GCPS Primary Exam study plan

Map every Division of Physicians topic against a self-rated confidence scale (1-5) to identify the three weakest basic-science areas

Build a one-page summary of cardiovascular and respiratory physiology relevant to Internal Medicine and write the key equations from memory

Complete 40 applied basic-science items covering physiology and pathology and log every error with its underlying mechanism

Draft a spaced-repetition deck of 100 high-yield facts drawn only from your own error log

Explain, in writing, the pathophysiology, investigation and first-line management of the ten commonest Internal Medicine presentations

Interpret arterial blood gases, full blood counts and liver function panels by working through 30 laboratory cases and stating the diagnosis before checking the answer

Summarise the mechanisms of action and major adverse effects of the core drug classes tested in Internal Medicine

Sit a 50-item mixed Internal Medicine and Laboratory Medicine set under timed conditions and review every wrong answer

Outline the aetiology, recognition and management principles of the major Paediatrics and Child Health emergencies, including neonatal jaundice, dehydration and febrile seizures

Describe growth and developmental milestones by age band and apply them to ten short clinical vignettes

Compare the common Psychiatric presentations (depression, psychosis, anxiety, substance misuse) by diagnostic criteria and first-line management

Complete 40 Paediatrics and Psychiatry items and record the reasoning behind each correct answer

Explain the principles of Oncology and Radiotherapy: tumour biology, staging, curative versus palliative intent, and the acute and late effects of radiotherapy

Apply Public Health concepts - incidence, prevalence, sensitivity, specificity, screening criteria and study design - to 25 calculation or interpretation items

Identify normal anatomy and common pathology on chest, abdominal and skeletal radiographs using written descriptions of 20 cases

Consolidate the Division 1 error log and re-test the 30 most frequently missed concepts

Map every Division of Surgeons topic against the same confidence scale and rank the five weakest areas for targeted revision

Summarise the basic sciences underpinning Surgery: wound healing, fluid and electrolyte balance, haemostasis, sepsis and shock

Describe the airway assessment and the pharmacology of induction agents, muscle relaxants and local anaesthetics relevant to Anaesthesia

Work through 40 Surgery and Anaesthesia items and write the mechanism behind each error

Outline the recognition and initial management of the major Emergency Medicine presentations, including trauma, burns, poisoning and cardiac arrest

Explain the principles of fracture classification, immobilisation and compartment syndrome in Orthopaedic and Trauma care

Summarise the management of the common Obstetrics and Gynaecology emergencies: ectopic pregnancy, postpartum haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia and shoulder dystocia

Complete 50 mixed Emergency, Orthopaedic and Obstetrics items under timed conditions

Describe the anatomy, pathology and management principles of common Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology presentations, including the red eye, sudden visual loss, epistaxis and stridor

Outline Neurosurgery fundamentals: raised intracranial pressure, head injury grading, spinal cord compression and hydrocephalus

Summarise Dental Surgery basics: dental abscess, facial space infection, trauma to teeth and the relevance of odontogenic infection to systemic illness

Re-test the 30 most frequently missed Division 2 concepts from the error log

Sit two full-length timed mock papers covering both divisions and record the score, timing and error pattern for each

Revisit every item missed across the eight weeks and confirm that each concept can now be explained without notes

Drill the highest-yield cross-division topics - resuscitation, sepsis, prescribing safety and interpretation of common investigations - until recall is automatic

Finalise a one-page exam-day strategy covering question triage, time per item and a plan for flagging and returning to uncertain items