No, the MSRA is a linear, fixed-form exam, not computer-adaptive. It is computer-delivered, which sometimes causes confusion, but computer-delivered is not the same as adaptive: the difficulty of the MSRA does not adjust to your performance, and everyone sitting a paper faces the same questions.
What the MSRA format actually is
The Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment has two papers, the Clinical Problem Solving (CPS) paper and the Professional Dilemmas (PD) situational judgement paper. Both are fixed sets of questions delivered on screen, not adaptive sequences. Being computer-based lets it be delivered at scale and marked instantly, but the paper you sit is fixed, unlike an adaptive test that builds a different paper for each candidate.
How the pass mark is really set
The MSRA is scored by normalising each paper around a mean of 250 with a standard deviation of 40, so your standing is relative to the cohort rather than a fixed percentage. Separately, each paper is banded 1 to 4, where a Band 1 is the failing band, and you must also score at least 186 raw in each paper to be appointable. For how scoring methods compare across exams, see how medical exam pass marks are set.
What would be different if it were adaptive
If the MSRA were adaptive, it would select each question based on your running ability and every candidate would see a different paper with difficulty rising as they did well, as in the AMC CAT, explained in how computer-adaptive testing works. The MSRA does not do this: it is a fixed paper, normalised against the cohort.
How to prepare given the linear format
Because the paper is fixed, the adaptivity belongs in your practice. Target your weak areas, since near the mean a few marks move you many rank places, and space your revision to retain them. iatroX's adaptive engine finds your weakest areas first, with free sample questions at iatroX.
Frequently asked questions
Is the MSRA adaptive? No. It is computer-delivered but linear and fixed-form. The questions do not change in difficulty based on your answers.
Why do people think the MSRA is adaptive? Because it is computer-based, which is often confused with adaptive. Computer delivery simply means it is sat on screen, not that it tailors questions to you.
How is the MSRA scored? By normalising each paper around a mean of 250 and SD of 40, with bands 1 to 4 and a 186 raw floor per paper, so your result is relative to the cohort.