The MRCPsych written exams run three diets per year. Paper A and Paper B are offered at each diet, though not necessarily on the same day. This page covers the sitting schedule and how to plan your preparation around it.
Sitting pattern
The RCPsych typically offers three diets per year. Paper A usually sits in April, July, and October. Paper B usually sits in February, May, and October. The exact months can shift slightly between years — always check the RCPsych website for confirmed dates.
Paper A and Paper B can be sat in any order, though most trainees attempt Paper A first (during CT1–CT3) before attempting Paper B (during ST4–ST6). There is no formal sequencing requirement.
Application and fees
Applications open approximately three months before each diet. Fees are approximately £450 to £500 per paper for RCPsych members and higher for non-members. International candidates pay an additional surcharge.
Sitting both papers in the same diet
It is possible to sit both Paper A and Paper B in the same diet if they fall on different days within the same window. This is demanding but some trainees choose to do so to accelerate their exam timeline. If you are considering this approach, allow five to six months of preparation and use a platform that tracks your performance across both papers separately — the content domains are entirely different (sciences versus clinical management) and conflating your revision is counterproductive.
Revision timeline
For the February or April diet, begin revision in October or November. For the May or July diet, begin in January or February. For the October diet, begin in June or July.
iatroX covers both MRCPsych Paper A and Paper B with dedicated question banks including SBA and EMQ formats. EMQ sets replicate the real exam structure with themed option lists. All included at £29 per month or £99 per year.