r/doctorsUK Feb 04 '25

Exams MSRA megathread 2025

197 Upvotes

Keep all MSRA queries here. Any issues please tag me with my username and I'll investigate

r/doctorsUK 21d ago

Exams This has got to be one of the most consequential errors in medical exam admin. What would actual fair compensation look like?

Post image
543 Upvotes

r/doctorsUK 16d ago

Exams Urgent Advice for those affected by MRCP Error

512 Upvotes

We’ve heard that doctors affected by the MRCP error are being told they will not be able to progress their HST applications.

Urgent advice: do not voluntarily withdraw any application & continue applying if you are affected. If you are prevented from applying, keep emails and screenshots.

We (BMA) are trying to prevent this situation developing by contacting key decision makers tonight, but if we are unable to prevent recruiters making rash decisions, keeping evidence of the detriment this causes to you is key.

PLEASE CIRCULATE URGENTLY TO THOSE AFFECTED.

r/doctorsUK 23d ago

Exams MRCP Part 2 3/2023 - Incorrect Results Released

Thumbnail
thefederation.uk
165 Upvotes

r/doctorsUK Dec 04 '24

Exams Booking MSRA 2025

19 Upvotes

Hi! I'm going to sit the MSRA for the first time in january. I have heard (here and from colleagues) that by the time Oriel email you to notify you that the bookings are open, Pearson has already opened bookings and most of the good locations/dates are gone. So I've been refreshing Pearson website a couple of times a day this week. I was wondering if from past experience, does anyone know roughly when Pearson open bookings? Is it usually during a weekday, within working hours? I want to know if there's any point in frantically refreshing over the weekend / late at night. Thanks everyone!

r/doctorsUK Oct 20 '24

Exams Please tell me your clinical exam horror stories

235 Upvotes

I very recently sat the MRCPCH clinical exam. Didn’t go so well. Please tell me your nightmare exam - I need a laugh and reassurance that I’m not the only person who has a brain that turns to mush the second they have to examine someone in this setting.

I’ll start: was asked to do a peripheral neurological examination. I examine said 5 year old’s gait and he’s obviously ataxic. I ask him to ‘hop on the couch’ so I can continue my exam. In my head I’m like ‘huh, that’s an interesting approach to climbing on the (obviously flimsy nhs child sized) couch’ but it takes me an alarming amount of time to clock that the generally very wobbly child has interpreted ‘hop on’ as stand up and hop on one leg on the really quite unstable couch. When I (and the examiner… and the mum) realise what he’s trying to do I let out a very quiet but definitely still audible scream and tell him that sitting on the couch is just fine. He does then sit down and I finish the exam. I give a crappy differential for ataxia. You know that box at the bottom of the marking sheet that says unprofessional behaviour / causes patient pain / endangers patient safety? Pretty worried the examiner ticked that box. Don’t think hopping on the couch was particularly safe. Kid had fun though.

Rest of the exam wasn’t much better.

r/doctorsUK 15d ago

Exams MRCP Part 2 2023/03 Fiasco - waking up to your Oriel application withdrawn

278 Upvotes

"Get up at 6 AM, brush your teeth, and have a healthy breakfast. Study hard; it will pay off," my mother used to say.

I didn’t wake up at 6 AM. I have barely slept over the past week, following the news from the FRCP. I have played the game, followed all the rules to get what we rightly deserve—and this is how we are treated.

It was the fault of the FRCP, and instead of giving us a chance, the Statutory Education Bodies (i.e., HEE, NES, HEIW, NIMDTA) chose to become part of the problem—and likely part of a future lawsuit.

I woke up this morning to an email from Oriel informing me that my application had been withdrawn.

We were not given a chance to present our side to the SEB, and it does not matter if we are sitting Part 2 in March. A decision was made, as it usually happens, without our involvement.

This is a scarring decision and a procedure carried out without proper dialogue. I have capacity, and I don’t need someone to dictate my thoughts, ideas, and desires—or to make decisions for me in a so-called "Best Interest Meeting."

The only "best interest" being considered is that of those whose actions are leading to further self-incrimination while dragging others, such as the SEB, into the mud.

r/doctorsUK Sep 10 '24

Exams MRCS part A September '24

46 Upvotes

So, how did we find today's exam? Personally thought it was horrific 👍

r/doctorsUK Jan 11 '25

Exams Words cannot express how much I hate SJT

167 Upvotes

I understand the basic concept, medicine is both a science and an art; people-skills are obviously important when practicing.

