MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written - Progression for Part 2 Written Exam candidates under the new Regulations
From the 2009/1 examination diet, the MRCP(UK) Regulations will change regarding entry requirements and progression. Full details can be found in the Regulations section of the website.
Candidates who are considering attempting the 2008/3 MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Exam should familiarise themselves with the new Regulations before submitting their application. If a candidate is successful in the 2008/3 Part 2 Written Exam they will still be given a 2-year PACES period of eligibility (as per the 2008 Regulations). They will then have either until the end of this period or until their pass in the MRCP(UK) Part 1 Exam expires, whichever is greater, to take and pass the PACES exam. The first opportunity successful candidates will have to apply for the PACES Exam will be in the 2009/1 diet (Feb-March 2009), and thereafter they can attempt this exam as often as necessary within the aforementioned period.
Candidates who are unsuccessful in the 2008/3 Part 2 Written Exam will also be able to apply for the 2009/1 PACES Exam, providing the main assessment period is within their 7-year Part 1 eligibility period.
From the 2009/1 diet candidates can apply to the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written and PACES Exams in any order (or simultaneously).
MRCP(UK) PACES places available for 2008/3 Exam in Hong Kong
There are a limited number of places available for the PACES Exam in Hong Kong for candidates based in Malaysia and Singapore. Candidates who are interested in obtaining a place should contact the local organiser for details and submit their application by Monday 22 September at the latest. The exam fee is HK$12,800 and must be paid in local currency to the Hong Kong College of Physicians.
Please note that candidates will be required to make their own arrangements for visas, transportation and accommodation.
MRCP(UK) Part 1 Examination – Changes to the way candidates’ results are processed and reported
In September 2008 a process called equating will be introduced for the MRCP(UK) Part 1 examination, resulting in significant changes in the way we process and report candidates’ results.
Please note that equating will not affect the examination itself, and there will be no changes to the content, format or timings of the exam as a result.
For more detailed information please refer to following document:
Equating MRCP(UK) Part 1 examination [PDF 40kb, opens in new window]
MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examination results (2008/02 - 30 & 31 July 2008)
The results of the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examination held on 30 & 31 July 2008 are now available on the website. Candidates who have chosen to have their result published on the website may now check their results using the online web results service.
Candidates who have opened an online account will also be able to view their result in their My MRCP(UK) account. Candidates who have not yet registered on the MRCP(UK) website can do so through the create an online account page.
Result letters will be posted to candidates on Wednesday 27th August 2008.
Result letters for candidates with an address within the UK will be sent by first class post. Please allow 5 working days for delivery.
Result letters for candidates with an address outside the UK will be sent either by airmail or will be dispatched locally by the MRCP(UK) representative in the country in which the Examination was sat. Please allow 10 working days for delivery.
Please note results will not be given out by telephone, fax or email.
Please refrain from telephoning the Colleges regarding your results as this will only delay their dispatch. Candidates with a query about results or who wish to notify us of a change of address should put the details in writing and send them to the relevant administrative office.
MRCP(UK) Part 1 Examination – Extra diet to be held in Riyadh in 2009 and 2010
Please note that in 2009 and 2010 the MRCP(UK) Part 1 Exam will be held in the 3rd diet in Riyadh as well as in the 1st and 2nd diets. Candidates should apply for the 3rd diet using the normal procedures. Candidates must apply online or send their applications direct to the MRCP(UK) Central Office within the specified application period.
MRCP(UK) Part 1 and Part 2 Written Examinations - Trinidad: Changes to Application Procedure from April 2008
Please note that from April 2008, for both the MRCP(UK) Part 1 and MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examinations held in Trinidad, candidates must either apply on-line or submit their application directly to the MRCP(UK) Central Office.
MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examination - Examination to be held in Bahrain from 2008
The Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians are pleased to announce that from 2008 the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examination will be held in Bahrain once annually. The Examination will be held in the 3rd diet of each year. Please refer to the calendar for opening and closing dates for applications and the actual exam dates. Applications and exam fees are to be submitted to the Local Organiser.
MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examination to be held in Malta from 2008
The Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians is pleased to announce that from 2008 the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examination will be held in Malta once annually. The Examination will be held in the 3rd diet each year. Please refer to the calendar for opening and closing dates for applications and for the actual exam date. Applications and exam fees must be submitted to the MRCP(UK) Central Office.
MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examination to be held in Myanmar from 2008
The Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians is pleased to announce that from 2008 the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examination will be held in Myanmar once annually. The Examination will be held in the 3rd diet each year. Please refer to the calendar for opening and closing dates for applications and for the actual exam date. Applications and exam fees must be submitted to the local organiser.
MRCP (UK) PACES TESTIMONIAL FORM – change to requirements for all candidates from 2008/1 onwards
All candidates are advised that there has been a change to one of the requirements for completing the testimonial form (Form T).
As of 2008/1 candidates are required to ensure they gain signatures from proposers (holding MRCP (UK) of 8 years or FRCP) with whom they have worked within the last three years in order to meet the examination regulations. Formerly, the requirement was five years.
