The MRCPCH theory exams run three diets per year. All three papers — FOP, TAS, and AKP — are offered at each diet, meaning you can sit multiple papers in the same window if your training timeline requires it. This page covers the sitting schedule, application process, and how to plan your revision around the calendar.
Sitting pattern
The RCPCH typically offers three diets per year for all written papers. The usual pattern is a January or February diet, a May or June diet, and a September or October diet. Exact dates shift slightly between years.
Each paper is sat on a separate day within the same diet window. FOP and TAS are usually scheduled on consecutive days or within the same week. AKP may be scheduled on a different day within the same diet.
Application process
Applications open approximately three months before each diet and close four to six weeks before. The RCPCH application portal is the single entry point. Late applications are not accepted.
Fees vary by RCPCH membership status. Members typically pay approximately £350 to £400 per paper. Non-members and international candidates pay a higher fee. Check the RCPCH website for current pricing.
Which papers to sit when
Most trainees sit FOP and TAS first — they are the foundational papers and can be attempted early in training (ST1 onwards). AKP is the advanced paper and is usually attempted later in training (ST4 onwards), though there is no formal sequencing requirement.
If you are planning to sit FOP and TAS in the same diet, allow four to five months of revision to cover both papers adequately. The content overlap is limited — FOP tests clinical paediatrics while TAS tests underpinning sciences — so you are effectively preparing for two different exams simultaneously.
If you are sitting AKP alone, three to four months of dedicated revision is typical. The N-of-many format requires specific practice — see our guide on how to pass the MRCPCH AKP.
Revision timeline
For the January or February diet, begin revision in September or October. For the May or June diet, begin in January or February. For the September or October diet, begin in May or June.
iatroX offers dedicated question banks for MRCPCH FOP, TAS, and AKP — including the N-of-many format for AKP that no other platform supports. All three banks are included in a single subscription at £29 per month or £99 per year. The adaptive algorithm tracks your performance separately across each paper so you can prepare for multiple papers in parallel without confusion.