MRCP PART 2 – Written Paper

Introduction

MRCP is a diploma exam for doctors who wish to be admitted for Membership of the Royal College of Physicians in the United Kingdom (the learned body of physicians who supervise training in internal medicine and its subspecialties). Those who have at least one year of postgraduate clinical experience, are eligible to sit the exam. This is the minimum knowledge level required to understand the MRCP content.

The exam format for MRCP 2 follows a similar structure to MRCP 1: it comprises two 3 hour papers, each with 100 multiple choice questions (‘best of five’ type).

A weighting system is applied to the number of questions answered correctly, to give an ‘equated score’.
This gives a ‘standardised’ pass mark of 454.

MRCP 2 pass rate (International) – June 2021 diet (published by the Royal College): approx. 55%
MRCP 2 pass rate (UK) – June 2021 diet (published by the Royal College): approx. 65%
Our delegates’ exam pass rate – for all past exams: 90-100%

Why do so many fail the exam?
The majority of candidates simply do self-study, practising from MCQ banks that can be found online. Yet the pass rate is as low as 55%. This is clear evidence that this approach to the exam preparation is wrong.

Why do so many Centre for Health Education (CHE) delegates pass their exams, first time?
We are not an MCQ exam question bank provider!!! There are plenty of high quality MCQ banks available online (e.g. PasTest, PassMedicine).

The answers found in MCQ question banks give reasons why Option A, for a particular question (for example), is wrong but Option B is correct. However, if the candidate struggles with the concepts behind the question topic, the MCQ answers do not help the candidate to REALLY understand the medicine. As a result, when another question comes up on the same topic but with a different focus…guess what happens? If the candidate has not understood the medicine the first time, they get the answer wrong again!! This is why self-study focussing on MCQ banks alone is keeping the pass rate so low.

We empower candidates with the knowledge they need so they can tackle ANY question that is thrown at them in the exam.

MCQ Practice Bank alone = as low as 55% pass rate

Knowledge (CHE Lectures) + MCQ Practice* + MCQ Guidance (CHE Telegram Group) = 90-100% pass rate

* From any external high quality provider (e.g. PasTest, PassMedicine etc.)

After watching/studying the CHE lectures via the Learner Dashboard, if a candidate then practices MCQs (by subscribing to an external high quality provider) and approaches the CHE Lecturer regarding any MCQs they struggle with, it has been our experience that this leads to the highest success rates.

Please note: we are not related in any way to the MCQ providers and do not advocate any specific provider’s question bank. That is for each candidate to choose for themselves. We simply provide the knowledge and support to complement the candidate’s self-study and MCQ practice.

Each exam batch that studies the CHE lectures and receives MCQ support from the CHE Lecturer is known as a ‘Masterclass’ group. So there are Masterclasses for MRCP 1, MRCP 2, MRCP PACES etc. NB: the CHE lectures for MRCspan both MRCP 1 and MRCP 2 material as there is considerable overlap between the two. However, the MCQ support groups are different for each Masterclass. There may also be additional material provided by the CHE Lecturer, from time to time (at their discretion), that is unique to each Masterclass.

These groups are called ‘Masterclasses’ for a reason. They are not for the fainthearted. Yes, they help candidates understand concepts from first principles, so they can be learned by anyone with a basic medical degree. However, the term ‘Masterclass’ is used because the ‘class’ takes the candidates from a basic level to an advanced level, i.e. a deep level of knowledge and understanding, as the MRCP qualification is the gateway to becoming a specialist…and this means being dedicated to learning, putting in the hours that are needed to watch all the lectures (and practice the MCQs from any external source) as well as engage with the lecturer via Telegram to discuss MCQs that the candidate gets wrong but doesn’t understand why. So, if you are not shy of hard work and are dedicated to becoming a better doctor, then the Masterclasses are perfect for you.

How is the Masterclass for MRCP 2 structured and delivered?
To start with, candidates watch (in their own time) the pre-recorded series of lectures that we have put on the Learner Dashboard, covering all areas of the exam curriculum, delivered in bite-sized sessions of between 30 minutes and 2 hours each.

