MRCP Exams: How to clear MRCP Part I

The Royal College of Physicians is one of the most prestigious and oldest professional body dedicated to the field of medicine and training physicians and surgeons for betterment of medical field. In order for doctors to become part of this royal college there are certain exams that you need to clear. These exams are needed to boost your career and fortunately anyone can apply for it. Clearing these exams will allow you to compete with the UK graduates in getting specialty training to become consultants. But how to actually to clear these exams? Read on to find out more

MRCP. Membership of Royal College of Physicians has 3 parts that you need to clear in order to use MRCP (UK) as your post nominal. Now MRCP (UK) conducts exams on behalf of the three Royal Colleges of UK. RCP London, RCP Edinburgh, RCP Glasgow. We will talk about part 1 in this blog. For part 2 read here

Primary Medical Qualification verification

Before you can apply for this exam you need to be registered. Head over to http://mymrcp.mrcpuk.org and make an account. Next you need to verify that you are are a medical graduate. Now this is a tricky part, for some it isn't much of an issue but for others it can be quite a ride. What you need is copy of Primary Medical Qualification which is usually your medical degree attested and verified by either of the following.

• issuing University or Medical School
• British Consulate or British Council outside the UK
• British Embassy
• British High Commission
• Candidate’s own Embassy
• High Commission in the UK
• member of the Gardai in the Irish Republic
• Government Ministries of Health
• notary public

So if your degree has already been attested by HEC or Ministry of Foreign Affairs or notary Public then you just need to scan your degree and you are good to go. If not get a photocopy and get them attested as mentioned above and email them. Further email regarding this are mentioned here. Remember if you are sending a photocopied degree also send in an original scanned. If they are happy they will accept it otherwise just reject it and send you a reason for it. It will take a couple of tries and hopefully it will get sorted.

Applying for MRCP part I

Once that's done you can begin your process for examination application. MRCP 1 takes takes around 6-8 months if you start from scratch and can take as less as three months if you are already in process of studying or have recently given similar exams USMLE or FCPS IMM. I recommend atleast 4-6 months of studying before attempting the exam. This exam is conducted at least three times every year with application deadline around 2 months before the exam dates. Thus gives you plenty of time to plan your exam. Before applying you must also check whether MRCP 1 is conducted in your country/city and that you have checked their fees and have a valid credit/debit card to pay for it.

Format of MRCP part I

In terms of format there are 2, 3 hrs papers each paper having 100 mcqs (best out of the 5). Questions are from all major clinical sciences as well well as basic sciences. Their distribution and further details can be found here

Preparation for MRCP part I

Now you know how to apply what's the exam but biggest question is how to prepare for it? It has one of the highest failure rate more the Mrcp part 2. Why is that? The biggest mistake people make is that they take this exam too easy. It may seem easy but it's tricky. To start off it depends at what level you are if you have knowledge, you are studying while you are training then you can directly start working the solving questions if not you need to start with a review book. The best review book out there is this.

It's thorough, covers everything in depth but it's long and it will take time. So plan your study accordingly. An important factor that determines whether you are able to clear the exam depends on the number of questions that you have done and from what sources there are multiple Qbank out there. The big three are Passmedicine, Pastest, OnExamination. Now many will tell you do as many as you can from all three sources but that's not possible, it's expensive and it's actually detrimental because it will just get you confused. Let me briefly explain the pros and con of each Qbank

• Pastest 

Pros: It's questions are most identical to the actual exam, comprehensive, good mobile app
Cons: Easier compared to Passmedicine, cannot be used as a single source, expensive

• On examination 

Pros: comprehensive, explanations are thorough, good mobile app
Cons: Easier compared to Passmedicine, cannot be used as a single source, expensive

• Passmedicine 

Pros: Bible of MRCP 1, detailed in depth answers, can be used as a single source, cheap
Cons: Questions are far less identical to the exam, pretty difficult, time consuming.

So yes there you go all 3 have there pros and con but the best combination I found was start Passmedicine complete that and then move on to Pastest. You can substitute Pastest with Onexamination but Passmedicine is a must. If you are short on time then complete Passmedicine and do as much of Pastest as you can. Some people have printed these Qbank in the form of books you can use them to but you will not be able to use the other features available online most importantly the continuous feedback that you get that how well you have been performing and what are your deficiencies and where should you put in more effort. And last but not least the key to sum all of your hard work and get your required score for clearing MRCP 1 is the "Only MRCP notes that you will ever need" this is really the only book that you will ever need the writers have done a brilliant job on it. It's specific, easy format perfect for retaining and you are going to make it top notch. How? While going through your Passmedicine and Pastest any information you gather you write it in this book. So in the end you will just need to go through this one book and you will be ready.

Exam Day, MRCP part I

Day before the exam make sure you have already visited the center where your exam will be conducted. Get your snacks ready for the exam. Rest and enjoy the evening before. Just don't forget to the sample questions on the MRCP website most of questions on the exams are similar to those. On exam day relax and attempt your exam. Paper 1 is usually easier and it's an opportunity for you to score more as paper 2 is quite difficult. The trick to solving these questions is to read the options before reading the questions thus giving you an idea of what the questions want from you. There is ample of time to solve all questions if you don't spend way too much time on difficult questions, move on and come back to them later. Make sure you have some energy drinks and protein bars with you. It's a pretty exhausting exam.

Results, MRCP part I

Results usually take almost a month and they show up on your myMRCP account if there are no issues with your fees, verification of Primary Medical Qualification. Congratulations on clearing your MRCP part 1. Remember download and save your results as it gets removed after a month and you will have no record of it unless you request a copy of your results which of course will cost you.

Resources for MRCP part I (GOOGLE DRIVE Link)

Below are some of the resources that can help you. Remember these are works of others and full credit to them and they are only for educational purposes. I don't own copyright to any of these.

• Essential Revision Notes for MRCP by Philips Kalra, 4th Edition.pdf

• The Only MRCP Notes That You Will Ever Need, 4th Edition.pdf

• Passmedicine 2017 Notes.pdf

• Onexamination 2016 .zip

• Last Minute Must Read Facts by Dr Sherif Badrawy .pdf (these were very helpful to me)

• All Past paper recall MRCP part I (2014 - 2018).zip

GOOGLE DRIVE LINK

There you go a detailed run down on getting your MRCP 1 cleared. For further guidance please keep following this blog and like and share this page
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