A Comprehensive Study Guide to MRCS Exam ( UK )

A brief guide to MRCS exam A and B parts , including paper patterns , marks distributions and recommended study materials

1. INTRODUCTION TO MRCSINTRODUCTION TO MRCS
(MEMBERSHIP OF ROYAL (MEMBERSHIP OF ROYAL
COLLEGE OF SURGEONS)COLLEGE OF SURGEONS)
Dr. Noman Ali GhazanfarDr. Noman Ali Ghazanfar
FCPS ( UROLOGY ) , MRCS (UK)FCPS ( UROLOGY ) , MRCS (UK)
Senior Clinical Fellow , Ninewells Senior Clinical Fellow , Ninewells
Teaching Hospital , UK Teaching Hospital , UK
SURGICALEDUCATIONS
[email protected]
Dedicated to my teacher and Dedicated to my teacher and
Mentor:Mentor:
Dr. Aamir Nawaz Dr. Aamir Nawaz

2. A brief Introduction to MRCS A brief Introduction to MRCS
•This Guide is dedicated to my teacher This Guide is dedicated to my teacher
and mentor :and mentor :
Dr. Aamir Nawaz ( Liver transplant Dr. Aamir Nawaz ( Liver transplant
Consultant KCH London ) of : Consultant KCH London ) of :
SURGICALEDUCATIONS COURSE BY DR. AAMIR
NAWAZ ([email protected] )

3. WHY MRCS WHY MRCS
1.1.Universally accepted degreeUniversally accepted degree
2.2.Mandatory for FRCS Mandatory for FRCS
3.3.Mandatory for ST levels or registrar postsMandatory for ST levels or registrar posts
4.4.A way to get GMC A way to get GMC
5.5.Exemption of PLABExemption of PLAB
6.6.Better Packages in Gulf and middle eastBetter Packages in Gulf and middle east
7.7.To add to CV To add to CV

4. MRCS-THE EXAMMRCS-THE EXAM
•MRCS- PART AMRCS- PART A
•MRCS PART BMRCS PART B
•INTERCOLLIGIATE EXAM…London , INTERCOLLIGIATE EXAM…London ,
Ireland , Edinburgh and GlasgowIreland , Edinburgh and Glasgow

5. MRCS-AMRCS-A
HOW TO APPLY?HOW TO APPLY?
•www.rcsed.ac.ukwww.rcsed.ac.uk
•Happens three times in an year…Happens three times in an year…
•Requirements:Requirements:
1.1. MBBS Degree attested by an MRCS or FRCSMBBS Degree attested by an MRCS or FRCS
2.2. Bank draft or online payment by visa cardBank draft or online payment by visa card
3.3. Application form available on websiteApplication form available on website
4.4. Paper application sent by DHL or scan them and Paper application sent by DHL or scan them and
pay by master cardpay by master card
5.5. Name printed on back of your photosName printed on back of your photos

8. Recommended Course Recommended Course
•SURGICALEDUCATIONS COURSE BY
DR. AAMIR NAWAZ
([email protected] )

9. MRCS PART AMRCS PART A
•PAPER ONE….PAPER ONE….
180 MCQs180 MCQs
NO EMQsNO EMQs
• Around 80 to 90 questions from AnatomyAround 80 to 90 questions from Anatomy
• Rest from Physiology, PathologyRest from Physiology, Pathology
• A very small portion of Community n A very small portion of Community n
research med and pharmacologyresearch med and pharmacology
THREE HOURS TO DO THISTHREE HOURS TO DO THIS

10. MRCS- AMRCS- A
•Paper twoPaper two
120 MCQs 120 MCQs
Normally varies in distribution Normally varies in distribution
From general surgery and alliedFrom general surgery and allied
Allied includes whole spectrum of fieldsAllied includes whole spectrum of fields
TWO HOURS TO DO THATTWO HOURS TO DO THAT

11. •UrologyUrology
•OrthoOrtho
•Paeds Paeds
•Neurosurgery and head injuryNeurosurgery and head injury
•Trauma and emergencies Trauma and emergencies
•Thoracic surgeryThoracic surgery
•Vascular surgeryVascular surgery
•Plastic surgery………Plastic surgery………

12. •MCQsMCQs
•CHOOSE THE BEST OPTIONCHOOSE THE BEST OPTION
•Which of the following vessels provide greatest Which of the following vessels provide greatest
contribution of arterial supply of Breast?contribution of arterial supply of Breast?
A-External mammary arteryA-External mammary artery
B-Internal Mammary arteryB-Internal Mammary artery
C-Lateral Thoracic arteryC-Lateral Thoracic artery
D-Middle mammary artery D-Middle mammary artery

13. MCQMCQ
•What percentage of people with anal What percentage of people with anal
fissure presents with Rectal Bleed?fissure presents with Rectal Bleed?
A-20 %A-20 %
B- 30 %B- 30 %
C- 5 %C- 5 %
D- 10 % D- 10 %

