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MSRA Study Plan: Blueprint → Blocks → Mocks

A repeatable MSRA plan anchored in the official PD + CPS structure, with an efficient practice-paper feedback loop.

Review date
Feb 2026
Reading time
9 min read
Author
Dr. Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MSt MRCGP
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The MSRA rewards two things: (1) fast, accurate applied knowledge in the CPS paper and (2) consistent professional judgement in the PD (SJT) paper. The mistake is treating it like generic revision. You need blocks that match the exam components, plus a tight debrief loop.

The official structure (anchor your plan to this)

The MSRA is 170 minutes with two components: a Professional Dilemmas (PD) paper (SJT) and a Clinical Problem Solving (CPS) paper. Build your weekly schedule around these two modes, not around random topic lists.
1

Step 1 — Baseline (Week 0)

Do a short timed CPS block + a short PD block. You’re not chasing a score — you’re finding your error pattern and timing bottleneck.
2

Step 2 — Build two weekly rhythms

Rhythm A (CPS): timed clinical questions + rapid wrong-answer protocol. Rhythm B (PD): SJT drills using consistent decision rules and ranking logic.
3

Step 3 — Use the official practice paper as a calibration tool

Run it timed, then debrief hard. The value is in error classification + rule extraction, not in the raw score.
4

Step 4 — Close your top 3 gaps (Weeks 1–3)

Pick the three most frequent miss-themes from your debrief and target them repeatedly across CPS blocks until they stop appearing.
5

Step 5 — Re-test (Weeks 4–6)

Repeat a timed section each week, aiming for pacing stability and fewer unforced errors. Debrief every time.

Common failure mode

Grinding random question sets without a debrief loop. You feel busy, but you don’t close your repeating gaps — which is where the score is hiding.
SourceNHS England Medical Hub — MSRA structure (PD + CPS, total duration)
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SourceNHS England Medical Hub — Official MSRA practice paper (with answers/rationales)
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SourceNHS England Medical Hub — Professional Dilemmas (PD) paper
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SourceNHS England Medical Hub — Clinical Problem Solving (CPS) paper
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  • Do a short timed CPS block + a short PD block. You’re not chasing a score — you’re finding your error pattern and timing bottleneck.

    Return to this section

  • Rhythm A (CPS): timed clinical questions + rapid wrong-answer protocol. Rhythm B (PD): SJT drills using consistent decision rules and ranking logic.

    Return to this section

  • Run it timed, then debrief hard. The value is in error classification + rule extraction, not in the raw score.

    Return to this section

  • Pick the three most frequent miss-themes from your debrief and target them repeatedly across CPS blocks until they stop appearing.

    Return to this section

  • Repeat a timed section each week, aiming for pacing stability and fewer unforced errors. Debrief every time.

    Return to this section

Study planning · Article 9 of 32