MRCP(UK) Part 1 and Part 2 Written to be held in Pakistan (Karachi)
The Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians is pleased to announce that from and including the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Exam in December 2008 the MRCP(UK) Part 1 and MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examination will be held in Pakistan (Karachi ) at all diets going forward.
Please refer to the calendars for opening and closing dates for applications and for the actual exam dates. Candidates must apply online or send paper applications and fees to the MRCP(UK) Central Office by the relevant overseas closing date. Application forms can be downloaded from this website
MRCP(UK) Examination – 2008/3 Part 1 Examination –
Proposer Details: Further Information about completing an application
It has come to the attention of the MRCP(UK) Central Office that a number of applications for the MRCP(UK) 2008/3 Part 1 Examination are being submitted with incomplete or inaccurate Proposer details.
We would like to remind all candidates applying for the (forthcoming) Part 1 Examination (whether via the online or paper method) that in accordance with new requirements, applications need to be supported by the candidate’s current or most recent educational supervisor or current or most recent supervising consultant. As part of the application process then, candidates are required to provide details of their supervisor or supervising consultant on the application form and confirm that their application has been discussed and is supported by their educational supervisor or supervising consultant.
Candidates are further reminded that it remains their responsibility to ensure that their Proposer details and correct e-mail address are entered accurately and in full.
Candidates should note that routine checks may be made with their educational supervisor or supervising consultant in order to verify the validity of the Proposers’ endorsement of an application.
Where applications have been submitted with incomplete or inaccurate Proposer details, in acknowledgement of the fact that these are new requirements, candidates are advised that their application will not currently be rejected on this basis alone. However we may ask candidates to submit this information at a later date and this could delay entry to other parts of the Examination.
23rd June 2008
MRCP(UK) PACES - Candidate Opinions Wanted
We are currently seeking candidates' feedback regarding their experience of sitting the MRCP(UK) PACES examination, and specifically on the feedback provided after the examinations. As such, we are running an online questionnaire, which is open to all candidates who have sat the MRCP(UK) PACES examination in the last 5 years.
The questionnaire contains questions regarding your experience of preparing for and sitting the MRCP(UK) PACES examination, as well as questions regarding the provision of MRCP(UK) PACES results. Your responses are important and will be used to guide future development of the MRCP(UK) PACES examination.
Participation in the questionnaire is voluntary, anonymous and your responses will have no effect on the outcome of any future MRCP (UK) examination attempts.
For more information, and to take part in the questionnaire please click here.
KBA in Gastroenterology
The first KBA in Gastroenterology successfully took place on 24 June 08 with candidates sitting the exam on computer at testing centres around the UK and overseas. Results have been automatically e-mailed to candidates. Congratulations to all new holders of the Certificate in Gastroenterology.
Important notice: Changes to the MRCP(UK) Examination
The MRCP(UK) Examination provides information on candidates’ core medical knowledge, basic clinical problem solving skills and the management of common and important medical emergencies. The core medical knowledge and skills tested in the MRCP(UK) Examination provide the very basis that equips doctors to proceed to focus on individual specialties, secure in their grounding in other systems. In recognition that the rate of acquisition of core medical knowledge and practical clinical skills may differ the MRCP(UK) Management Board has decided that the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written and Part 2 Clinical (PACES) Examinations can, in future, be taken in any order. In addition, to ease the time pressures on trainees, the MRCP(UK) Part 1 Examination will be made available sooner and the "18 month rule" revised to allow examination entry once 12 months have elapsed after graduation.
The changes in respect to eligibility for and entry to the MRCP(UK) Examination will be applicable to UK and International candidates.
For more detailed information please refer to the Entry and Eligibility Changes to the MRCP(UK) Regulations.
Specialty KBAs
The Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK, in association with the Specialist Societies, has embarked upon a programme to deliver knowledge based assessments (KBAs) within the new specialist training structure. The aim of these national assessments, which will compliment workplace-based assessments, is to ensure that trainees have sufficient knowledge of their specialty to practice safely and competently as consultants.
In spring 2006, the Joint Committee on Higher Medical Training carried out a pilot study to assess the validity and reliability of KBAs. Following the success of this pilot, development of KBAs has taken place under the aegis of the MRCP(UK) Central Office and the first KBA, the KBA in Gastroenterology, will be delivered in June 2008.
KBAs in the following specialties are being developed and will be rolled out from autumn 2008 onwards:
• Acute Medicine
• Cardiology
• Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics
• Dermatology
• Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus
• Geriatric Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Medical Oncology
• Neurology
• Renal Medicine
• Respiratory Medicine
• Rheumatology
If you would like to be included on the mailing list for further updates about Specialty KBAs, please send your e-mail address to kba.queries@mrcpuk.org
Change In Time Allocation At Stations 1 And 3 Of PACES
This change affects Station 1 (abdominal and respiratory systems) and Station 3 (cardiovascular and neurological systems) only.
The total time allowed for each system remains the same (ten minutes). After five minutes, the examiners will tell you that you have one minute remaining to complete your physical examination, and after six minutes they will ask you to end your examination so they can question you. This leaves four minutes for questioning by the examiners.
Please note that this is a change from the previous guidelines, which allowed seven minutes for the physical examination with three minutes for questioning. You are recommended to be focussed in your examination to make best use of the time available.