Part 1
Written knowledge examination. Two three-hour papers of 100 best-of-five questions — text only, no images — testing breadth of clinical medicine and the basic sciences.
UK Postgraduate Examination
MRCP Part 1 & Part 2
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The pathway
What is MRCP?
MRCP (Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians) is the postgraduate qualification required for progression into physician specialty training in the UK. It is jointly administered by the Royal Colleges of Physicians of London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, and consists of three components that must be completed starting with Part 1.
Passing Part 1 is the gateway to the rest of the pathway. It demonstrates a standard of clinical knowledge across internal medicine and the basic sciences that is recognised across the UK and internationally.
Part 2 Written
Higher-order clinical reasoning. Two three-hour papers of 100 best-of-five questions including ECGs, images, and complex clinical scenarios.
PACES
Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills. A half-day clinical examination across five stations with real patients.
At a glance
| Part 1 | Part 2 Written | PACES | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Questions | 200 BOF MCQs | 200 BOF MCQs + images | 8 clinical encounters |
| Duration | 2 × 3-hour papers | 2 × 3-hour papers | Approx. 125 minutes |
| Images | None | ECGs, X-rays, CT, MRI, pathology | N/A — live patients |
| Pass mark | 450* (scaled) | 444* (scaled) | 126 out of 168 |
| 2026 diets | Jan, May, Sep | Mar, Jul, Nov | Jan–Mar, Jun–Aug, Sep–Nov |
| UK fee | £502 | £502 | £716 |
*Pass marks updated from 2026/1 following a standard setting exercise in October 2025. Always verify the current pass mark on thefederation.uk before your sitting.
Structure
Exam Format
2
Papers
100
Questions per paper
3 hrs
Per paper
200
Total questions
Best of five
Format
Single best answer
None
Negative marking
Attempt every question
None
Images
Text-based only
How best-of-five works
Each question presents a clinical scenario with five answer options. One is the single best answer; the other four are plausible but incorrect or suboptimal. The skill is discriminating between closely related options — understanding why an answer is right matters as much as knowing that it is.
There is no negative marking, so you should always attempt every question.
Delivery from September 2026
From the 2026/3 diet (September 2026), all Part 1 candidates sit at approved test centres using computer-based testing (CBT). The January and May 2026 diets were delivered via remote online proctoring from home. Myanmar and Sudan remain on remote proctoring.
Part 2 Written shares the same surface format as Part 1 — two three-hour papers of 100 best-of-five questions — but tests a different kind of thinking and includes images throughout.
2
Papers
100
Questions per paper
3 hrs
Per paper
200
Total questions
Best of five
Format
Single best answer
None
Negative marking
Attempt every question
Yes
Images
ECGs, X-rays, CT/MRI, pathology
How Part 2 differs from Part 1
Part 2 tests higher-order clinical reasoning rather than breadth of knowledge. Scenarios are more complex, management questions are more prominent, and images — ECGs, plain films, CT/MRI, echocardiograms, pathology slides, clinical photographs — require a different kind of preparation from the text-only Part 1.
Part 2 also covers areas less prominent in Part 1, including ethics, clinical law, and management in resource-limited settings.
Delivery from July 2026
From the 2026/2 diet (July 2026), Part 2 Written switches to in-centre CBT. The March 2026 diet was delivered via remote online proctoring. Myanmar and Sudan remain on remote proctoring.
PACES (the PACES23 format, in effect from September 2023) is a half-day clinical examination across five stations with real patients. It tests clinical skills, not factual knowledge in isolation.
5
Stations
8
Clinical encounters
~125 min
Total duration
| Station | Content | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Communication encounter (10 min) + Respiratory examination (10 min) | 20 min |
| 2 | Clinical consultation — history, examination, and management | 20 min |
| 3 | Cardiovascular examination (10 min) + Neurological examination (10 min) | 20 min |
| 4 | Communication encounter (10 min) + Abdominal examination (10 min) | 20 min |
| 5 | Clinical consultation — history, examination, and management | 20 min |
Two independent examiners are present at every station. There are five-minute breaks between each station.
