Dr Kola Tytler (MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGP)|21 April 2026|8 min read
Medical exam preparation is expensive. Between exam fees, Q-bank subscriptions, textbooks, and courses, the total cost of qualifying as a doctor can run into thousands. For trainees on limited budgets — particularly IMGs funding their own preparation — knowing what is available for free is a practical necessity.
This guide catalogues every free medical exam Q-bank available in 2026, organised by country and exam. Where a resource is free only through institutional access (like BMJ OnExamination via NHS Trusts), this is clearly noted.
UK — Free Resources
iatroX (15+ Exams Free)
iatroX is the most comprehensive free medical Q-bank available anywhere. The following exam banks are completely free with no question limits: MRCP Part 1 and Part 2, MRCGP AKT, MSRA, PLAB 1, UKMLA AKT, MRCEM, PSA, and PANE. No trial period, no limited free tier — full access.
The AI-adaptive algorithm identifies weak areas and targets them automatically. Spaced repetition schedules reviews at optimal intervals. The integrated clinical AI provides instant UK guideline retrieval. The clinical calculators include 80+ tools used in clinical practice. Native iOS and Android apps with offline support. UKCA-marked, MHRA-registered.
Specialist diploma banks (DRCOG, DFSRH, DGM, DipIMC, FFICM, DTM&H) and GPhC are available for £99/year.
BMJ OnExamination (Free via Many NHS Trusts)
BMJ OnExamination covers MRCP, MRCGP AKT, MRCS, MRCOG, MRCPsych, MRCPCH, MRCEM, and UKMLA modules. Many NHS Trusts and university libraries provide free access through institutional subscriptions. Before purchasing any paid Q-bank, check with your Trust library — this is the most commonly overlooked free resource in UK medical education.
iMedics (Free Tiers)
iMedics offers free tiers for PLAB, UKMLA, MRCP, MSRA, AKT, DRCOG, MRCEM, and MRCPsych with limited questions. The free tier is useful for evaluating the platform. Full access requires a paid upgrade. The "Don't Pass, Don't Pay" PLAB package offers a refund guarantee.
Spranki (Free UKMLA Anki Deck)
Spranki is a free, community-created Anki deck built for the UKMLA. Download and start immediately. Best for flashcard-based fact memorisation alongside Q-bank practice.
almostadoctor (Free Articles and OSCE Checklists)
almostadoctor provides 1,000+ free medical articles and OSCE revision checklists. Not a Q-bank, but a valuable free reference for topic understanding and OSCE preparation.
Zero to Finals (Free Online Notes)
Zero to Finals provides free online revision notes covering medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics, and gynaecology. A members site with MCQs, SAQs, and EMQs is available for a fee. The free notes are a strong structured revision resource.
Mind the Bleep (Free Junior Doctor Education)
Mind the Bleep provides free educational content, webinars, and courses for junior doctors. Volunteer-run. Not exam-specific but provides practical clinical education.
NICE CKS and BNF (Free Clinical References)
NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries and the BNF are free, authoritative clinical references. Essential for understanding the guidelines behind exam questions — not revision tools per se, but invaluable when reviewing wrong answers.
US — Free Resources
iatroX US (Free Adaptive)
iatroX offers free AI-adaptive Q-banks for Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Emergency Medicine. Relevant for Step 2 CK, Step 3, ABIM, ABFM, and ABEM preparation.
AMBOSS (Partial Free Access)
AMBOSS offers limited free questions and partial access to its knowledge library. Free access is useful for evaluating the platform and for reference reading.
NBME Practice Forms (Low Cost)
NBME self-assessments are not free but are relatively affordable ($20–60 each). They are the most reliable score predictors for USMLE exams.
UWorld Free Trials
UWorld offers periodic free trials (typically 7 days). Useful for evaluation but too short for meaningful preparation.
Institutional Access
Many US residency programmes provide institutional access to UWorld, MKSAP, Rosh Review, AMBOSS, and AAFP Board Review. Always check what your programme provides before paying personally.
Canada — Free Resources
iatroX (Free Canadian Banks)
iatroX offers free AI-adaptive Q-banks for MCCQE1, CCFP, and RCPSC IM/EM. The only free adaptive option for Canadian exams.
MCC Official Resources
The Medical Council of Canada provides official practice questions and CDM tutorials. Essential for format familiarisation.
Australia — Free Resources
iatroX (Free Australian Banks)
iatroX offers free AI-adaptive Q-banks for AMC CAT, RACGP AKT, and ACEM Primary. The only free adaptive option for Australian exams.
RACGP Sample Questions
The RACGP provides official sample AKT questions. Essential for understanding the question style.
Is Free Enough?
The honest assessment varies by exam. For niche exams with small Q-bank markets (FFICM, DFSRH, DGM, DipIMC), free or affordable resources like iatroX may be sufficient or near-sufficient. For high-stakes, high-volume exams (MRCP Part 1, USMLE Step 2 CK), free resources are best used as supplements to a paid primary Q-bank — the depth and volume of platforms like PassMedicine, UWorld, or CanadaQBank add genuine value.
The optimal strategy for most trainees: start with free resources (iatroX, institutional access) to build a baseline and identify weak areas. Add one paid Q-bank for depth and volume in your primary exam. Use the adaptive free tools for ongoing weak-area targeting alongside your paid resource.
Information based on public sources as of 21 April 2026. Trademarks belong to their owners.