Every MRCP Part 1 candidate asks the same question: which Q-bank? The answer is nuanced — each platform has genuine strengths and limitations, and the optimal strategy uses a combination rather than relying on a single source.
PassMedicine
PassMedicine is the most popular MRCP Part 1 Q-bank by user volume. It offers a large question pool with teaching notes that build into a comprehensive reference library over the course of your preparation.
Strengths: Largest MRCP Part 1-specific question pool (4,000+ questions). Real-time performance analytics comparing your scores against other current MRCP candidates — essential for benchmarking your readiness. Teaching notes that build into a systematic reference. Affordable pricing.
Limitations: Question difficulty is calibrated slightly below the real exam in some candidates' experience — meaning PassMedicine scores may overestimate exam performance by 5-10%. Some questions test recall rather than the deep clinical reasoning MRCP Part 1 increasingly emphasises. The interface is functional but dated.
Pricing: Approximately £40-70 for 3-6 months.
Best for: Primary Q-bank for the majority of candidates. The volume, peer comparison, and teaching notes make it the most comprehensive single resource.
Pastest
Pastest's MRCP Part 1 content draws on decades of postgraduate exam expertise. The explanations are written by consultant physicians and are widely considered the most detailed and educational in the market.
Strengths: Outstanding explanation quality — Pastest explanations teach the pathophysiology, clinical reasoning, and management rationale behind every answer. Difficulty level is closer to the real exam than PassMedicine. Questions test deeper understanding, not just surface knowledge. Strong reputation among MRCP examiners and educational supervisors.
Limitations: Smaller MRCP-specific question pool than PassMedicine. Higher price point. The depth of explanations can slow down question practice if you read every explanation in full (which you should for wrong answers, but not necessarily for correct ones).
Pricing: Approximately £60-120 for 3-6 months.
Best for: Candidates who prioritise learning depth over volume. Excellent as a secondary Q-bank alongside PassMedicine, or as a primary bank for candidates who learn best from detailed explanations.
BMJ OnExamination
BMJ OnExamination provides MRCP Part 1 questions integrated with the BMJ's clinical content. It is often available free or at reduced cost through BMA membership.
Strengths: Often free for BMA members — significant cost saving. Questions written by experienced clinicians. Integration with BMJ clinical content provides additional context. Good supplementary question source.
Limitations: Smaller question pool than PassMedicine or Pastest. Some questions may not reflect the most recent exam format changes. Less sophisticated performance analytics than PassMedicine.
Pricing: Free for many BMA members; approximately £30-60 otherwise.
Best for: Supplementary Q-bank alongside PassMedicine or Pastest. Particularly valuable for BMA members who can access it at no cost.
iatroX Q-Bank
iatroX provides a fundamentally different value: AI-driven adaptive spaced repetition with guideline-grounded explanations. Every answer links to the specific NICE/CKS/BNF recommendation.
Strengths: The strongest adaptive algorithm — automatically targets your weakest clinical areas using spaced repetition. Guideline-grounded explanations with citations. Integrated clinical reference via Ask iatroX. Free.
Pricing: Completely free.
Best for: Every MRCP Part 1 candidate — as a free adaptive complement to their primary Q-bank. The spaced repetition ensures long-term retention of material studied weeks ago, preventing the "studied it in week 2, forgot it by exam day" phenomenon that plagues linear Q-bank approaches.
The Optimal Combination
Primary Q-bank: PassMedicine (for volume and peer comparison). This is your workhorse — 4,000+ questions over your preparation period.
Depth layer: Pastest (for explanation quality). Use for topics where PassMedicine's explanations leave you unclear. Particularly valuable for clinical pharmacology, clinical sciences, and complex cardiology/neurology.
Free supplement: BMJ OnExamination (if BMA member). Additional questions at no cost.
Adaptive layer: iatroX Q-Bank. Daily spaced repetition targeting weaknesses. The algorithm handles topic selection — you just show up and answer.
Guideline verification: Ask iatroX. Instant NICE/BNF reference for every wrong answer. Builds the UK-guideline-aligned knowledge MRCP increasingly tests.