The exam is computer-based and is administered by Surpass at a test centre internationally or online via a proctoring service in the UK. It has a two-paper format. Each paper is 3 hours in duration and contains 100 multiple choice questions in 'best of five' format. This format, in addition to testing core knowledge and comprehension, also assesses the ability to interpret information and to solve clinical problems. There will be five options - one correct answer and four alternatives to the correct answer. The four distractors will be closely related to the preferred option but less correct, therefore acting as plausible alternatives. The candidate chooses the best answer from the five possible answers. Each correct answer is awarded one mark; there is no negative marking. Details of the blueprint can be found here.
The composition of the papers is as follows:
| Specialty | Number of questions* |
|---|---|
| Cardiology | 19 |
| Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics | 18 |
| Dermatology | 9 |
| Endocrinology, diabetes and metabolic medicine | 19 |
| Gastroenterology and Hepatology | 19 |
| Geriatric medicine | 9 |
| Haematology | 9 |
| Infectious diseases | 19 |
| Medical ophthalmology | 3 |
| Neurology | 17 |
| Oncology | 6 |
| Palliative medicine and end of life care | 3 |
| Psychiatry | 3 |
| Renal medicine | 19 |
| Respiratory medicine | 19 |
| Rheumatology | 9 |
| 200 |
*This should be taken as an indication of the likely number of questions – the actual number may vary by up to 2%.
A proportion of the questions will be on adolescent medicine.
Question content
The questions will usually have a clinical scenario, may include the results of investigations and may be illustrated with images such as clinical photographs, pathology slides, inheritance trees, ECGs, X-rays, CT and MR scans, and echocardiograms.
Questions are asked about the diagnosis, investigation, management, and prognosis of patients using multiple choice questions in 'best of five' format. This format, in addition to testing core knowledge and comprehension, also assesses the ability to interpret information and to solve clinical problems. There will be five options: one correct answer and four alternatives to the correct answer. The four distractors will be closely related to the preferred option but less correct, therefore acting as plausible alternatives. You choose the best answer from the five possible answers. Each correct answer is awarded one mark; there is no negative marking.
The results of each examination are benchmarked using a process of test equating which ensures that the pass mark is adjusted for the difficulty of the paper and the ability range of the candidates. The reliability of every examination is monitored, and provides assurance that the results identify those candidates who have achieved the required standard. A detailed explanation of the marking system used can be viewed on the exam pass mark page of our website and in the MRCP(UK) Regulations.