14. •ANATOMY….. 90 questions…. Mainly ANATOMY….. 90 questions…. Mainly
Gross…little bit of embryo…..no Gross…little bit of embryo…..no
histology usually…each n everythinghistology usually…each n everything
•PHYSIOLOGY…. 45 PHYSIOLOGY…. 45
questions…..mechanisms….ECGs..ABGsquestions…..mechanisms….ECGs..ABGs
…no normal labs are given…remember …no normal labs are given…remember
units in UK parameters eg Creatinine units in UK parameters eg Creatinine
is .6 mg/dl or 66 umol/Lis .6 mg/dl or 66 umol/L

15. •PATHOLOGY…….. 45 questionsPATHOLOGY…….. 45 questions
•GENERAL SURGERY……45 questionsGENERAL SURGERY……45 questions
•ALLIEDS……….. 90 questionsALLIEDS……….. 90 questions

16. HOW TO HOW TO
PREPARE???PREPARE???

17. BOOKS AND MATERIALBOOKS AND MATERIAL
•TEXTBOOKS:TEXTBOOKS:
PAST TEST REVISION NOTES…TWO PAST TEST REVISION NOTES…TWO
VOLUMES ( just skim through )VOLUMES ( just skim through )
RAFTREY BASICS SCIENCE REVIEW ( skim RAFTREY BASICS SCIENCE REVIEW ( skim
through ) through )
ANATOMY FOR MRCSANATOMY FOR MRCS

18. MCQ POOL BOOKS……MCQ POOL BOOKS……
MASTERING MRCS ( 2
reads )
MASTERING MRCS ( 2
reads )
CHARLES KNOWLES CHARLES KNOWLES ( 2
reads )
( 2
reads )
CHRISTOPHER CHAN CHRISTOPHER CHAN ( 2
reads )
( 2
reads )
KIMM LAMMIN KIMM LAMMIN ( 2
reads )
( 2
reads )
ON EXAMINATION ( 2
reads )
ON EXAMINATION ( 2
reads )

19. E MRCS POOLE MRCS POOL
•THREE THOUSAND QUESTIONS WITH THREE THOUSAND QUESTIONS WITH
EXPLAINATIONEXPLAINATION
•VERY SIGNIFICANT POOLVERY SIGNIFICANT POOL

20. Schedule Schedule
•TAKES ABOUT Three to FOUR MONTHS TAKES ABOUT Three to FOUR MONTHS
WITHOUT SECOND JOBWITHOUT SECOND JOB
•APPROX. 5 HOURS OF STUDY DAILYAPPROX. 5 HOURS OF STUDY DAILY
•DIVIDE YOUR PREPRATION TIME IN DIVIDE YOUR PREPRATION TIME IN
TWO HALVESTWO HALVES
•ONE FOR TEXTBOOKSONE FOR TEXTBOOKS
•OTHER FOR POOL BOOKS AND E-MRCSOTHER FOR POOL BOOKS AND E-MRCS

21. REASON FOR FAILUREREASON FOR FAILURE
•HALF HEARTED ATTEMPTEDHALF HEARTED ATTEMPTED
•LACK OF ORIENTATIONLACK OF ORIENTATION
•SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME ON SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME ON
SYLABUS AND TEXTBOOKSSYLABUS AND TEXTBOOKS

•NOT ENOUGH PRACTICE OF POOLNOT ENOUGH PRACTICE OF POOL

22. •RAN OUT OF TIME…. FOURTY FIVE SEC RAN OUT OF TIME…. FOURTY FIVE SEC
PER QUESTION IN PAPER TWO….ONE PER QUESTION IN PAPER TWO….ONE
MIN PER QUESTION IN PAPER ONEMIN PER QUESTION IN PAPER ONE
•SELF PRESCRIBED NON-RECOMMENDED SELF PRESCRIBED NON-RECOMMENDED
BOOKS….LIKE BAILEY, ANATOMY BOOKS….LIKE BAILEY, ANATOMY
BOOKS,USMLE FIRST BOOKS,USMLE FIRST
AID,PATHOMAS,HUNDRED CASES OF AID,PATHOMAS,HUNDRED CASES OF
SURGERY N SOOOOOO ONSURGERY N SOOOOOO ON

23. •SECOND JOB,TOUGH DUTIES…PLAN SECOND JOB,TOUGH DUTIES…PLAN
NEAR ROTATIONSNEAR ROTATIONS

•OVERLAP WITH IMM AND PART TWOOVERLAP WITH IMM AND PART TWO
•RANDOM NON USEFUL STUDY GROUPSRANDOM NON USEFUL STUDY GROUPS
•DISTRACTERS FROM Fb,WHATSAPPDISTRACTERS FROM Fb,WHATSAPP

24. MY EXPERIENCE-MY EXPERIENCE-
RECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS
•PREPARE AS MUCH POOL QUESTIONS PREPARE AS MUCH POOL QUESTIONS
AS YOU CANAS YOU CAN
•DON’T WORRY IF YOUR SYLABUS DON’T WORRY IF YOUR SYLABUS
REMAIN UNTOUCHEDREMAIN UNTOUCHED
•SCHEDULE…..RE SCHEDULE….RE VISIT…SCHEDULE…..RE SCHEDULE….RE VISIT…
REPEATREPEAT

