Quick Answer
MRCPsych Paper A has 150 MCQs in one 3-hour paper. Fee ~£500-700 (UK/international). Pass mark ~55-65% via Angoff. Max 4 attempts per paper. Sittings 2x/year (Mar/Sep) (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2026).
Data last verified September 2026 from the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the MRCPsych Paper A specification.
Eligibility
- Medical degree: Acceptable to GMC (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2026).
- Psychiatry training: Foundation training (FY1/FY2 or equivalent) completed.
Test format
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total questions | 150 MCQs |
| Paper duration | 3 hours |
| Pass mark | Cut score (~55-65%) |
| Fee | ~£500-700 |
| Attempts | Max 4 |
Source: Royal College of Psychiatrists (2026).
Sample Q&A (12 questions)
Q1. What does MRCPsych stand for?
Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2026).
Q2. What is the structure of MRCPsych?
Paper A (basics), Paper B (clinical specialties), and CASC (clinical assessment of skills and competencies) (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2026).
Q3. What is the syllabus for Paper A?
Basic neuroscience, psychology, psychopharmacology, psychopathology (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2026).
Q4. What is the pass rate for MRCPsych Paper A?
First-attempt pass rate is ~45-55% (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2026).
Q5. What is the best-of-five format?
5 options; choose the single best answer (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2026).
Q6. What is the extended-matching format?
A list of options; match each scenario with the most appropriate option (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2026).
Q7. What neuroscience topics are tested?
Neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neurotransmitters, neuropharmacology (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2026).
Q8. What psychopharmacology topics are tested?
Antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilisers, anxiolytics, mechanism of action, side effects (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2026).
Q9. What psychopathology topics are tested?
Signs and symptoms across mental disorders, mental state examination, classification (ICD-11 / DSM-5-TR) (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2026).
Q10. How long should I prepare for MRCPsych Paper A?
3-6 months of focused study; 2,000+ practice questions (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2026).
Q11. What are recommended resources for MRCPsych Paper A?
Oxford Handbook of Psychiatry, Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology, Pastest MRCPsych, StudyPRN (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2026).
Q12. Can MRCPsych be taken outside the UK?
Yes — Pearson VUE centers in India, Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Singapore, Nigeria, Sri Lanka (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2026).
Pass-mark interpretation
Angoff-based cut score ~55-65%. You must exceed the cut on total performance (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2026).
Where to book
Apply via the Royal College of Psychiatrists online portal. Schedule at any Pearson VUE Testing Center globally. Fee: ~£500-700 (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2026).
Resources
Use the TutorsBot entrance-exams hub for cross-cluster practice and the MRCPsych Paper A Syllabus for the official content outline. Recommended: Pastest MRCPsych, StudyPRN.
UK professional career outlook and study plan 2026
This qualification is required for practice in the UK and increasingly valued internationally. The General Medical Council (GMC) and Royal Colleges publish annual registration data — pass rates and candidate volumes vary by sitting.
A structured 8-week study plan: weeks 1-2 cover the syllabus fundamentals and reference texts; weeks 3-4 cover practice questions and topic-weightage; weeks 5-6 cover clinical scenarios and case studies; weeks 7-8 cover full mock exams + targeted review. Most candidates study 200-400 hours across the 8-week window.
After passing, you can apply for GMC registration (medical) or relevant College membership. Career progression in the UK follows specialty training pathways: Foundation (FY1-FY2) -> Core training (CT1-CT2/ST1-ST2) -> Higher specialty training (ST3+) -> Consultant. International Medical Graduates (IMGs) typically enter via the MTI (Medical Training Initiative) or directly via the Specialist Register.
UK professional career outlook and study plan 2026
This qualification is required for practice in the UK and increasingly valued internationally. The General Medical Council (GMC) and Royal Colleges publish annual registration data — pass rates and candidate volumes vary by sitting. International Medical Graduates (IMGs) form the majority of candidates for PLAB, MRCP Part 1, and the NMC test of competence, with India, Pakistan, Egypt, Nigeria, and Sudan being the largest source countries.
A structured 8-week study plan: weeks 1-2 cover the syllabus fundamentals and reference texts; weeks 3-4 cover practice questions and topic-weightage (focus on the highest-weighted specialties first); weeks 5-6 cover clinical scenarios and case studies; weeks 7-8 cover full mock exams + targeted review of weak domains. Most candidates study 200-400 hours across the 8-week window.
After passing, you can apply for GMC registration (medical) or relevant College membership. Career progression in the UK follows specialty training pathways: Foundation (FY1-FY2) -> Core training (CT1-CT2/ST1-ST2) -> Higher specialty training (ST3+) -> Consultant. International Medical Graduates (IMGs) typically enter via the MTI (Medical Training Initiative) or directly via the Specialist Register after completing PLAB or MRCP + CMT. UK specialty training salaries (NHS, 2026) range from £43,900 (FY1) to £107,000 (ST8+), with consultant pay reaching £150,000+ with on-call and clinical excellence awards.
UK professional career outlook and study plan 2026
This qualification is required for practice in the UK and increasingly valued internationally. The General Medical Council (GMC) and Royal Colleges publish annual registration data — pass rates and candidate volumes vary by sitting. International Medical Graduates (IMGs) form the majority of candidates for PLAB, MRCP Part 1, and the NMC test of competence, with India, Pakistan, Egypt, Nigeria, and Sudan being the largest source countries.
A structured 8-week study plan: weeks 1-2 cover the syllabus fundamentals and reference texts; weeks 3-4 cover practice questions and topic-weightage (focus on the highest-weighted specialties first); weeks 5-6 cover clinical scenarios and case studies; weeks 7-8 cover full mock exams + targeted review of weak domains. Most candidates study 200-400 hours across the 8-week window.
After passing, you can apply for GMC registration (medical) or relevant College membership. Career progression in the UK follows specialty training pathways: Foundation (FY1-FY2) -> Core training (CT1-CT2/ST1-ST2) -> Higher specialty training (ST3+) -> Consultant. International Medical Graduates (IMGs) typically enter via the MTI (Medical Training Initiative) or directly via the Specialist Register after completing PLAB or MRCP + CMT. UK specialty training salaries (NHS, 2026) range from £43,900 (FY1) to £107,000 (ST8+), with consultant pay reaching £150,000+ with on-call and clinical excellence awards.
