Four months is the sweet spot for DRCOG preparation — long enough to cover all seven modules systematically, short enough to maintain momentum. This plan assumes you are working clinically (ideally on or recently completed an O&G placement) and studying 2-3 hours per weekday evening plus 5-6 hours at weekends.
Phase 1: Foundation (Weeks 1-6)
Cover each syllabus module systematically with Q-bank practice and guideline reading.
Week 1 — Module 1: Contraception and sexual health. The highest-yield single module. UKMEC categories, all contraceptive methods, emergency contraception, STI management, cervical screening. Begin iatroX DRCOG Q-Bank at 20-30 questions daily. Read the FSRH UKMEC summary table.
Week 2 — Module 3: Antenatal care. Booking and screening, gestational diabetes (NICE NG3), pre-eclampsia (NICE NG133), rhesus disease, infections in pregnancy. Read NICE NG201 (antenatal care).
Week 3 — Module 4: Labour and delivery. Normal labour, CTG interpretation, induction, operative delivery, shoulder dystocia, cord prolapse, PPH. Read RCOG GTG 52 (PPH), GTG 26 (operative vaginal delivery). This module generates the most "scary" questions — practise CTG interpretation specifically.
Week 4 — Module 6: Gynaecology. Abnormal uterine bleeding, fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian pathology, prolapse, incontinence, menopause, infertility. Broad module — focus on the management pathways and referral criteria.
Week 5 — Modules 2 and 7: Unplanned pregnancy and early pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy (NICE NG126, RCOG GTG 17), miscarriage management, abortion (legal framework, medical and surgical methods), hyperemesis.
Week 6 — Module 5: Postnatal + catch-up. Postnatal care (NICE NG194), VTE prophylaxis, breastfeeding, postnatal mental health, postpartum contraception. Use this week to also catch up on any topics from previous weeks that need more work.
Phase 2: Integration and Volume (Weeks 7-12)
Shift from module-by-module study to mixed-topic Q-bank practice. Increase daily volume to 30-50 questions from iatroX and your primary paid Q-bank combined. The adaptive spaced repetition from iatroX will now be resurfacing questions from weeks 1-6 automatically, ensuring retention.
Read the remaining high-yield Green Top Guidelines that you have not yet covered. Use Ask iatroX to verify every wrong Q-bank answer against the relevant guideline.
Complete your first full timed mock exam at the end of week 10. Analyse results by module. Identify your 2-3 weakest areas.
Phase 3: Consolidation (Weeks 13-16)
Week 13: Targeted revision of weakest modules based on mock results and iatroX performance data.
Week 14: Second full timed mock. Further targeted revision.
Week 15: Third mock. Review recently updated guidelines. Light revision.
Week 16: Final review of UKMEC table, key Green Top Guidelines, and high-yield topics. Rest the last 2 days before exam.
Total Preparation Targets
Questions completed: 1,500-2,000+ across all sources. Full timed mocks: 3. Green Top Guidelines read: 10-15 highest-yield. NICE guidelines read: antenatal, intrapartum, postnatal, hypertension in pregnancy, diabetes in pregnancy, ectopic/miscarriage. UKMEC table: memorised.