25. PASSING CRETERIA PASSING CRETERIA
•HISTORICALLY 66 % AND 69 %HISTORICALLY 66 % AND 69 %
•Have to pass both papers separatelyHave to pass both papers separately
•No grace marks No grace marks
•No use of re check or re totalNo use of re check or re total

26. MRCS PART BMRCS PART B
•RECOMMENDED HANDS ON COURSE :RECOMMENDED HANDS ON COURSE :
[email protected]
SURGICALEDUCATIONS ( DR. AAMIR
NAWAZ )

27. SLICE OF MRCS-BSLICE OF MRCS-B
•It’s a clinical oriented examIt’s a clinical oriented exam
•Eighteen to twenty stationsEighteen to twenty stations
•Mandatory to pass all of themMandatory to pass all of them
•All interactiveAll interactive
•Each station of twenty marks eachEach station of twenty marks each
•Percentile made on each station…Percentile made on each station…

28. MRCS PART BMRCS PART B
CATEGORY STATIONS TIME ALLOTED
EXAMINATIONS 4 9 mins each station
HISTORY 2 9 mins each station
PROCEDURAL SKILLS 2 9 mins each station
COMMUNICATION 2 18 mins each ( includes
prep time of 9 mins )
ANATOMY 3 9 mins each station
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 3 9 mins each station
CRITICAL CARE 2 9 mins each station

29. CLINICAL STATIONSCLINICAL STATIONS
•Four examination station with viva ( 9 Four examination station with viva ( 9
mins each ) mins each )
Material: Material:
Notes from : Notes from : SURGICALEDUCATIONS COURSE BY
DR. AAMIR NAWAZ ([email protected] )
1.1. Dr. EXAMDr. EXAM
2.2. GEEKY MEDICS YouTube VIDEOSGEEKY MEDICS YouTube VIDEOS
3.3. PASS THE MRCS POOLPASS THE MRCS POOL

30. •Two histories with Discussion Two histories with Discussion ( 9 ( 9
mins ) mins )
Material : Catherine Parchment SmithMaterial : Catherine Parchment Smith
PASS THE MRCS POOLPASS THE MRCS POOL
Notes from : Notes from : SURGICALEDUCATIONS
COURSE BY DR. AAMIR NAWAZ
([email protected] )

31. •Two procedures stations Two procedures stations ::
Material : PASS THE MRCS POOLMaterial : PASS THE MRCS POOL
GEEKY MEDICS VIDEOSGEEKY MEDICS VIDEOS
Notes from : Notes from : SURGICALEDUCATIONS
COURSE BY DR. AAMIR NAWAZ
([email protected] )

32. •Two communication stations: Two communication stations:
•one telephonic liaisons with a colleague , CEPOD, one telephonic liaisons with a colleague , CEPOD,
Capacity assessment etc. . Capacity assessment etc. .
•a counseling session with patient or relative a counseling session with patient or relative
Material : PASS THE MRCS POOLMaterial : PASS THE MRCS POOL
Dr. EXAMDr. EXAM
•No viva in this partNo viva in this part
•Comes with 9 mins of preparation before the 9 mins Comes with 9 mins of preparation before the 9 mins
of actual performance. of actual performance.
•Notes from : Notes from : SURGICALEDUCATIONS COURSE BY
DR. AAMIR NAWAZ ([email protected] )

33. BASICS STATIONSBASICS STATIONS
•Three Anatomy stations include spotting Three Anatomy stations include spotting
and then a few relevant questions :and then a few relevant questions :
Material :Material :
PASS THE MRCSPASS THE MRCS
AUCKLAND VIDEOSAUCKLAND VIDEOS
ANATOMY ATLASANATOMY ATLAS
•Two to three Pathology stations with vivaTwo to three Pathology stations with viva
Material : PASS THE MRCSMaterial : PASS THE MRCS

34. •Two Critical care stationsTwo Critical care stations
Material : PASS THE MRCSMaterial : PASS THE MRCS
•One physiology station including One physiology station including
ABGs,ECGs and relevant vivaABGs,ECGs and relevant viva
Material : PASS THE MRCSMaterial : PASS THE MRCS
•NO PERFORMANCE, NINE MINUTES OF NO PERFORMANCE, NINE MINUTES OF
VIVA with 20 questions VIVA with 20 questions

35. Mrcs-BMrcs-B
•TOTAL EXAM DURATION IS ABOUT TOTAL EXAM DURATION IS ABOUT
THREE TO FOUR HOURSTHREE TO FOUR HOURS
•INCLUDES TEST OF PHYSICAL AND INCLUDES TEST OF PHYSICAL AND
MENTAL STEMINA MENTAL STEMINA

36. MRCS CEREMONIES AND MRCS CEREMONIES AND
CONVOCATIONSCONVOCATIONS