MRCP & Postgraduate Exams

Overview

Postgraduate exams are a major part of career progression in the UK.
They are not just academic hurdles — they directly affect:

  • Your training applications
  • Your confidence clinically
  • Your credibility with seniors
  • Your long-term career options

This page explains the reality behind the exams, not the myth.

What is MRCP?

MRCP (UK) = Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians.

It is required for:

  • Progression through IMT
  • Applying for medical specialties (ST4+)
  • Long-term career progression in medicine

It has three parts:

  • MRCP Part 1 – Written exam (basic clinical sciences + medicine)
  • MRCP Part 2 – Written exam (applied clinical knowledge)
  • PACES – Clinical exam (communication, examination, judgement)

You must pass all three to obtain MRCP.

When Should You Start Thinking About MRCP?

There is no perfect time, but realistic guidance:

  • Early NHS experience → better clinical context
  • Some doctors start Part 1 before first job
  • Many start Part 1 during trust-grade or IMT1
  • PACES is best attempted after real ward exposure

Rushing too early often leads to repeated failure and burnout.

Exams Are Not Just About Intelligence

MRCP success depends on:

  • Pattern recognition
  • Exam technique
  • Consistent practice
  • Time management
  • Mental stamina
  • Clinical experience

Plenty of excellent clinicians fail multiple attempts.
Plenty of average students pass through smart strategy.

This is normal.

Other Common Exams (Depending on Career Path)

Surgical route

  • MRCS (Part A + Part B)

GP route

  • MSRA
  • AKT
  • RCA

Other specialties

  • Specialty-specific exams later in training

Each pathway has its own exam burden — planning matters.

How Exams Affect Applications

Exams can:

  • Strengthen your CV
  • Increase shortlisting scores
  • Demonstrate commitment
  • Improve interview performance

But they do not replace:

  • Portfolio evidence
  • Teaching
  • Audit
  • References
  • Communication skills

Balanced progress beats exam obsession.

Common Mistakes

  • Sitting exams without understanding the format
  • Memorising question banks without learning concepts
  • Attempting PACES too early
  • Comparing your timeline to others
  • Letting exam failure destroy confidence

Failure is part of the process for many strong doctors.

Reality Check

MRCP is hard.
It is meant to be.

But thousands pass every year — including IMGs, busy SHOs, parents, and doctors working full-time.

What they share is not brilliance.
It is consistency.

Reassurance

You do not need to pass everything quickly to succeed.
A slower, sustainable approach often produces better doctors and better outcomes long-term.