MRCP(UK) Part 1 Examination Format

The MRCP(UK) Part 1 Examination is designed to assess a candidate's knowldge and understanding of the clinical sciences relevant to medical practice and of common or important disorders to a level appropr iate for entry to specialist training.

The MRCP(UK) Part 1 examination has a two-paper format. Each paper contains 100 multiple choice questions in one from five (best of five) format, where a candidate chooses the best answer from five possible answers. Candidates will be tested on a wide range of common and important disorders in General Medicine as set out in the published syllabus.

The Examination may include pre-test questions (trial questions that are used for research purposes only).

The composition of the Papers is as follows:

Specialty

Number of questions*

Cardiology 15
Clinical haematology and oncology 15
Clinical pharmacology, therapeutics and toxicology 20
Clinical sciences** 25
Dermatology 8
Endocrinology 15
Gastroenterology 15
Neurology 15
Ophthalmology 4
Psychiatry 8
Renal medicine 15
Respiratory medicine 15
Rheumatology 15
Tropical medicine, infectious and sexually transmitted diseases 15
200
* This should be taken as an indication of the likely number of questions - the actual number may vary by up to 2.

** Clinical sciences comprise:
Cell, molecular and membrane biology 2
Clinical anatomy 3
Clinical biochemistry and metabolism 4
Clinical physiology 4
Genetics 3
Immunology 4
Statistics, epidemiology and evidence-based medicine 5

A detailed explanation of the marking system adoped for the MRCP(UK) Part 1 Examination can be viewed in the MRCP(UK) Regulations.