What's tested
Syllabus & Blueprint
The MRCP(UK) blueprint defines how questions are distributed across specialties. Updated in 2020 to align with the UK Internal Medicine curriculum, it has remained broadly stable since. Use these weightings to allocate your study time strategically.
| Specialty | Questions | Weighting | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Sciences (composite) | 25 | 12.5% | High |
| Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics | 15 | 7.5% | High |
| Cardiology | 14 | 7% | High |
| Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism | 14 | 7% | High |
| Gastroenterology & Hepatology | 14 | 7% | High |
| Infectious Diseases | 14 | 7% | High |
| Neurology | 14 | 7% | High |
| Renal Medicine | 14 | 7% | High |
| Respiratory Medicine | 14 | 7% | High |
| Rheumatology | 14 | 7% | High |
| Haematology | 10 | 5% | Medium |
| Psychiatry | 9 | 4.5% | Medium |
| Dermatology | 8 | 4% | Medium |
| Geriatric Medicine | 8 | 4% | Medium |
| Oncology | 5 | 2.5% | Lower |
| Medical Ophthalmology | 4 | 2% | Lower |
| Palliative Medicine & End of Life Care | 4 | 2% | Lower |
| Total | 200 | 100% |
Question counts per paper vary slightly between sittings. Verify against the official blueprint PDF on thefederation.uk.
Clinical sciences breakdown
The 25 clinical sciences questions span seven sub-disciplines, rewarding candidates who maintain their basic science foundations alongside clinical knowledge.
| Sub-discipline | Questions |
|---|---|
| Statistics, epidemiology & evidence-based medicine | 5 |
| Clinical biochemistry & metabolism | 4 |
| Clinical physiology | 4 |
| Immunology | 4 |
| Clinical anatomy | 3 |
| Genetics | 3 |
| Cell, molecular & membrane biology | 2 |
The Part 2 Written blueprint covers a broader range of specialties than Part 1, with higher representation of cardiology, infectious diseases, and the major organ systems. The figures below are approximate — verify current weightings on thefederation.uk.
| Specialty | Questions (approx.) | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiology | ~19 | High |
| Infectious Diseases | ~19 | High |
| Gastroenterology & Hepatology | ~18 | High |
| Respiratory Medicine | ~18 | High |
| Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism | ~15 | High |
| Neurology | ~15 | High |
| Renal Medicine & Urology | ~14 | High |
| Rheumatology | ~12 | Medium |
| Haematology | ~10 | Medium |
| Oncology | ~10 | Medium |
| Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics | ~10 | Medium |
| Dermatology | ~8 | Medium |
| Other (Geriatrics, Psychiatry, Ophthalmology, Palliative, etc.) | rem. | Lower |
Part 2 blueprint figures are approximate, based on the official blueprint document (published November 2021). Refer to thefederation.uk for the authoritative figures.
PACES does not have a numerical blueprint in the way that Part 1 and Part 2 do. It assesses clinical skills across the systems covered by its five stations, mirroring the breadth of acute and complex medical practice.
The seven assessed skills
All seven skills are assessed across the examination, though not every skill is assessed at every encounter. Strong performance in one skill cannot compensate for failure in another — each skill has its own minimum standard.
A Physical Examination Skills
B Identifying Physical Signs
C Clinical Communication Skills
D Differential Diagnosis
E Clinical Judgement
F Managing Patients' Concerns
G Maintaining Patient Welfare
Planning ahead
Exam Dates & Fees
Part 1 runs three times a year. Application windows are typically open for one week only — monitor thefederation.uk carefully and set a reminder.
| Exam date | Application window | Results by |
|---|---|---|
| 28 January 2026 | 4–11 November 2025 | 13 March 2026 |
| 21 May 2026 | 10–17 March 2026 | 3 July 2026 |
| 23 September 2026 | 14–21 July 2026 | 6 November 2026 |
£502
UK candidates
Per sitting
£672
International
Per sitting
Fees shown apply to diets with applications opening before July 2026. A 3.6% CPI increase applies from 1 July 2026. Verify the current fee on thefederation.uk before applying.
