MRCS Part A Exam

MRCS EXAM OVERVIEW

Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) is an intercollegiate exam for surgical trainees who wish to become a member of one of the four surgical royal colleges in the UK and Ireland. The examination syllabus and the format and content of this examination are common to all four colleges. (i.e. The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, The Royal College of Surgeons of England, The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.) Candidates can enter any part of the examination through any college, but may enter with only one college at each sitting. It has two parts:

Part A – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)

Part B – Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

Candidates must pass Part A before applying to sit Part B (OSCE), however candidates who fail the Part B (OSCE) are not required to re-sit Part A.

Note: Candidates are allowed up to six attempts at the MRCS Part A (with effect from April 2013) and up to four attempts at MRCS Part B (OSCE).

MRCS Part A Examination

Requirements: – A candidate must possess a primary medical qualification that is acceptable to the United Kingdom General Medical Council or to the Medical Council in Ireland. Prospective candidates who wish to check the acceptability of their medical degrees should see the World Directory of Medical Schools.