Choosing a question bank is one of the highest-impact decisions in postgraduate exam preparation. The market in 2026 includes established incumbents, newer adaptive platforms, and specialist providers for individual exams. This comparison covers every major platform across the dimensions that actually matter — exam coverage, question quality, adaptive features, mobile experience, and pricing.
The platforms
iatroX
Coverage: the broadest of any single platform. UK exams including PLAB, UKMLA, MRCGP AKT, MRCP Part 1, MRCEM, MSRA, PSA, GPhC CRA, all 13 SCE specialties, MRCPCH (FOP, TAS, AKP), MRCPsych (Paper A, Paper B), FRCA (Primary, Final), ORE Part 1, MFDS Part 1, and the specialist diplomas (FFICM, DipIMC, DTM&H, DFSRH, DRCOG, DGM). International exams including USMLE Step 2 CK and Step 3, ABIM, ABEM, ABFM, MCCQE Part 1, CCFP, NDEB AFK, AMC CAT, RACGP, RACP, and ACEM.
Features: adaptive learning algorithm with topic-level performance tracking, spaced repetition, full mock exams for all supported exams, performance dashboard with topic heatmaps, mobile app (iOS and Android) with offline access, and unique question formats including EMQ, CALCULATION (GPhC), and N-of-many (MRCPCH AKP).
Pricing: £29 per month or £99 per year. All exams included — no per-exam charges.
Question count: over 1,500 questions per exam bank, with most established exams exceeding 2,000.
Pastest
Coverage: strong across MRCP, MRCGP, PLAB, and several SCE specialties. Moderate coverage for MRCPCH and FRCA. No coverage for MRCPsych, GPhC, ORE, MFDS, NDEB, or RACP.
Features: timed mock exams, basic performance tracking. No adaptive learning, no spaced repetition.
Pricing: per-exam subscriptions, typically £60 to £180 per exam for three to six months.
Question count: varies by exam, generally 1,000 to 3,000 per exam for established products.
StudyPRN (LEARNA)
Coverage: all 13 SCE specialties. No coverage for MRCP, MRCGP, PLAB, MRCPCH, MRCPsych, FRCA, dental exams, or international exams.
Features: timed practice, basic performance tracking. Named consultant authors. No adaptive learning, no spaced repetition, no native mobile app.
Pricing: per-specialty subscriptions, £79 to £199 per specialty for three months.
Question count: 450 to 890 per specialty.
BMJ OnExamination
Coverage: MRCP, MRCGP, PLAB, some SCE specialties, MRCPCH. No coverage for MRCPsych, FRCA, dental exams, or international exams.
Features: clean interface, institutional access widely available. No adaptive learning.
Pricing: variable — often included in institutional subscriptions. Individual pricing approximately £40 to £120.
Question count: moderate across covered exams.
AMBOSS
Coverage: primarily USMLE-focused with some European content. Limited UK-specific exam coverage. AMBOSS positions itself as a clinical reference library with integrated questions rather than a dedicated exam question bank.
Features: excellent knowledge library with cross-linked medical content. Question bank with analytics. Strong mobile app. No specific SCE, MRCPCH, MRCPsych, or FRCA content.
Pricing: approximately £12 to £20 per month for medical students; higher for postgraduate content.
UWorld
Coverage: USMLE (Step 1, Step 2 CK, Step 3) and several other US exams. No UK exam content.
Features: high-quality questions with detailed explanations. Performance analytics. No adaptive learning in the iatroX sense (no topic-weighted question selection), but extensive performance data.
Pricing: approximately $400 to $600 for 12 months of USMLE content.
SPMM Course
Coverage: MRCPsych Paper A and Paper B only. No other exams.
Features: comprehensive course-based preparation with notes, video lectures, and question banks. No adaptive learning.
Pricing: several hundred pounds per course.
How to choose
The decision depends on which exams you need and which features you value.
If you need UK exam coverage across multiple specialties and career stages, iatroX is the only platform that covers the full range — from PLAB through SCE, with MRCPCH, MRCPsych, FRCA, and dental exams included. The bundled pricing means one subscription serves your entire training pathway.
If you need USMLE content specifically, UWorld remains the gold standard for USMLE Step preparation. iatroX covers USMLE Step 2 CK and Step 3 but UWorld's USMLE-specific reputation is stronger.
If you need SCE content and value named consultant authorship above adaptive features, StudyPRN is the established choice — though at a significant price premium and with functional limitations.
If your institution provides Pastest or BMJ OnExamination, use it as a supplementary resource alongside your primary platform. Free access is always worth using.
If you need MRCPsych specifically and want structured course-based learning with video lectures, SPMM is the premium option — though iatroX provides more questions, adaptive learning, and EMQ format practice at a fraction of the price.
The value calculation
For a trainee who will sit three to four exams over their career (a typical pathway), the total cost of per-exam subscriptions across multiple providers ranges from £600 to £1,500. iatroX at £99 per year covers all of these exams indefinitely — a total cost of £495 over five years with no interruption in access, no lost performance data, and no need to evaluate new providers at each stage.
The question is not whether any individual platform has the best content for any individual exam — it is whether a single platform with strong content across all exams, adaptive learning, and bundled pricing is a better overall investment than a patchwork of specialist providers. For most trainees, it is.