Intercollegiate MRCS Part A
Exam overview
Part A of the Intercollegiate MRCS is a five-hour MCQ exam consisting of two papers taken on the same day. The AM paper is three hours and the PM paper is two hours in duration. The standard price is £539, however in some non-UK centres a local administration fee is also included.
The exam uses both single best answer MCQs and extended matching MCQs designed to test knowledge of both applied basic science and principles of surgery in general to a level that a surgical trainee should have achieved two to three years after qualification.
- £550.00
Eligibility
To be eligible to sit the MRCS exam, you must hold a medical degree that is acceptable to the UK General Medical Council (GMC) for full or provisional registration or to the Medical Council in Ireland for full or temporary registration.
First time applicants whose names do not appear on the registers of the GMC or Medical Council (Ireland) must submit their original certificate (or an authenticated copy) of a medical degree acceptable to the councils of the four colleges.
Full details on candidate eligibility can be found on the intercollegiate MRCS exam website.
Application for admission to the exam must reach us no later than 5pm on the closing date.
Exam format
Part A is a five-hour MCQ exam consisting of two papers, an AM paper of three hours and a PM paper of two hours duration, taken on the same day.
The papers cover generic surgical sciences and applied knowledge, including the core knowledge required in all nine specialties as follows:
- Paper 1: applied basic sciences
- Paper 2: principles of surgery in general
To achieve a pass in Part A, you will be required to demonstrate a minimum level of competence in each paper in addition to achieving or exceeding the pass mark set for the combined total mark for Part A.
Candidates may attempt to pass Part A of the MRCS exam six times.
Syllabus
The MRCS exam will only test knowledge at the level expected of all trainees completing core training irrespective of their chosen specialty.
The syllabus is divided into 10 modules:
- Module 1: basic science knowledge relevant to surgical practice
- Module 2: common surgical conditions
- Module 3: basic surgical skills
- Module 4: the assessment and management of the surgical patient
- Module 5: perioperative care of the surgical patient
- Module 6: assessment and early treatment of the patient with trauma
- Module 7: surgical care of the paediatric patient
- Module 8: management of the dying patient
- Module 9: organ and tissue transplantation
- Module 10: professional behaviour and leadership skills
For detailed information on the MRCS syllabus please visit the intercollegiate exam website.
Booking options
UK and Ireland Exams
UK and Ireland
Apply before: 03 Jul 2020
Application for admission to the exam must reach us no later than 5pm on the closing date.
15
Sep
2020
-
16
Sep
2020
£550.00
Price (includes local fee where applicable)
£550.00Multiple Locations
Locations:
- NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, United Kingdom
- LONDON, United Kingdom
- CARDIFF, United Kingdom
- Coventry, United Kingdom
- MANCHESTER, United Kingdom
- NOTTINGHAM, United Kingdom
- STIRLING, United Kingdom
Closed
Book online
Book online
International Exams
Asia
Middle East, Europe & Central Asia
Africa
Apply before: 03 Jul 2020
Application for admission to the exam must reach us no later than 5pm on the closing date.
15
Sep
2020
-
16
Sep
2020
£678.00
Price (includes local fee where applicable)
£678.00DUBAI, United Arab Emirates
Location:
Park Regis Kris Kin HotelSheikh Khalifah Bin Zayed St
DUBAI
United Arab Emirates View in Google Maps
Closed
Book online
Book online
Apply before: 03 Jul 2020
Application for admission to the exam must reach us no later than 5pm on the closing date.
15
Sep
2020
-
16
Sep
2020
£678.00
Price (includes local fee where applicable)
£678.00HONG KONG, Hong Kong
Location:
British Council3 Supreme Court Road
HONG KONG
Hong Kong
Instructions:
View in Google MapsClosed
Book online
Book online
Apply before: 03 Jul 2020
Application for admission to the exam must reach us no later than 5pm on the closing date.
15
Sep
2020
-
16
Sep
2020
£636.00
Price (includes local fee where applicable)
£636.00HYDERABAD, India
Location:
MERCURE HYDERABAD KCP6/3/0551, Banjara Hills Main Road
HYDERABAD
500082
India
Instructions:
View in Google MapsClosed
Book online
Book online
Booking for the MRCS Part A September held in the UK is restricted to candidates currently within Core Surgical Training only.
- Priority includes candidates currently within Run-through Training. If you are a Run-through trainee, please contact MRCS&DOHNS@rcseng.ac.uk to confirm this once you have completed your booking;
- Candidates with an examination booking not currently with core surgical training will be contacted within 10 days of the application closing date;
- Bookings for MRCS Part A September held overseas are open to book as usual;
- For full details, please see our COVID-19 Information Hub.
Upcoming Exam Dates
| Title | Applications and fees due | Exam date | Exam location |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMRCS Part A |
3 July 2020 - Restrcited to Core Surgical Trainees |
15 - 16 September 2020 |
UK |
| IMRCS Part A | 3 July 2020 |
15 - 16 September 2020 | International |
Contact the exams department
All surgical exam queries should be emailed to MRCS&DOHNS@rcseng.ac.uk
Thank you for your enquiry. We will reply to you as soon as possible.
Telephone
For general exam queries please call 020 7405 3474
Our main switchboard is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
Please fax us on (0)20 7869 6290