Each subject (e.g. cardiology) helps you to apply clinical understanding, make clinical judgements and take responsibility for:

  • prioritising diagnostic or problem lists
  • planning investigation
  • selecting a plan for immediate management
  • selecting a plan for long-term management
  • assessing prognosis.

Once a subject is complete (e.g. all the bite sized sessions for ‘Cardiology’ have been studied), our delegates are empowered to be able to answer any MCQs from an external question bank of their own choice. They continue to practice such questions until the exam, in their own time. However, if they get a question wrong, they can discuss it in the MRCP 2 Masterclass Telegram room and get both peer support as well as senior lecturer support, to help refine their MCQ skills or understanding of the topic.

The senior lecturers are normally UK Consultants with busy professional diaries, so they answer questions when they get small windows of time. Candidates are requested to post their questions in real-time on the Telegram group and the senior lecturer will pick these up at their earliest convenience (at least once per week).

Subjects covered are exactly the same list as outlined by the Royal College of Physicians:

  • Cardiology
  • Respiratory medicine
  • Gastroenterology and hepatology
  • Renal medicine
  • Endocrinology, diabetes and metabolic medicine
  • Neurology
  • Medical ophthalmology
  • Psychiatry
  • Haematology
  • Oncology
  • Palliative medicine and end of life care
  • Infectious diseases
  • Dermatology
  • Rheumatology
  • Geriatric medicine
  • Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics

Each subject’s bite-sized lecture series are reviewed by the teaching faculty (who are experts in their respective field) to make sure they are up-to-date, covering the latest scientific research, evidence-based medicine and the most recent UK clinical guidelines. Then the whole subject (e.g. Cardiology) is ‘released’ on the CHE online learner dashboard. Each subject is released one after the other (approximately 5-10 days apart, depending on the size and complexity of the subject as well as the senior lecturer’s availability). In this way, the Masterclass is guided by the most up-to-date lecture series which are released once per exam diet (February, June, September, December). Candidates pace themselves by studying each subject as it is released, then practising the MCQs from their chosen exam question bank provider (and then discuss on Telegram any questions they are having difficulty with).

From time to time, the senior lecturer may post things on the Telegram group (e.g. a random question or topic) to help polish your knowledge & understanding, as well as test retention and recall.

How do you access the MRCP Masterclass?
Each Masterclass is a group of MRCP students + a CHE senior lecturer. There is only ONE Masterclass for each exam diet. The way to join a Masterclass is to sign up to at least one subject in the curriculum. This will give you access to the Learner Dashboard for that particular subject, as well as enrol you into the CHE Telegram Group for that batch.

Lectures are paid for one subject at a time, as they are released.

STEP 1 – Complete the registration form, by clicking on the ‘Book Now’ button below.
STEP 2 – On the shopping cart, choose the subject you wish to study (if the Masterclass has not yet started for a particular exam diet, only the first subject that will be released is shown on the pull-down menu of subjects; if the Masterclass has already started, all the subjects that have already been released to date will be shown on the pull-down menu list – you will need to catch up by studying all the subjects you have missed).
STEP 3 – Make the payment. How much each subject costs will depend on how long an access you would like to have for that subject.
STEP 4 – Wait for the administration team to approve your booking (they need to wait for your payment to clear) and grant you access to the learning material (+ Telegram group, if you are not already part of it).

Access to the Masterclass (i.e. both the learning material and private Telegram group) will only be granted upon receipt of an application form and clearance of payment.

The cost is:

  • £5 per subject (for access until 01 June 2022).
  • £10 per subject (for access until 07 September 2022).
  • £15 per subject (for access until 14 December 2022).
  • £20 per subject (for access until February 2023) – not yet available as awaiting the Royal College exam dates.

The next Masterclass for MRCP 2 starts on 21 February 2022.
The Masterclass is provisionally set to run until 21 April 2022. However, this is an estimate as it depends on progress made by the class, as well as senior lecturer availability.

Further information may be found by contacting us via Telegram or you may e-mail the administration team.

Cancellation policy
Once a person has booked and paid, no refund will be issued. There will be no exceptions to this rule.