MRCP(UK) · PART 1 · CANDIDATE GUIDE
MRCP Part 1: the exam, the syllabus, the plan.
A concise, current guide to what Part 1 tests, which subjects are covered, who can apply and how to turn the official blueprint into useful revision.
Facts checked against Federation guidance and the April 2026 regulations. Official links are collected alongside the guide.
Part 1 in numbers
200
best-of-five questions
01 · Orient
Start with the shape of the exam.
Part 1 is the first written component of the MRCP(UK) Diploma. It tests the clinical sciences and common or important disorders at the level expected for entry to specialist training.
- Two papers
- 100 best-of-five questions in each
- Six hours
- Three hours per paper
- 450 scaled
- Pass mark from the 2026/1 diet
- In-centre CBT
- Preferred delivery from 2026/3
02 · What to know
Prepare for the jobs the questions ask you to do.
The official description centres on knowledge and understanding, but the best-of-five format also asks you to interpret information and solve clinical problems. Organise your syllabus around these recurring tasks.
Recognise
Common and important presentations, patterns, red flags and the diagnoses that matter first.
Investigate
Choose an appropriate test, understand what it measures and interpret the result in context.
Manage
Know the initial treatment, escalation, monitoring and follow-up for common medical problems.
Prescribe safely
Revise mechanisms, indications, contraindications, interactions, adverse effects and toxicity.
Explain the science
Use physiology, anatomy, biochemistry, genetics and immunology to make a clinical stem make sense.
Use evidence
Be comfortable with statistics, epidemiology, evidence-based medicine and current UK guidance.
The Federation also says that knowledge of UK national guidelines should form part of your preparation. Use current guidance for the conditions you revise, and always check the live curriculum and regulations before your diet.
03 · Format
Two papers. One broad syllabus. No negative marking.
Learn the mechanics once, then spend your revision time on the clinical distinctions that separate close answers.
- Delivery
- Computer-based testing at a test centre is the preferred format from the 2026/3 diet. Remote online proctoring may be agreed in specific circumstances; UK candidates can request pencil and paper as a reasonable adjustment.
- Paper 1 + Paper 2
- 100 questions each · 3 hours each. The two papers together contain 200 questions.
- Question style
- Best of five: one correct answer and four closely related alternatives. The format tests knowledge, interpretation and clinical problem-solving.
- Scoring
- One mark for every correct answer and no negative marking. The final result is an equated scaled score, with a Part 1 pass mark of 450 from 2026/1.
04 · Subjects & blueprint
The official blueprint is your coverage checklist.
These are the broad specialty headings and likely question counts published by the Federation for both papers. The actual number can vary slightly from one diet to another.
- Clinical sciences25
- Clinical pharmacology & therapeutics15
- Cardiology14
- Endocrinology, diabetes & metabolic medicine14
- Gastroenterology & hepatology14
- Infectious diseases14
- Neurology14
- Renal medicine14
- Respiratory medicine14
- Rheumatology14
- Haematology10
- Psychiatry9
- Dermatology8
- Geriatric medicine8
- Oncology5
- Medical ophthalmology4
- Palliative medicine & end of life care4
* Use these numbers to protect breadth, not to guess the exact paper.
Clinical sciences
25 questions, seven domains.
- Statistics, epidemiology & evidence-based medicine5
- Clinical biochemistry & metabolism4
- Clinical physiology4
- Immunology4
- Clinical anatomy3
- Genetics3
- Cell, molecular & membrane biology2
05 · Eligibility
Check the rules before you buy a revision plan.
The exam is open to doctors with a recognised primary medical qualification, but the graduation timing and application steps are precise.
You can apply when
- You hold a medical qualification recognised by the GMC or World Directory of Medical Schools.
- At least 12 months have passed between graduation and the Part 1 exam date.
- You have a copy of your primary medical qualification or verified GMC registration ready if requested.
Plan around these constraints
- The Federation recommends at least 12 months of medical employment, such as FY1 or equivalent.
- Part 1 must be passed before you apply for Part 2 Written or PACES.
- There are a maximum of six attempts at each part, with a separate exceptional-attempt process.
- Applications open and close at 08:00 UK local time; late applications are not accepted.
06 · Dates & fees
Keep the application window in view.
These are the Federation’s currently published diets. Fees are shown as UK / international and Hong Kong arrangements differ.
| Diet | Exam date | Applications | Results by | Fee* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/3 | 23 Sep 2026 | 14–21 Jul 2026 | 6 Nov 2026 | £520 / £696 |
| 2027/1 | 20 Jan 2027 | 27 Oct–3 Nov 2026 | 5 Mar 2027 | £520 / £696 |
| 2027/2 | 26 May 2027 | 9–16 Mar 2027 | 9 Jul 2027 | £520 / £696 |
| 2027/3 | 29 Sep 2027 | 13–20 Jul 2027 | 12 Nov 2027 | £520 / £696 |
Swipe horizontally for results and fees.
* Fees are listed as UK / international in GBP for the published diets above. Confirm the amount and deadline on the Federation page before applying.
07 · Revision plan
Let your revision mirror the exam.
This is a flexible StackMed workflow, not Federation policy. The point is to move from coverage to retrieval without losing the broad syllabus.
- 01
Map the whole blueprint
Take a mixed baseline, then mark every specialty and clinical science domain as new, developing or secure.
- 02
Build in focused blocks
Repair one gap at a time. Read every explanation and write down the distinction that made the correct answer best.
- 03
Mix before you feel ready
Alternate focused sessions with mixed, timed sets so retrieval still works when the topic is not announced.
- 04
Simulate, then taper
Use full-length blocks to rehearse pacing, review recurring errors and protect enough rest for exam day.
08 · FAQs
The questions candidates usually ask first.
What is the MRCP(UK) Part 1 format?
Part 1 is a computer-based, two-paper examination. Each paper lasts three hours and contains 100 multiple-choice questions in best-of-five format. Each correct answer earns one mark and there is no negative marking.
What subjects are covered in MRCP Part 1?
The official blueprint covers clinical sciences, clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology and metabolic medicine, gastroenterology and hepatology, geriatric medicine, haematology, infectious diseases, neurology, oncology, medical ophthalmology, palliative medicine, psychiatry, renal medicine, respiratory medicine and rheumatology.
What does the 450 pass mark mean?
Results are reported as an equated overall scaled score rather than a fixed percentage. The Part 1 scaled pass mark is 450 from the 2026/1 diet, so the percentage of questions needed can vary slightly between diets as paper difficulty changes.
Who can apply for Part 1?
You must hold a recognised primary medical qualification and will not be admitted until at least 12 months after the graduation date on that qualification (or the accepted final-examination date in specific cases). The Federation recommends at least 12 months of medical employment experience, such as Foundation Year 1 or equivalent.
Can I take Part 2 Written or PACES first?
No. You must pass Part 1 before applying for Part 2 Written or Part 2 Clinical (PACES). Once Part 1 is passed, Part 2 Written and PACES can be taken in either order.
Where should I check dates, fees and rules?
Use the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK as the source of truth. Application windows, fees, delivery arrangements and regulations can change, and late applications are not accepted.
Ready to practise?
Turn the blueprint into your next session.
Build focused or mixed MRCP Part 1 sessions, review every option and keep your progress separate from UKMLA preparation.