Pastest has been the default MRCPCH question bank for years. iatroX is challenging it with adaptive learning, N-of-many format support for the AKP, and bundled pricing. This is a direct comparison across the dimensions that matter for paediatric trainees.
Question count and paper coverage
Pastest offers MRCPCH content across FOP, TAS, and AKP, with total question counts in the low thousands combined. The content is written by paediatric clinicians and mapped to the RCPCH curriculum. Pastest has a strong track record and the content quality is well-established.
iatroX offers dedicated banks for FOP, TAS, and AKP with over 1,500 questions per paper. The FOP bank is aligned to NICE paediatric guidelines and RCPCH standards. The TAS bank maps to the sciences curriculum — pharmacology, genetics, physiology, pathology, and statistics. The AKP bank includes both standard SBA and N-of-many question formats.
AKP format — the critical difference
The MRCPCH AKP uses two question formats: standard best-of-five SBAs and N-of-many questions where you select two or three correct answers from eight to ten options. The N-of-many format uses all-or-nothing scoring — you must identify every correct answer to get the mark.
Pastest's AKP bank uses standard SBA format only. It does not replicate the N-of-many format.
iatroX's AKP bank includes both SBA and N-of-many questions. The multi-select interface allows you to toggle options and submit when you have selected the required number of answers — exactly replicating the real exam experience. Practising this format before exam day is not optional — the cognitive strategy for multi-select is genuinely different from single-best-answer, and candidates who encounter it for the first time in the exam consistently underperform.
If you are preparing for the AKP, this is the single most important differentiator between the two platforms.
Adaptive learning
Pastest delivers questions in fixed or random order. There is no adaptive algorithm and no spaced repetition. You manage your own revision priorities.
iatroX uses an adaptive algorithm that tracks topic-level performance and adjusts question selection to prioritise your weakest areas. For a three-paper exam sequence like MRCPCH — where you may be preparing for FOP and TAS simultaneously or for AKP alone — the ability to have the system balance your revision across multiple content domains is a significant efficiency gain.
Pricing
Pastest MRCPCH subscriptions typically range from £60 to £180 depending on duration and package. Access is limited to MRCPCH content.
iatroX costs £29 per month or £99 per year. The subscription includes every exam on the platform — all three MRCPCH papers plus SCE, MRCPsych, FRCA, MRCP, MRCGP, PLAB, and international exams. For paediatric trainees who may need MRCP Part 1 content (a common dual requirement), the bundled access is particularly valuable.
Which should you choose
For FOP and TAS, both platforms are credible choices. Pastest has the longer track record; iatroX offers adaptive learning and better value.
For AKP, iatroX is the clear choice because it is the only platform that supports the N-of-many format. If you are sitting the AKP, you need to practise multi-select questions — and Pastest does not offer them.
For trainees sitting all three papers, iatroX's bundled pricing and cross-paper adaptive tracking make it the stronger overall package.