Skip to main content
MRCPUK JRCPTB CPD

News

Important update on the MRCP(UK) Part 1 Examination in the UK on 12 January 2021

As a consequence of the latest lockdown restrictions announced by the governments of the UK, the Federation of the three UK Royal Colleges of Physicians has taken the difficult but necessary decision to cancel the paper-based Part 1 examination due to take place in written centres in all four UK nations on Tuesday 12 January.

As a consequence of the latest lockdown restrictions announced by the governments of the UK, the Federation of the three UK Royal Colleges of Physicians has taken the difficult but necessary decision to cancel the paper-based Part 1 examination due to take place in written centres in all four UK nations on Tuesday 12 January.

This decision does not affect those candidates who are already confirmed to sit the Part 1 examination online on 12 January.

All candidates affected by this cancellation will be transferred to the contingency date for the examination which is planned for 30 March 2021. This will take place online for all candidates. MRCP(UK) will be in direct contact will affected candidates with further details. Unfortunately, it is not possible to move candidates to the current online examination taking place on 12 January at this late stage, as we advised in our communication before Christmas.

We recognise that this cancellation will be disruptive and will cause anxiety for many candidates but the safety of all candidates, administrators and invigilators has been paramount in reaching this decision. The impact of the latest announcements by the UK governments has meant that we could not guarantee the running of the paper-based examination in written centres in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. To provide clarity as soon as possible and to avoid any further uncertainty for candidates as the examination date approaches, it was critical that we made this decision now.

The examination will continue to run in international centres on 12 January as planned.

We will post the latest updates on the status of examinations on the website as soon as possible and in our regular newsletters for candidates.