Choosing the right Q-bank for MSRA preparation is a high-stakes decision — the difference between a competitive score and a disappointing one can come down to whether your practice questions reflected the exam's style and content accurately.
PassMedicine
PassMedicine is the most popular MSRA Q-bank among candidates, with a large pool of clinically focused questions and real-time peer comparison analytics.
Strengths: Largest MSRA-relevant question pool. Peer benchmarking shows how your scores compare against current candidates — invaluable for gauging competitiveness. Teaching notes that build into a comprehensive reference. Proven track record with MSRA candidates.
Considerations: Stronger on the CPS (clinical) paper than the Professional Dilemmas (SJT) paper. SJT question quality is adequate but not as nuanced as the real exam. Interface is functional but dated.
Pricing: Approximately £30-55 for 3-6 months.
Best for: Candidates wanting the largest question pool with peer comparison. The default primary Q-bank for most MSRA candidates.
Emedica
Emedica provides MSRA-specific preparation with questions written by specialty trainees and consultants, covering both CPS and Professional Dilemmas papers.
Strengths: MSRA-specific question design. Good coverage of both papers. Questions reflect the specific MSRA format (ranking, most/least appropriate) rather than generic SBA style.
Considerations: Smaller question pool than PassMedicine. Less established brand recognition, though growing among MSRA candidates.
Pricing: Approximately £30-50 for 3-6 months.
Best for: Candidates who want MSRA-specific question design, particularly for the Professional Dilemmas paper where format accuracy matters most.
Pastest
Pastest's MSRA content draws on their broader postgraduate exam question library. The explanations are among the best in the market — detailed, clinician-written, and teaching-oriented.
Strengths: Outstanding explanation quality. Broad clinical coverage. Strong reputation in UK postgraduate exam preparation.
Considerations: Not exclusively MSRA-focused — some content overlaps with MRCP, MRCGP, and other postgraduate exams. SJT content may be less MSRA-specific than Emedica.
Pricing: Approximately £50-100 for 3-6 months.
Best for: Candidates who prioritise explanation depth and want to learn the reasoning behind every answer.
Medibuddy
Medibuddy provides MSRA preparation targeting both papers with MSRA-style questions, performance analytics, and revision notes. Growing user base among MSRA candidates.
Strengths: Affordable entry point. MSRA-specific content. Growing question pool with both SJT and CPS coverage.
Considerations: Newer platform with a smaller question pool and less established track record than PassMedicine or Pastest.
Pricing: Approximately £20-40 for 3-6 months.
Best for: Budget-conscious candidates who want MSRA-specific content at the lowest price point.
iatroX Q-Bank
iatroX provides free, adaptive spaced repetition across clinical domains mapped to MSRA content. Every explanation is grounded in NICE, CKS, SIGN, and BNF.
Strengths: The strongest adaptive algorithm — automatically targets your weakest clinical areas using spaced repetition. Guideline-grounded explanations with citation links. Integrated clinical reference via Ask iatroX for instant guideline verification. Free. Available on web, iOS, and Android.
Considerations: Strongest for the CPS (clinical knowledge) paper. For the Professional Dilemmas paper, supplement with an MSRA-specific SJT resource.
Pricing: Completely free.
Best for: Every MSRA candidate — as a free adaptive complement to their primary paid Q-bank. The spaced repetition ensures the clinical knowledge tested in the CPS paper is retained durably, not just crammed and forgotten.
The Recommended Combination
Primary Q-bank: PassMedicine (for volume and peer comparison) or Emedica (for MSRA-specific format accuracy). Choose one.
Adaptive clinical layer: iatroX Q-Bank (free). Daily practice targeting your weakest clinical areas.
Guideline verification: Ask iatroX (free). Verify every wrong CPS answer against the UK guideline.
Professional Dilemmas practice: Your primary Q-bank's SJT section plus GMC Good Medical Practice reading.