Mrcp Books Part 1

[Dion Worles]

Duringyour med school days, you might have assumed that any discussion about the MRCP Part 1 Examination was regarding Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography, a fancy imaging test for the bile and pancreatic ducts. But as UK medical school graduate, you would have soon learned this is something entirely different.

The MRCP exam is a three-part series of exams undertaken by junior doctors working in internal medicine in the UK. The qualification is recognised and examined by the three major Royal Colleges for physicians:

The examinations cover the essential knowledge and skills needed for doctors in Internal Medicine Training in the UK, and passing means you are awarded the Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom Diploma. You need to complete all parts of the exam to be able to apply for higher speciality medical training.

MRCP(UK) Part 1 is the first examination of the series, which also includes the Part 2 Written and PACES exams. To qualify, you need to have at least a minimum of 12 months of postgraduate medical experience. This means that you need to be done with your FY1 year before you can sit for the exam.

It should be noted here that the exams are not just taken by UK medical graduates. Some international medical doctors might also be interested in the Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians diploma as this can make their CV more competitive, boosting IMT application and interview scores.

MRCP Part 1 is considered to be a notoriously difficult examination. Despite the reputation, passing is very doable if you stay disciplined and plan your revision properly. Before you get started with revision, it might be helpful to get a general overview of the exam format.

The exam consists of two papers of 100 multiple-choice questions each. You will be given three hours for each paper. Each correct answer is awarded one mark but there is no negative marking for any incorrect answer.

The medical knowledge tested in part 1 is usually at a higher level than what you might be used to from your med school finals. This is because examiners expect you to have expanded your knowledge base during your work as a doctor.

You will then be asked to answer a question based on this information, choosing from 5 answers. Each subspecialty of medicine is represented in Part 1, with some specialities represented more than others. The exact number per speciality changes for each examination, but here are the assumed numbers:

We think you should! But make an educated guess, giving yourself the best chance of passing. Guessing at random gives you a 20% chance of getting the right answer, but if you play your cards right you can increase that significantly.

During the account set-up process, you will be asked to provide your personal details and GMC registration status. Once you have established an account and applied for the exam, you will be allocated a unique RCP number. You should use this unique RCP number in all of your future correspondence with the royal colleges.

After your My MRCP(UK) account has been established, log into your account. Make sure that all of your personal details are correct. In order to complete the application, you will need to provide your correspondence address.

For the exam application, you will be asked to provide evidence of your primary medical qualification (PMQ). This is the medical degree awarded by your medical school, such as the MBChB, MBBS, or MD certificate.

At this point, you can also request any special arrangements that you might require for the exam. These usually include any physical disabilities or learning difficulties that might require special arrangements on the day.

Unfortunately, the option to book an online examination is available only to candidates based in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. International applicants will need to sit for an in-person exam in their local centres.

MRCP part 1 is notorious for asking about weird and wonderful conditions, and Part 1 is known for its emphasis on clinical theory and basic science. For this reason, you cannot rely on knowledge you have gleaned from your day-to-day learning on ward rounds and clinics.

Question banks are the holy grail for Part 1 revision. You should be cautious about sitting for the exam unless you have completed the question bank. of your choice at least once. A major aim of the revision is to gain an understanding of the exam format, and nothing prepares you for it better than good old MCQ banks.

MRCP part 1 question banks simulate the exam format and can help you to improve your clinical decision-making and examination skills. The real thing might not be identical in format or content, but question banks help you prepare for the main themes and concepts that are commonly tested.

Solving multiple-choice questions repeatedly will help you to identify recurring themes and solidify basic concepts. In the end, whichever question bank you end up choosing for your preparation, make sure you utilise active learning techniques. Thinking critically about a question and analysing the feedback can massively improve your chances of passing.

Another tip that can help during the early phase of revision is to stop agonising over your scores. Instead, think of these question banks as a learning tool. Try to actively think about the key learning point of each question. Read through the explanations thoroughly with a special focus on questions that you got wrong.

These are an absolute must! Do not miss the official sample questions provided by RCP on the official website. These questions are without a doubt the closest thing you will get to the real examination. Currently, there are 197 questions available, which come with explanations of the correct answer. These sample questions will help you get a feel of the actual exam.

It is recommended that you should try taking these mock exams closer to your date, though you can also give it a go right at the start of your revision to get your head around the right level of difficulty.

PasTest is the other big name in exam revision among UK medics, with many junior doctors choosing to subscribe to both the Passmedicine and PasTest question banks. The PasTest MRCP Part 1 question bank is on the pricier side, with subscription prices ranging from 85 to 170.

After each sitting, PasTest pays candidates to discuss the main themes (though not the specific questions, as this is prohibited by the RCP). Some people, therefore, believe that the PasTest question bank is closer to the actual exam and is therefore worth the extra cost.

Quesmed is a new name in the Qbank space for post-graduate exams, but the company has made a name for itself by helping med students pass their finals. Their platform is now fully kitted out with features such as an offline iOS/Android app, a complete MRCP textbook, and integrated progress tracking.

The question bank covers all the high-yield material that you need to know for the examination, providing you with both the questions and the reasoning behind the answers. This question bank contains over 4000 questions with detailed explanations, repeating common themes a few times so that you can learn through repetition. The explanations are based on the latest NICE guidelines and are regularly updated.

BMJ OnExamination is another question bank resource that you can consider using for your Part 1 preparation. They currently have 3190 questions in their part 1 question bank. Like the PasTest app, BMJ OnExamination comes with offline access which can be convenient for revision while on the go. Another nice feature is that you can join friends to practice questions, and can compete in the daily leaderboards. The cost of a subscription ranges from around 37.99 to 67.99.

While many candidates pass part 1 just using question banks, some people might feel that they need traditional book learning. This might be especially relevant if you feel that you need to brush up on the basic principles or find that books are better suited to your learning style.

One thing that should be stressed here is that reading a book cover to cover may not help you prepare effectively. However, you can utilise a textbook as a general reference to look up any topic that you feel you need to read about in detail.

Many candidates use PDF notes which are freely available online. Some of these were intended to be distributed for free, though you must be careful to avoid illegally-copied versions of the books below. Keep in mind that these pdf notes might be outdated and therefore might not reflect the changes in clinical practice based on the latest guidelines from NICE and Royal Colleges.

This is a popular textbook that has been used by MRCP Part 1 candidates over the years and you can find chapter 4 (endocrinology) available for free on the PasTest website. Be aware that the 4th edition of this book was released in 2014, so some information may be outdated.

If you learn best revising from textbooks, consider purchasing this book as a resource. You can use this book as a guide to plan your revision and to familiarise yourself with difficult topics. The book is available on Amazon, though it is no longer in print and there will be limited copies available for purchase.

Medicine for MRCP is a relatively new textbook written specifically for these exams, published in 2020. The 27 chapters comprehensively cover the RCP curriculum and help build an understanding of both Part 1 and Part 2.

The material is presented in the form of bulleted lists, tables and diagrams for effective revision. Each chapter is provided with self-assessment questions that can help candidates map their progress. This book can also be used by doctors who are just looking to build a foundation in clinical medicine.

Published in 2017, the three volumes of the books each contain 375 questions, alongside (black & white) images and detailed explanations. Each volume focuses on a few specialities, with the three volumes purchased together covering the entire RCP curriculum.

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