How to Prepare for MRCP(UK): Part 1, Part 2 Written and PACES

MRCP(UK) feels large because it is large. It is a diploma made up of three parts: Part 1, Part 2 Written and PACES. Each part tests something slightly different, and the revision that works well for one part is not always the revision that works best for the next.

The most helpful thing you can do at the start is understand what each part is actually for.

The structure at a glance

MRCP(UK) consists of:

• Part 1
• Part 2 Written
• PACES

Part 1 is the entry level examination. Candidates can apply for Part 1 once at least 12 months have passed since graduation, and it is recommended that they have had at least 12 months of medical employment. Part 1 and Part 2 Written are both written best-of-five examinations. PACES is the clinical part.

MRCP Part 1: what it is testing

Part 1 is not just a memory exam. It tests the scientific and clinical knowledge underpinning medicine and your ability to apply that knowledge in common clinical scenarios.

The exam is a one day, two paper assessment. Each paper is three hours long and contains 100 best-of-five questions.

How to prepare for Part 1

1. Build broad coverage first

Part 1 punishes major gaps. A candidate with excellent cardiology but weak knowledge everywhere else often underperforms compared with someone who is solid across the board.

2. Use questions early

Questions are not just for the final phase. They help you understand how topics are tested and where your blind spots are. Use them from early on, then review them carefully.

3. Keep an error log

This is especially useful in Part 1 because repeated errors often cluster around:

• endocrine detail
• statistics and interpretation
• dermatology
• infectious disease
• therapeutics
• uncommon but classic presentations

4. Do not ignore basic science

Many candidates revise only the most obviously clinical material and get caught out. Part 1 still rewards a proper understanding of mechanisms, not just superficial recall.

MRCP Part 2 Written: what changes

Part 2 Written is more clinically focused. It is also a two paper exam, with each paper lasting three hours and containing 100 best-of-five questions. Compared with Part 1, the emphasis feels more like real medicine on the ward and in clinic:

• interpreting results
• synthesising a presentation
• choosing the next best step
• recognising clinical patterns more quickly

How to prepare for Part 2 Written

1. Make the revision more clinical

Case based revision becomes more important here. It helps to anchor learning in:

• ward cases you have seen
• common outpatient presentations
• imaging and ECG interpretation
• guideline-driven decision making

2. Practise pattern recognition

You need to become quicker at seeing what the question is really about. That comes from repeated exposure to good questions and deliberate review of near-miss mistakes.

3. Revise investigations and interpretation properly

Part 2 Written often rewards candidates who are comfortable with:

• ECGs
• chest radiographs
• ABGs
• blood film patterns
• immunology and autoantibody associations
• endocrine testing
• renal and respiratory interpretation

PACES: what makes it different

PACES is the clinical examination. In the current format, candidates move through a five station carousel and are assessed across seven clinical skills in eight patient encounters. This is where written knowledge has to become visible clinical performance.

That means PACES is testing:

• examination technique
• communication
• consultation style thinking
• explanation and management discussion
• prioritisation
• professionalism
• fluency under time pressure

How to prepare for PACES

1. Practise standing up, not sitting down

Reading examination notes does not prepare you for PACES. You need to examine patients, speak out loud, present findings and handle follow-up questioning.

2. Use structure relentlessly

For every case, know your structure:

• introduce yourself
• gain consent
• examine smoothly
• identify key findings
• present clearly
• discuss likely diagnosis and sensible next steps

3. Use real patients where possible

Nothing replaces examining real clinical signs. The more exposure you have to genuine findings and varied patient communication, the better.

4. Practise consultations, not just short cases

The newer PACES format places real value on consultation skills. You need to be able to gather information, respond to concerns, explain clearly and formulate a plan in a way that feels natural.

The biggest mistake across all three parts

The biggest mistake is treating every part as though it requires the same revision style.

A better summary is:

• Part 1 needs breadth and knowledge discipline
• Part 2 Written needs more clinical application and interpretation
• PACES needs performance, structure and spoken fluency

How to revise while working

MRCP revision usually happens alongside a full time rota. That means the plan has to be honest.

A workable approach is:

• short weekday question sessions
• longer weekend consolidation blocks
• use real cases from work to drive topic revision
• keep a live error log
• increase mock and timed practice nearer the exam
• protect recovery enough that you can keep going

Final thoughts

MRCP(UK) is demanding because it is supposed to reflect progression towards physician training. It becomes much less overwhelming when you stop seeing it as one giant exam and instead prepare for each part on its own terms.

Understand the format. Use questions well. Keep broad coverage for Part 1. Shift towards application for Part 2 Written. Practise real performance for PACES. If you do that consistently, the process becomes far more manageable than it first appears.

Study with Medinova

For MRCP(UK), Medinova works particularly well because the exam demands both knowledge and fluency. The Question bank can help with written practice, the Notebook is useful for tightening weak clinical topics, and the Flashcards tool helps keep key facts and patterns fresh.

For PACES style preparation, the Virtual study buddy is especially helpful for structured responses, communication practice and interpretation tasks. If you want one platform that supports written revision and spoken performance practice together, Medinova is a very strong fit.