MRCP Part 1: free question practice and resource comparison.

Choose a topic for focused revision and check your plan against the official specification.

• Cardiology
• Respiratory medicine
• Gastroenterology and hepatology
• Endocrinology and diabetes
• Nephrology
• Neurology
• Rheumatology
• Infectious diseases and tropical medicine
• Haematology and oncology
• Geriatric medicine
• Ophthalmology, ENT, dermatology
• Clinical sciences (pharmacology, statistics, ethics)
• Acute and emergency presentations

Drawn from the Federation blueprint, current UK guidelines and item density across the iatroX bank.

• Clinical sciences — pharmacology (mechanism, kinetics, key drug-drug interactions), statistics (sensitivity/specificity, NNT, LR+/LR−, study design), ethics (consent, capacity, GMC duties). 24 marks — the single largest block.
• Acute medicine bundles — Surviving Sepsis 2021, ACS algorithms per ESC 2023, stroke thrombolysis windows, anaphylaxis, DKA fluid replacement, acute severe asthma
• Cardiology — HFrEF four-pillar therapy (ACEi/ARNI, beta-blocker, MRA, SGLT2i), AF rate vs rhythm control, ESC 2024 CHA₂DS₂-VA score for anticoagulation
• Endocrinology — Type 2 diabetes algorithm per NICE NG28 (metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 agonists), Cushing's screening tests, adrenal insufficiency, hyponatraemia workup
• Neurology — stroke and TIA secondary prevention, multiple sclerosis subtypes and disease-modifying therapy, status epilepticus algorithm, headache red flags
• Haematology — blood film interpretation, MGUS vs smouldering vs symptomatic myeloma, AML/CML recognition, anti-coagulant reversal
• Image and data interpretation — ECGs (acute ischaemia, blocks, arrhythmias), ABGs (acid-base patterns), chest X-rays (consolidation, pleural pathology), CT head patterns
• Renal — KDIGO AKI staging, CKD-MBD principles, acid-base, electrolyte disturbances, renovascular disease workup

Observations from UK IMT trainees and recent Part 1 candidates. Verify clinical details against current official and professional guidance.

Candidate-reported observations — not official guidance.

1. Treating the pass mark as a percentage — the scaled pass score is 450 from the 2026/1 diet and is set using equating, not as a fixed raw percentage. The raw number needed varies with paper difficulty, so track performance comfortably above your practice-bank threshold without interpreting 450 as 45%.
2. Clinical sciences under-preparation — pharmacology, statistics and ethics together account for ~12% of marks (24 items). Many candidates focus on systems medicine and lose easy clinical sciences marks.
3. Pacing — 100 items in 3 hours = 1.8 minutes per item. Most candidates struggle with Paper 2 stamina; both papers carry equal weight and standard.
4. Outdated revision sources — NICE guidance evolves (e.g. NG28 type 2 diabetes, NG136 hypertension, NG106 acute heart failure). Old textbooks and revision sites lag, particularly in cardiovascular drug choice and diabetes pathways.
5. Statistics calculations — NNT, sensitivity/specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios under time pressure. Practice with raw 2×2 tables before exam day.
6. ECG interpretation — subtle inferior STEMI, posterior MI, Wellens syndrome, Brugada pattern. Frequently muddled, often image-based.
7. GMC duties and ethics — capacity assessment, Fraser/Gillick competence, breaking confidentiality, consent for incapacitated adults. Routinely tested but variably prepared by international graduates.
8. Question style — best-of-five with closely related distractors. Many candidates lose marks to plausible alternatives. Active elimination practice is critical.

A pragmatic phased approach used by recent UK IMT-1/IMT-2 passers.

1. Weeks 1–4

   Foundation pass across all 13 blueprint topics. 40 questions/day with the iatroX adaptive engine. After ~600 attempts, the diagnostic dashboard identifies your bottom three areas. Read Kumar & Clark or Oxford Handbook chapters alongside weak topics.

2. Weeks 5–8

   Targeted weak-area drilling using spaced repetition. Daily ECG and ABG interpretation. Statistics block dedicated to NNT, LR+/LR−, sensitivity/specificity. Cross-reference current NICE pathways on the highest-yield topics (diabetes, hypertension, AF, heart failure).

3. Weeks 9–10

   Two timed 200-SBA mock exams under exam conditions. Review every incorrect answer in detail and re-attempt 24 hours later. Practise full-paper stamina with no shortcuts.

4. Weeks 11–12

   Bookmark review only. Light reading on highest-yield topics. Confirm Pearson VUE / Surpass booking and admission documentation. Sleep, hydrate, do not learn new material.

Dedicated MRCP(UK) Part 1 question practice with answer explanations, guided Tutor review and study planning.

• Focused question practice — Choose the relevant bank and use your answers to identify what to study next.
• Guided reasoning — Explore a difficult answer with Tutor, then apply the distinction independently.
• Review and timed practice — Return to important mistakes and choose a timed practice set where available.

Choose the relevant bank and use the official exam guidance to plan your preparation.

The full MRCP(UK) Part 1 question bank is free. The daily sample allowance for paid banks does not limit this free bank. A verified free account includes one guided Tutor session; continued Tutor use is included in all-access.

Three diets per year. 2026/01: 28 January. 2026/02: 21 May. 2026/03: 23 September. From 2026/03 onwards the Part 1 is delivered in-centre at authorised test centres worldwide (Myanmar and Sudan continue via Remote Online Proctoring). Applications open ~10 weeks before each diet at 8am UK time.

A scaled score of 450 from the 2026/1 diet onwards. This is an equated score, not 45% and not a fixed raw mark: raw scores are converted to a scaled score that accounts for paper difficulty.

Two papers of 100 best-of-five SBAs each, three hours per paper, sat on the same day with a one-hour break between. Total 200 questions across the day. From 2026/03 delivery is in-centre at authorised test centres worldwide; before then, UK candidates and some international centres still use Remote Online Proctoring.

You need a Primary Medical Qualification recognised by the GMC (or equivalent verifiable by the Federation) plus at least 12 months of post-graduation clinical experience by the exam date. Most UK candidates sit during IMT1 or IMT2 (formerly CMT1/CMT2). International candidates often sit before applying for UK training.

UK fee is £502; international fee is £672. The Federation reviews fees annually. Fees are payable at the time of application via credit/debit card and are non-refundable after the application close.

MRCP(UK) is awarded after passing Part 1, Part 2 Written and Part 2 Clinical (PACES). All three parts must be completed within 7 years of first sitting Part 1. After MRCP, trainees progress to higher specialty training (HST) and eventually their Specialty Certificate Examination (SCE) for CCT.