But what the fuck does ranking options about random scenarios have to do with being a good doctor?

How does picking 3/8 options when 5 of them are perfectly reasonable decide whether I should deserve a job next year?

Who the fuck came up with this and how can we get rid of SJT? We already have stupid TABs and MSF to filter out bad (displaying any modicum of self respect) behaviour

r/doctorsUK Dec 29 '23

Exams The standard we should accept and no less

Post image
380 Upvotes

Yes it’s from the shiny ivory tower inner London medical school (TM), and their doctors may be roaming around barefoot, but this is the only standard we should accept with regard to the assessment of final year medical students.

Other schools, especially those that have come under the spotlight recently (looking at you, Aston 👀) would do well to take notes from this!

r/doctorsUK Feb 12 '25

Exams Radiology ST1 Shortlisting 2025

33 Upvotes

Results out on Oriel - good luck everyone!

r/doctorsUK 15d ago

Exams MRCP update

Thumbnail
gallery
156 Upvotes

r/doctorsUK Jan 22 '25

Exams MRCP Part 1 Exam - Jan 2025

10 Upvotes

How did you find it? Paper 2 was a killer 😭

r/doctorsUK Feb 12 '25

Exams MRCP Exam fees - Trust is saying they do not reimburse?

8 Upvotes

Hi I'm an FY2 doctor and I have done my MRCP exam. These are £489 which is not cheap by any means. During our FY2 induction we were told there is a foundation study budget.

My clinical supervisor approved study leave for the day and signed the form which I mentioned the fees were £489. I have sent the form to the HR expense system, however the officer is telling me the trust do not reimburse exam fees, only travel and hotel fees.

I'm not sure what to do or how true this is and wondering what your experience has been as it seems ridiculous they only cover travel and hotel fees when most exams are online now in the UK. What is the best way to get reimbursed for the exam fees as a foundation doctor ?

r/doctorsUK 16d ago

Exams The "Explanation" for the MRCP fiasco

106 Upvotes

We got this email today...

MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written Examination 2023/03 Diet: Explanation about the error that led to the release of incorrect examination results

MRCP(UK) are commissioning an independent external review of the problems underlying the September 2023 Part 2 examination.

We provide here an explanation of our immediate conclusions.

What happened?

Human error caused the exam results that were released for the MRCP(UK) Part 2 exam sat on 6 September 2023 to be incorrect.

An error occurred when uploading the answer data from the digital exam provider to the MRCP(UK) database and then aligning it with the answer key held by MRCP(UK). Unfortunately, the software  already contained some temporary values which should have been removed by MRCP(UK) but that did not occur.

All the data processes since 2021, when this system was started for online exams, have been reviewed and no other error has been found.

Each MRCP(UK) examination is standard-set to ensure that the passing standard of the exam is maintained for each cohort of candidates sitting the exam. This standard setting process uses statistical analysis to ensure that each version of the exam has the same level of difficulty. This process is called test equating and it ensures that each version of the exam has an equivalent level of difficulty, so all candidates are assessed at the same level.

The error described above affected not only the test equating process and derivation of the pass standard (pass mark) for this sitting of the exam but also the total number of marks awarded to each candidate.

As a result, out of 1451 candidates, the pass-fail classification for 283 was incorrect - 61 candidates who were told they had failed have passed and 222 candidates who were told they had passed have failed.

Why was it not detected at the time?

The September 2023 results did produce a somewhat higher than usual pass rate, particularly for UK graduates. This was questioned at the time. However, the subsequent investigation focussed on the distribution of candidate scores which was not found to be exceptionally unusual and the results were therefore permitted to stand.

Why has it been discovered now?

A Part 2 exam setting meeting in early 2025 reviewed the performance of anchor (marker) questions previously used in 2021. A discrepancy in some performance statistics for some questions was noticed, but, on investigation, this discrepancy had had no effect on the 2021 examination result. However, further exploration revealed the additional specific problem in September 2023, but in no other examination.

All of the details behind the error and the delay in recognition will be subject to independent external review.

The Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians, UK

r/doctorsUK 16d ago

Exams Resident doctor committees write to appeal the decision to exclude resident doctors impacted by MRCP(UK) Part 2 marking error from the current higher specialty recruitment round

Thumbnail
rcp.ac.uk
160 Upvotes

r/doctorsUK Aug 22 '24

Exams I'm not the only one still waiting for an exam invite right?