Part 2 Written runs on a different schedule to Part 1 — diets fall in March, July, and November. Application windows are typically one week.
| Exam date | Application window | Results by |
|---|---|---|
| 25 March 2026 | 6–13 January 2026 | 8 May 2026 |
| 15 July 2026 | 5–12 May 2026 | 28 August 2026 |
| 25 November 2026 | 15–22 September 2026 | 8 January 2027 |
£502
UK candidates
Per sitting
£672
International
Per sitting
Fees shown apply to diets with applications opening before July 2026. A 3.6% CPI increase applies from 1 July 2026. Verify the current fee on thefederation.uk before applying.
PACES diets span several weeks, with candidates sitting at different clinical centres on different dates within each diet window. Results are released 15 working days after the last exam day in your centre's diet.
| Diet | Exam period | Application window |
|---|---|---|
| Diet 2026/1 | Late January – end of March 2026 | 10–17 November 2025 |
| Diet 2026/2 | June – August 2026 | approx. 23–30 March 2026 |
| Diet 2026/3 | September – November 2026 | approx. 20–27 July 2026 |
£716
UK candidates
Per sitting
£1,311
International
Per sitting (standard)
Fees shown apply before July 2026. A 3.6% CPI increase applies from 1 July 2026. International centre fees may vary. Verify on thefederation.uk.
Results
Scoring & Pass Mark
Raw scores from both papers are combined and converted to a scaled score using Item Response Theory (IRT), which accounts for variation in question difficulty between sittings. This means a given scaled score represents a consistent standard regardless of which diet you sat.
Scores are reported on a scale of 200 to 800. The result is pass or fail — there is no merit or distinction grade.
450*
Pass mark (scaled)
200–800
Score range
~40–50%
Overall pass rate
6
Maximum attempts
*Pass mark updated from 2026/1 following a standard setting exercise in October 2025. Verify the current pass mark on thefederation.uk before your sitting.
Part 2 Written uses the same IRT equating methodology as Part 1. Scores are reported on a 200–800 scale and the result is pass or fail — there is no merit or distinction grade.
444*
Pass mark (scaled)
200–800
Score range
~55%
Overall pass rate
6
Maximum attempts
*Pass mark updated from 2026/1. Verify the current pass mark on thefederation.uk before your sitting.
PACES uses a points-based marking system. At each encounter, two independent examiners grade each of the seven assessed skills as Satisfactory (2 points), Borderline (1 point), or Unsatisfactory (0 points). Your total across all encounters is your PACES score.
168
Maximum total score
126
Pass mark
75% of maximum
6
Maximum attempts
The per-skill minimum
As well as reaching a total score of at least 126, candidates must also meet the minimum standard in each of the seven skills individually. Strong performance in communication cannot compensate for a failure in physical examination. Both conditions must be satisfied to pass.
Preparation
Exam Day
Part 1 is sat at an approved test centre using computer-based testing. Here is what to expect.
Before exam day
- Confirm your test centre address from your admission document
- Plan your travel and allow generous time for delays
- Print your admission document — verify the name matches your photo ID exactly
- Bring your own food and drink; facilities near test centres cannot be relied upon
- Review the MRCP(UK) Regulations, particularly sections on conduct
On the day
- Arrive at least 30 minutes before Paper 1
- Be seated at your workstation at least 15 minutes before Paper 2 begins
- Store bags, coats, and all electronic devices away from your desk
- Show photo ID before each paper
- Stationery and scratch paper are provided — do not bring your own
Do not bring
- Your own stationery, pens, or calculators
- Notes or revision materials of any kind
- Any electronic device to your workstation
Part 2 Written follows the same in-centre CBT format as Part 1 — the rules around ID, conduct, and prohibited items are identical. From July 2026, all UK and international candidates attend a physical test centre.
Before exam day
- Confirm your test centre address from your admission document
- Plan your travel and allow generous time for delays
- Print your admission document — verify the name matches your photo ID exactly
- Bring your own food and drink; facilities near test centres cannot be relied upon
On the day
- Arrive at least 30 minutes before Paper 1
- Be seated at your workstation at least 15 minutes before Paper 2 begins
- Store bags, coats, and all electronic devices away from your desk
- Show photo ID before each paper
- Stationery and scratch paper are provided — do not bring your own
Do not bring
- Your own stationery, pens, or calculators
- Notes or revision materials of any kind
- Any electronic device to your workstation
PACES is a face-to-face clinical examination at a physical clinical centre — not a CBT testing suite. Prepare accordingly.
