Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons Part A
Exam overview
MRCS Part A is the first part of the two-part intercollegiate MRCS exam, a significant milestone in your surgical career.
Passing the MRCS Part A makes you eligible to sit the MRCS Part B, which is required for all trainee surgeons to complete core surgical training in the UK and Ireland.
Taking the MRCS Part A with us is your first step towards joining our world-leading surgical community and shaping the future of the profession.
- £670.00
Exam format
MRCS Part A is an online, five-hour multiple-choice-question (MCQ) exam.
The exam includes two papers, taken on the same day:
- Paper 1: Applied Basic Sciences MCQ (3 hours);
- Paper 2: Principles of Surgery-in-General MCQ (2 hours)
To pass Part A, you will need to:
- demonstrate a minimum level of competence in each paper
- achieve or exceed the pass mark set for the combined total mark for Part A.
The exam is held online at Pearson test centres across the UK and internationally.
All candidates sit the same exam on the same day, wherever they are in the world.
Eligibility
You can take the MRCS Part A exam if you hold a medical degree that is acceptable to either:
- the UK General Medical Council (GMC) for full or provisional registration, or
- the Medical Council in Ireland for full or temporary registration.
International candidates must hold an overseas medical qualification from a medical school listed on the World Directory of Medical Schools.
If you are a first-time applicant whose name does not appear on the registers of the GMC or Medical Council in Ireland, you must submit your original certificate (or an authenticated copy) of your medical degree to surgicaleligibility@rcseng.ac.uk within five days of booking your exam.
Syllabus, registration process and results
Registration process
There are three sittings of the MRCS Part A exam every year, usually in January, April and September.
Step 1: You complete an online booking and send us your eligibility documents
Choose your exam and complete the online booking form.
The name you use when you book must exactly match the name on the government‑issued photo ID you present on the exam day.
If you are applying for the first time, you will be asked for the following information when you book:
Either:
- UK GMC or IMC number (if registered), or
- Scanned copy of your medical degree or qualification in English, or with an English translation (if not registered with the UK GMC or the IMC)
Please email all eligibility documents to surgicaleligibility@rcseng.ac.uk within five days of booking your exam.
If you are applying to retake the exam, you will not need to resubmit proof of your medical degree.
Applicants in Egypt are also required to provide a translated, certified certificate of completing the National Compulsory Medical Internship program.
If you require reasonable adjustments, you will need to provide evidence to support your request. Please send all documentation and queries related to reasonable adjustments to ra_exams@rcseng.ac.uk. Read more about applying for reasonable adjustments.
Step 2: We complete eligibility checks
We will verify your eligibility based on your medical qualifications and training.
Once we have verified your eligibility, we will send you a confirmation email at least six weeks before your exam.
We will then pass your details to Pearson who will contact you directly.
Step 3: You book a seat at a test centre
You will receive an email from Pearson test centres at least four weeks before your exam.
The email will tell you:
- how to log into the Pearson portal;
- the two-week window when you can book a seat, and reschedule or cancel a test centre seat booking.
Pearson has test centres across the UK and internationally. A list of available test centres will be provided when the Pearson booking window opens.
We encourage you to book a test centre as soon as possible, as spaces are limited.
Applying for reasonable adjustments
If you have learning differences or permanent or temporary disabilities, you may be eligible for a reasonable adjustment to the way your exam is delivered.
If you think you require a reasonable adjustment, you'll need to provide supporting evidence when you apply. Please send all documentation and queries related to reasonable adjustments to ra_exams@rcseng.ac.uk.
If you have previously been approved a reasonable adjustment in an earlier MRCS sitting, you do not need to submit your supporting evidence again. Your approved adjustment will automatically be carried forward to your upcoming exam.
For more information please refer to the ICBSE Reasonable Adjustments Policy.
Next steps after booking
Name changes
If you have applied for an exam with a name that does not match your formal identification, please contact us at surgicalexams@rcseng.ac.uk as soon as possible.
To guarantee entry, you must request any name changes within seven days of the exam closing date.
Prepare for your exam
We offer a range of support resources and facilities to help you prepare. Explore ways to prepare for the MRCS exam.
Syllabus
Read the MRCS Part A syllabus.
Results
We will email your results to you approximately four weeks after the exam date.
Your results and detailed feedback will also be available in your online account, with a breakdown of your scores for both papers.
This will give you feedback on your performance in:
- the exam as a whole;
- the Applied Basic Science paper;
- the Principles of Surgery in General paper;
- each syllabus area
The highest-scoring first-time candidate will receive the Hallett Prize at their Diplomate Ceremony.
Exam regulations
Intercollegiate MRCS exam regulations apply to all candidates. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these ahead of your exam.
Withdrawing from an exam
If you need to withdraw from the exam, you may be entitled to a full or partial refund based on your circumstances. More information can be found in our our refund policy.
We cannot postpone your exam to a later sitting. You will need to withdraw from the exam and re-apply for the exam you wish to sit.
Exam attempts
You can attempt the MRCS Part A six times. This includes all sittings at any of the four surgical royal Colleges.
If you fail on your sixth attempt, you may apply for one additional attempt, following the additional attempt policy.
Complaints and appeals
To make a complaint about your exam experience, please follow the ICBSE Complaints Procedure.
If you wish to appeal your result, you should consult the ICBSE appeals regulations.
All complaints and appeals should be emailed to surgicalexams@rcseng.ac.uk.
Booking options
UK and Ireland Exams
UK and Ireland
Apply before: 29 Oct 2026
Application for admission to the exam must reach us no later than 5pm on the closing date.
13
Jan
2027
£670.00
Pricing notes:
Full price: £670.00United Kingdom
Location:
Pearson Vue - Remote Computer Based Test Centres UKNationwide
WC2A 3PE
United Kingdom 02074053474 View in Google Maps
Book online
Please ensure you are logged in to your account or, if you do not have an account, have registered.
Please ensure you are logged in to your account or, if you do not have an account, have registered.
International Exams
Asia
Middle East, Europe & Central Asia
Africa
Apply before: 29 Oct 2026
Application for admission to the exam must reach us no later than 5pm on the closing date.
13
Jan
2027
£670.00
Pricing notes:
Full price: £670.00Pearson Vue - Remote Computer Based Test Centres International
Location:
Pearson Vue - Remote Computer Based Test Centres InternationalInternational
WC2A 3PE
02074053474 View in Google Maps
Book online
Please ensure you are logged in to your account or, if you do not have an account, have registered.
Please ensure you are logged in to your account or, if you do not have an account, have registered.
Upcoming exam dates
All exams are held in Pearson test centres unless otherwise stated.
MRCS Part A exam January 2026
Application deadline: 30 October 2025 | Exam date: 21 January 2026 | Results release: 4 March 2026
MRCS Part A exam April 2026
Application deadline: 12 March 2026 | Exam date: 22 April 2026 | Results release: 4 June 2026
MRCS Part A exam September 2026
Application deadline: 1 July 2026 | Exam date: 9 September 2026 | Results release: 21 October 2026
Contact the exams department
Telephone
For general exam queries please call 020 7405 3474 - Option 3
Our main switchboard is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.