Executive summary
Preparing for the MRCP(UK) exams during your Internal Medicine Training (IMT) is a marathon that requires a smart, sustainable, and often budget-conscious revision strategy. The key is to start with the official, free materials from the MRCP(UK) website—including blueprints, sample questions, and PACES23 videos—to anchor your preparation in the correct format and standard.
From there, you can build a powerful and comprehensive study plan by layering high-quality free and NHS-funded platforms. This includes the extensive OSCE/PACES guides from Geeky Medics, the in-depth clinical summaries in BMJ Best Practice (free via NHS OpenAthens), and free question bank tasters from Quesmed and i-Medics. Finally, you can add a modern AI layer with a free, UK-centric tool like iatroX, which offers an adaptive quiz engine and citation-first answers to help you consolidate knowledge and study more efficiently.
Know the exam you’re sitting
Your first step is to read the official guidance. This is non-negotiable.
- MRCP Part 1: Review the official sample questions to benchmark the style and difficulty. The exam consists of two, three-hour papers, each with 100 "best-of-five" questions.
- PACES (new "PACES23" format): Download the official candidate guide and watch the sample scenario videos. This is essential to internalise the timings, the five-station carousel, and the specific skills being assessed in communication and consultation.
Geeky Medics — free PACES/OSCE guides & AI virtual patients
Geeky Medics is an indispensable free resource for clinical skills. Its extensive library of step-by-step clinical examination guides, checklists, and videos is perfectly suited for PACES preparation. The platform now includes over 1,300 OSCE stations and even AI-powered virtual patients to help you practise your communication and reasoning skills. For PACES, your core strategy should be to rehearse your examination choreography and communication structure aloud, using these checklists as your guide.
BMJ Best Practice — free for NHS staff (via OpenAthens)
As an NHS employee, you have free, nationally-funded access to BMJ Best Practice via your OpenAthens account. This is a world-class, point-of-care tool with concise summaries on diagnosis and management. Its key value in revision is for debriefing tricky MCQ topics. When a question bank explanation is too brief, you can use BMJ Best Practice to get a quick, evidence-based overview of the entire topic, helping to solidify your understanding. Be sure to create a personal account (after logging in with OpenAthens) to unlock the excellent mobile app and its offline content.
BNF / BNFC — free NHS app & web
The British National Formulary is the definitive UK source for prescribing. While MRCP Part 1 is less prescribing-heavy than the PSA, a solid grasp of core pharmacology, major interactions, and key contraindications is essential. The BNF/BNFC app is free for NHS users in the UK and its offline access makes it a vital tool on the wards, which in turn reinforces your learning.
iatroX — free, UK-centric AI you can keep using after you qualify
A modern revision stack should include a smart AI layer. iatroX is a free, UK-centric platform designed for this purpose.
- Ask/Knowledge Centre: Provides citation-first answers from a curated library of peer-reviewed research and UK-accepted guidance (like NICE and SIGN). It's ideal for closing knowledge gaps when you get a question wrong and need a fast, reliable explanation.
- Quiz (free): This is a powerful revision engine that uses an adaptive learning algorithm and spaced repetition to target your weak domains. It is mapped to UK exams, including the MRCP, and is a perfect free tool for your daily review.
- Beyond exams: iatroX is designed for frontline UK practice, so the habits you build during revision—using it for quick, referenced look-ups and logging CPD—will remain valuable long after you pass.
Quesmed & i-Medics — free tasters to kick-start Part 1
- Quesmed: Offers a high-quality, 100-question free MRCP Part 1 past-paper-style quiz on its website, which is an excellent way to benchmark your early accuracy before committing to a paid plan.
- i-Medics: A newer platform that offers a free MRCP1 question bank (reportedly 2000+ questions) after a free sign-up, which can be useful for adding variety to your question sources.
Budget picks (when you’re ready to pay a little)
While you can build a strong foundation for free, most trainees will buy at least one commercial question bank.
- Passmedicine: Widely used and known for its excellent value. A 4-month MRCP Part 1 package is typically priced at around £35 and includes a large SBA bank.
- Pastest: A long-standing market leader with a very large MRCP question bank, detailed analytics, and tiered pricing plans.
- Quesmed: Beyond its free taster, its full MRCP banks offer a modern interface and integrated notes.
Official MRCP(UK) materials you should not skip
- Part 1: Use the official online sample questions to calibrate yourself to the exam's question style.
- PACES23: Watch the official sample-scenario videos for stations 2 & 5. These are invaluable for understanding the flow, timing, and what examiners are looking for in the communication and consultation encounters.
IMT-specific, free learning support
- e-Learning for Healthcare (e-LfH): Your NHS login gives you free access to the entire e-LfH hub, which includes a dedicated IMT programme with modules to support your curriculum outcomes.
- Deanery resources: Check your local deanery or training hub (like NES in Scotland) for specific simulation courses or learning resources provided for IMT trainees.
Podcasts & video channels
- Pre-PACES Podcast: A highly-rated, free podcast that provides expert tips and detailed station walk-throughs to listen to on your commute.
- YouTube: A wealth of free content exists. Look for channels like Dr Punekar's MRCP/PACES or other high-quality exam station walk-throughs to complement your Geeky Medics practice.
One-page weekly plan
| Day | Activity (60–90 min) |
|---|---|
| Mon–Thu | 40–60 min: MCQs (rotate free Q-bank → paid bank).<br>10–15 min: Debrief misses using BMJ Best Practice / BNF.<br>10–15 min: Add error-topics to iatroX Quiz for spaced review. |
| Fri | 45–60 min: Geeky Medics PACES station practice. Pick one station, rehearse it aloud against the checklist, and record yourself. |
| Weekend | Optional: Review the official MRCP(UK) Part 1 sample questions or watch the PACES23 sample videos. |
Resource matrix
| Task | Free/Cheap Core | Why It’s High-Yield | “AI Assist” |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 Calibration | MRCP(UK) Sample Qs | The real exam style & difficulty | iatroX Q&A for post-debrief explanations |
| Daily PACES Drill | Geeky Medics Guides | Structured checklists & videos | iatroX for quick guideline checks |
| On-Call Knowledge | BMJ Best Practice + BNF | Safe, concise management/dosing | Keep using iatroX after you qualify |
Governance & exam-safe use
Use AI tools for learning and preparation only; they are not permitted in the exam itself. Always verify clinical details like drug doses, contraindications, and management thresholds against definitive primary sources like the BNF and BMJ Best Practice before applying them in your clinical practice.
FAQs
- Is BMJ Best Practice really free?
- Yes, for NHS staff and learners in England, Scotland, and Wales. You must access it via your NHS OpenAthens login, which then allows you to create a personal account to use the mobile app and its offline features.
- Are there truly free MRCP question banks?
- Yes. iatroX Quiz offers a free, high-quality adaptive engine. You can also get a free 100-question paper from Quesmed and a large free bank from i-Medics to start your revision.
- Best free OSCE/PACES resources?
- Geeky Medics is the gold standard for its free, comprehensive library of OSCE guides, checklists, and videos.