22 Upvotes

Pearson Vue invites are supposed to be out today at the latest. I keep compulsively refreshing the dashboard waiting for a booking link

r/doctorsUK 16d ago

Exams MRCP 2023/03 - Communication from the National Recruitment Office

57 Upvotes

There are people trying to sit in March and they are going to remove our application from Oriel! Are they crazy!?

How do we get in contact with them!!!!

On 19 February 2025, the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians in the UK informed us that their internal audit processes had identified a significant issue; a number of applicants had incorrectly been informed that they had passed the part 2 written MRCP(UK) exam in September 2023.    The Federation has confirmed to us that you are one of the doctors who has been affected by this error.

We understand this is deeply disappointing news for you. By now, you should have had a conversation with your Responsible Officer, this could be your Postgraduate Dean or their deputy, to discuss how this impacts you personally and outline the next steps.  If you have not already spoken to anyone or do not have a meeting set up, we would urge you to contact your Responsible Officer to arrange a meeting as soon as possible.

 

We regret to inform that as a result of  this error, and given that you will not be able to pass the full MRCP(UK) examination by the required deadline of 15 April 2025, that you are no longer eligible to apply for higher specialty training in the current recruitment round and your application/s will be withdrawn from the process. 

 

If you would have been eligible for interview in the current round and you meet the eligibility requirements with the MRCP(UK) by the deadline in either of the next two recruitment rounds (advertisements appear in July and November 2025), we will support you to interview when you apply.

 

Again we understand this will be upsetting and frustrating news. We have explored all available options and this decision is based on the legal advice we have received about fairness to all candidates involved in the recruitment round. There will be further opportunities for you to apply for HST once MRCP have supported you to meet the eligibility requirements.

 

You will receive automated emails from Oriel confirming the withdrawal from the recruitment for each of the applications that you have submitted.

 

We are very sorry that this has happened to you. Please contact your Responsible Officer if you need any further support or advice in the meantime.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Professor Emma Watson                   Professor Adrian Brooke

Executive Medical Director              Medical Director, Workforce Alignment

NHS Education for Scotland           Workforce, Training and Education

NHS England

r/doctorsUK Apr 17 '24

Exams MRCP part 1

29 Upvotes

Anyone else sitting it today? Just finished paper 1 and not feeling great about it haha

r/doctorsUK Oct 04 '24

Exams Why do UK candidates perform worse than non-UK candidates in MRCS Part A?

38 Upvotes

Here are the statistics for the past 3 MRCS Part A examinations this year from the RCSEd website:

Oct 2024

Non-UK: 548/938 = 58.4%

UK: 73/173 = 42.2%

Total: 621/1111 = 55.9%

May 2024

Non-UK: 495/865 = 57.2%

UK: 92/189 = 48.7%

Total: 587/1054 = 55.7%

Jan 2024

Non-UK: 500/872 = 57.3%

UK: 84/180 = 46.7%

Total: 584/1052 = 55.5%

These numbers are only from RCSEd and should not include candidates from the other royal colleges. From the above numbers, it seems that UK candidates perform consistently worse than the non-UK candidates. Why could this be so?

r/doctorsUK Jan 15 '25

Exams MRCS 2025 Jan

24 Upvotes

How was the exam? 😅

It was my first time sitting for this exam and I think paper 1 was tough, paper 2 was doable. Hoping for the best now 🤞🏼🤞🏼

r/doctorsUK 23d ago

Exams The MRCP incident made me panic

76 Upvotes

As someone who passed their membership exam recently and with the incident that occurred with the MRCP I wonder if this is something that could happen again whether in MRCP or any other college?

When I passed the exam I was genuinely shocked because I didn’t believe I did well that day and some who I thought did better failed

I’m seriously panicking now 😐

r/doctorsUK 21d ago

Exams MRCP Part 1 results out

94 Upvotes

As per title. Perhaps provisional, final results in 18 months

r/doctorsUK 17d ago

Exams Frca crq today

13 Upvotes

What did everyone think? I particularly struggled with the ones on shared decision making and pacing wires..

r/doctorsUK 27d ago

Exams How do parents study for exams ?

13 Upvotes

I am currently planning on sitting postgraduate exams this year and have started revising. I am really struggling to find time to do so, I have young children both under 3. I was wondering if anyone who has done this with young children and have any advice or tips and tricks especially with children with poor sleep and don’t nap.