Pastest and BMJ OnExamination are two long-established names doctors compare for MRCP and a range of postgraduate exams. They differ in emphasis: Pastest is depth-first, known for detailed explanations and the strongest PACES resources, at a premium price; BMJ OnExamination is broad, expert-written under the BMJ name, and — crucially — often free through a university, NHS Trust or BMA membership. The right choice depends on whether you want explanation depth and PACES support, or breadth and the chance of free institutional access. This guide compares them fairly, and notes where iatroX fits as an adaptive third option.
The short version
Choose Pastest for the deepest MRCP explanations and the strongest PACES and clinical resources. Choose BMJ OnExamination for breadth, expert authorship and — if your institution provides it — free access. The decision often comes down to a single practical question: does your Trust, medical school or BMA membership already give you BMJ OnExamination? If it does, that is a strong, free starting point; if it does not, the comparison is between two paid options, and Pastest's depth becomes the main reason to choose it.
What each one is
Pastest is a long-established, depth-first platform strongest in postgraduate exams — MRCP (Parts 1, 2 and PACES), MRCS, MRCPCH, FRCA, the MSRA, PLAB and UKMLA — with deep explanations, teaching videos and substantial PACES resources, including more than 130 examination videos and 170 real-patient cases. MRCP Part 1 has ranged from around £95 for three months to about £180 for twelve. BMJ OnExamination is BMJ's long-established platform, with questions written by specialty experts across a very broad range — the UKMLA, MRCP Parts 1 and 2, MRCGP, MRCS, FRCS, MRCOG, DRCOG, MRCPCH, FRCA Primary, MRCEM Primary, PLAB and several SCEs. Many universities and NHS Trusts provide it free, typically two months per exam, and BMA membership includes question-bank access; otherwise it is a paid subscription. The contrast is really about model as much as content: Pastest is a premium product you buy for its depth, while BMJ OnExamination is a broad, credible bank whose cost depends entirely on whether your institution has bought in. For an MRCP candidate at a Trust that provides BMJ free, the comparison is depth you pay for against breadth you may already have.
Head-to-head
| Pastest | BMJ OnExamination | iatroX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Depth and PACES | Breadth and free access | Adaptive practice |
| MRCP strength | Deep explanations, PACES video | Expert-written, broad | Adaptive engine plus a Socratic tutor |
| Price | ~£95–£180 per exam | Often free via institution; else paid | Core free; rest £29/mo–£99/yr |
| Coverage | MRCP, MRCS, MRCPCH, FRCA, MSRA | Very broad, incl. MRCOG, FRCS, SCEs | UK core, diplomas, GPhC, US/CA/AU |
| Access | Paid subscription | Codes and forms, time-limited | Open and immediate |
(Competitor details as of mid-2026 — confirm current pricing and access on each provider's site.)
Where Pastest wins
Pastest's explanation depth is its hallmark: detailed, well-written explanations that teach the reasoning, refined over many years. Its PACES and clinical resources — a video library and real-patient cases — are something an expert-written bank does not match for the clinical exam, and it is a single, polished platform with mature apps and analytics built around postgraduate exams. For PACES in particular the gap is wide: watching examination technique on video and working through real-patient cases is a different kind of preparation from answering written questions, and it is the clearest single reason candidates pay Pastest's premium for the clinical exam.
Where BMJ OnExamination wins
Free institutional access is the headline: if your Trust, university or BMA membership provides it, that is hard to beat on price. Its breadth and authorship also matter — it covers exams Pastest does not, including MRCOG and FRCS, with questions written by specialty experts under the BMJ name — and it carries established credibility and performance tracking that many trainees already trust. For breadth it is hard to match: a single platform spanning everything from MRCOG to the SCEs means a doctor can often stay within one familiar system across several different exams, which has real convenience value beyond any single bank.
How to choose between them
If you are sitting MRCP and want maximum explanation depth and PACES support, Pastest is the pick. If you have free access through your Trust, university or the BMA, or are sitting an exam only BMJ covers such as MRCOG, BMJ OnExamination makes sense. And if you value the BMJ name and breadth, and do not mind time-limited codes, BMJ OnExamination fits, while for depth and PACES it is Pastest.
A third option: iatroX
For MRCP specifically, iatroX's bank is free, where Pastest charges and BMJ OnExamination may require institutional access. It is built around a Socratic tutor that works back through the reasoning behind a wrong answer, blueprint-mapped questions, spaced repetition, a genuinely adaptive engine and native apps, with clinical AI and calculators alongside. It does not offer Pastest's PACES resources or BMJ's breadth into MRCOG and FRCS, but as an adaptive layer it pairs with either — and it is open immediately, with no codes or time limits.
A few common questions
Which is better for MRCP, Pastest or BMJ OnExamination? Pastest for explanation depth and PACES; BMJ for breadth and, often, free access.
Is BMJ OnExamination free? Often, via a university, NHS Trust or BMA membership; otherwise it is a paid subscription. The contrast is really about model as much as content: Pastest is a premium product you buy for its depth, while BMJ OnExamination is a broad, credible bank whose cost depends entirely on whether your institution has bought in. For an MRCP candidate at a Trust that provides BMJ free, the comparison is depth you pay for against breadth you may already have.
Which covers MRCOG or FRCS? BMJ OnExamination; Pastest does not, and nor does iatroX.
Where does iatroX fit? iatroX is an adaptive MRCP option, open immediately; the UKMLA and the AKT are paid.