MRCP(UK) Part 1 exam-day guide
MRCP(UK) Part 1 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photographic ID
Bring the original, current, signed photo ID in the name used on your booking (typically a passport or photocard driving licence). Expired or photocopied ID will not be accepted. Confirm the exact list of accepted documents for your test centre country with the provider before the day.
Booking confirmation
Print or download your appointment confirmation showing the test centre address, arrival time and appointment time. Check the address the day before, as centres are sometimes relocated.
Travel and arrival plan
Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your appointment time to allow for ID checks and check-in; aim to reach the area an hour early to absorb delays. Confirm the required arrival time on your own confirmation.
Leave valuables and devices at home
Phones, smartwatches, notes and bags are not allowed in the test room. Centres usually provide a small locker, but keep what you bring to a minimum.
Water and a snack for the break
Store these in your locker; you will normally have access between the two papers. Confirm what the centre permits you to bring into the building.
Comfortable layered clothing
You will be seated for around five hours of testing. Test room temperatures vary, so a layer you can remove is useful.
Accessibility or medical arrangements
If you need extra time, a separate room, or to bring medication or equipment into the test room, this must be agreed with the provider in advance, not on the day.
Eligibility and documentation check
Before test day, confirm with the Federation that your application is complete and that you meet the eligibility requirements (including evidence of your primary medical qualification if requested).
Familiarity with the test interface
Review the computer-based testing tutorial in advance so you know how to flag, navigate and review questions and how remaining time is displayed; use the on-screen tutorial at the start of the session as well.
Earplug/headphone policy
Check whether the centre supplies earplugs or headphones and whether you may bring your own; rules vary by centre.
Break policy
Confirm in advance how the break between Paper 1 and Paper 2 works at your centre, whether the clock stops, and whether you can access food and drink.
Sleep and route plan
Set two alarms, plan your route with a backup option, and get a normal night's sleep rather than an extra late revision session.
Plan the day
Re-check your appointment confirmation, test centre address, travel and any hotel booking. Verify your ID is valid and that the name matches your booking exactly. Do one final timed paper under exam conditions, then stop learning new material; spend remaining time on your weakest two or three topics and on recalling common lists, investigations and management steps.
Shift your sleep pattern towards the exam start time so you are alert in the morning. Light revision only: review your own summary notes and previous errors. Pack your bag with ID, confirmation, water and a snack.
Travel to the city/centre area if needed. No heavy study; a short review of high-yield lists is enough. Eat a normal meal, avoid alcohol, and go to bed at a reasonable hour. Lay out clothes, ID and confirmation by the door.
Eat a proper breakfast and stay hydrated. Arrive at the centre at least 30 minutes early with your ID and confirmation. Expect ID verification and possibly a photograph or biometric check at reception. Store belongings in the locker and keep only what the centre allows.
Use the on-screen tutorial to check the timer display, flagging and review functions before you start. Note the start time on the provided materials so you can track pacing independently.
Roughly 90 seconds per question across 100 questions in 2.5 hours. Work in passes: answer the straightforward questions first, flag anything that needs thought, and return to flagged items. Never leave a blank. Check your progress against the clock at roughly the halfway point.
Use the break to eat, drink and move about rather than to review questions. Do not try to look up answers to questions you have already seen, and do not discuss the paper with other candidates.
Hold the same pacing, then reserve the last few minutes of each paper to clear all flags, make sure every question has an answer, and submit confidently rather than second-guessing correct first instincts.
Rules to check
Take your original, valid photo ID in exactly the name on your booking. If your name has changed since applying, resolve this with the provider well before test day; you may be refused entry if the documents do not match.
Arrive at the time stated on your confirmation. Centres can and do refuse admission to candidates who arrive after the permitted cut-off, so confirm the exact policy with the provider rather than assuming a grace period.
No phones, smartwatches, notes, books or other unauthorised items in the test room. Possession of prohibited items or any attempt to communicate with others during the examination is treated as misconduct and can invalidate your result.
There is no negative marking: an unanswered question scores the same as a wrong one. Answer every question, guess where necessary, and use the review screen to make sure nothing is left blank.
The paper is delivered and scored as a whole. The pass mark is set for each sitting by standard setting rather than being a fixed percentage, so do not benchmark your practice scores against published cut-offs from other diets.
Confirm with the provider in advance what happens if you are unwell or unable to sit one of the papers, and how the break and unscheduled breaks are handled at your centre; do not rely on informal reports from other candidates.
Results are published through your online account after the sitting, on the date published by the provider. Check how your result will be released and keep your contact details up to date.
Any special arrangements, including extra time or permission to bring medication or equipment into the test room, must be approved before the test date; they cannot normally be arranged on the day.