is that you need previous years’ papers. Find a question bank or source that can help you go through popular questions of previous years. These are almost always helpful. You will know the pattern of the exam from the correct source.
Fellowship in Internal Medicine from Texila American University
Texila American University (TAU) offers Fellowship in Internal Medicine for MRCP exam preparation. It is a 3-year program that helps candidates appear and clear the MRCP exam. This uniquely designed program allows and encourages doctors to improve their existing skills, knowledge, and experience. These professionals can gain mastery in clinical skills and basic sciences.
This 3-year fellowship is a hospital-based course that students can apply for after completing MBBS in India. It means that you can pursue clinical training in TAU-associated hospitals. Along with this, you also get a chance to learn from Royal College of Physicians’ certified trainers.
Eligibility
To apply for the fellowship, you need to pass the following eligibility criteria:
- MBBS degree or anything that has permanent Medical Council Registration.
- Indian nationality
- NEET PG attempt
- Assessment based on screening exam and panel interview of TAU.
The MRCP exam in India helps you pursue a career in your specialty in the UK. With that, professionals who wish to continue working in India also gain recognition. Their salary package, job roles, and career opportunities increase with this exam. But you need to focus on MRCP exam preparation and give it proper time. The best way to do that is through the Fellowship of Internal Medicine by TAU.