Before exam day
- Confirm your clinical centre address and plan your travel
- Dress professionally — business or smart clinical attire is expected
- Review the clinical systems examined: respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, abdominal
- Practise a clear introduction and consent-taking
- Familiarise yourself with common communication scenarios: breaking bad news, prognosis discussions, capacity assessment
On the day
- Arrive early and allow time to settle before the examination begins
- Introduce yourself clearly to the examiner and patient at the start of each encounter
- Treat every encounter as a real clinical interaction — maintain patient welfare throughout
- Be prepared for structured examiner questions at the end of each clinical encounter
- Use the five-minute breaks between stations to reset and prepare
Revision tools
What Sparkmed gives you
Sparkmed is built for MRCP Part 1 preparation. Every feature is designed around what actually moves your score — not around what looks good in a feature list.
7,500 questions
Weighted to match the Part 1 blueprint, so you spend more time on what comes up most. Every explanation is written to teach, not just to confirm what you got wrong.
SparkCoach
Learns from every session and every answer. It surfaces weak areas, spaces repetition of difficult topics, and shapes each session around where you need to grow — so you spend less time deciding and more time actually revising.
Pass Prediction
Gives you a live read on whether you are on track to pass, from the very first question. Revealed in full at the end of your free trial — before you're asked to pay anything.
9 practice papers
Built from recent diets. Full timed mode for the pressure, pause-and-resume when you need flexibility.
Revision library
Save notes and generate flashcards as you go. Your library grows from your performance, not from a template — so when you open it the night before, it's actually useful.
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When you're ready
Plans
MRCP Part 1
4-Month Plan
£29 total
- 7,500 Part 1 questions
- 9 practice papers from recent diets
- SparkCoach adaptive sessions
- Live pass prediction
- Pass guarantee eligibility
MRCP Part 2 Written
Coming soon
Part 2 Written preparation is in development. Your SparkCoach profile from Part 1 carries forward when it launches.
We've priced Sparkmed at what we'd have paid ourselves — and made sure it was less than the alternatives.
Common questions
FAQs
What is MRCP?
MRCP (Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians) is the postgraduate qualification required for progression into physician specialty training in the UK. It has three components: Part 1 (written MCQs), Part 2 Written (written MCQs including images), and PACES (clinical examination). All three are jointly administered by the Royal Colleges of Physicians of London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.
Do I need to take Part 2 Written before PACES?
You must pass Part 1 before sitting either Part 2 Written or PACES. After that, Part 2 Written and PACES can be taken in any order, or even concurrently. MRCP(UK) strongly recommends completing Part 2 Written before PACES, though it is not a formal requirement.
Is there a time limit to complete the MRCP?
No. The previous seven-year rule — which required Part 2 Written and PACES to be completed within seven years of passing Part 1 — was abolished in 2024. The main limiting factor is now the maximum of six attempts per component.
What is the eligibility requirement for Part 1?
You need a primary medical qualification recognised by the GMC (or equivalent) and at least 12 months of postgraduate clinical experience in a role involving direct patient care, completed before your exam date.
What is SparkCoach?
SparkCoach is our adaptive revision engine. It analyses every question you answer and every session you complete, then uses that to shape your next session — surfacing weak areas, spacing repetition of difficult topics, and building around your performance.
What does the free trial include?
360 questions and one full practice paper, with full access to SparkCoach, your pass prediction, your dashboard, and your revision library. No time limit and no credit card required.
What is the Sparkmed Pass Guarantee?
If you complete Sparkmed properly and do not pass, we will make it right — a free extension through to your next sitting with your revision profile intact, or a full refund. No questions, no friction.
When you're ready to revise
Try Sparkmed for free. 360 questions and one practice paper with full access to every feature: SparkCoach, your dashboard, and your pass prediction the moment you finish.
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This guide is an informational resource for candidates. For official regulations, registration, fees, and the authoritative blueprint, refer to the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians at thefederation.uk.
© 2026 Sparkmed · Guide last reviewed May 2026