Preparing
for MRCP (Studying, revising , preparation for MRCP)
The examinations for Membership of the Royal College of
Physicians, MRCP (UK), are designed to test candidates knowledge and skills.
The examinations are in 3 parts (or 2 parts with the 2nd
being subdivided into written and practical parts)
They are:
·
MRCP part 1
·
MRCP part 2
·
MRCP PACES
MRCP part 1
Consists of 2 papers each with 100 multiple choice
questions in the best of five format
MRCP part 2
Consists of 3 papers in the best of five or n from many
format
MRCP PACES
Is an assessment of clinical skills that tests:
·
History taking skills
·
Clinical examination skills
·
Communication skills
The exams are designed to test different abilities of the
candidates
MRCP part 1
It is a test of knowledge
The candidate knows
MRCP part 2
It is a test of interpretation of knowledge
The candidate knows how
MRCP PACES
It tests the candidate’s ability to demonstrate clinical
competence
The candidate shows how
Essential Prerequisites
In order to get through these exams and obtain membership
of the Royal College of Physicians, candidates must have:
·
Knowledge
·
Clinical Skills
·
Exam technique
Knowledge
In order to learn it is essential to:
·
Understand
·
Remember
Read chapter 1 of KEYS to SUCCESS in Medicine
where this is discussed in detail
Revision
Repeated revision is the best way to consolidate your
knowledge ,this makes recall easier and thereby facilitates interpretation.
It is not possible to revise from one of the larger
textbooks simply because they are too big
KEYS to SUCCESS in Medicine has been specifically
designed for revision and you will find this the easiest way to undertake
multiple revisions
ACES for PACES, although not a revision book, is
laid out in such a manner that you will find it very easy to read and as the
information has been compartmentalised you will find it easy to revise
essential clinical information using it.
Clinical Skills
In order to master clinical skills it is essential to
understand the objectives of clinical method, learn good techniques and
practice
Read ACES for PACES
preface and chapters 2-7
Exam Technique
·
This is best learned from a good teacher
·
If you do not have this opportunity practice past exam papers
·
Keep in mind that the secret of answering multiple-choice type
of questions is to break down the question into small components.
·
As you read, try and work out the diagnosis, if it is a clinical
scenario, then work out what the examiner is trying to assess.
·
Then decide on an answer before looking for the answer in the
responses given.
·
Do not read the whole question as a single entity
·
This will confuse you by bringing up too many options
Recommended Preparation
These are our recommendations for preparing for the
different parts of the MRCP examination
MRCP part 1
·
Start off by reading ACES for PACES and KEYS to
SUCCESS in Medicine
·
This is a preliminary read through and should be done rapidly to
get a feel of the books and the subjects
·
Next start doing best of five (BOF) questions
·
Use the ydr website and other resources available (books,
websites)
·
Go slowly, one question at a time and revise the topics covered
from KEYS to SUCCESS in Medicine and ACES for PACES
·
This is the time to read more extensively if necessary (use one
of the big textbooks or reference textbooks or the books that have revision
notes on specific subjects such as basic sciences)
·
Highlight anything you feel requires further emphasis
·
If there are any further points that you wish to add, make a
note in the book or include a post-it or write a very short note on paper and
append it to the book
·
The
revision tips given on the ydr website will guide you to what to read and
importantly where to make your additional notes so that your main study
resource grows with your revision
·
This way as your revision proceeds you will have a single
resource where all your information is stored
·
If you attend a lecture or a meeting or hear some useful
information in a ward round, add that information to one of the books in the
appropriate section
·
Continue working this way with questions and reading but as you
progress you will be doing more questions and less reading as your knowledge
and recall improves
MRCP part 2
·
The questions in MRCP part 2 test your ability to interpret
findings and plan investigation and management
·
The questions are based on clinical scenarios (grey cases),
image recognition and data interpretation
·
At this stage you will have to start reading books on radiology
and other investigations as well as your primary resource of KEYS to
SUCCESS in Medicine and ACES for PACES
·
The section on books for MRCP gives recommendations and the
links section will give you leads to useful websites
·
Start doing questions on MRCP part 2 using books mainly and some
websites
·
Proceed in the same way making whatever additions you need to
your primary resources KEYS to SUCCESS in Medicine and ACES for
PACES
MRCP PACES
·
When you come to this stage your main focus will be on seeing as
many patients as possible, doing as many clinical examinations as possible and
interacting with patients – taking histories and communicating
·
Practice history taking and communication with a partner using
one of the many scenario books available
·
Ask a senior to observe you examining patients and taking
histories and communicating and ask for feedback
·
Practice presenting cases to a senior
·
If possible attend a PACES course where the emphasis is on
teaching rather than seeing many patients, as this will help you refine your
techniques
·
Where revision is concerned you have your primary resources of
KEYS to SUCCESS in Medicine and ACES for PACES which have all
the information required for this part of the exam and by now the information
will be very familiar to you and will be very easy to revise
BUY ASIAN
EDITION OF ACES FOR PACES
ACES for PACES Asian Edition from Vijitha Yapa Bookshop
