United Kingdom
Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians - Part 2 Written
Clinical scenario-based MCQs at registrar level. Complex multi-system cases and clinical reasoning.
- Exam body
- Royal College of Physicians (UK)
- Frequency
- 3 times yearly
- Eligibility
- MRCP Part 1 pass
- Format
- 270 best-of-five MCQs across 3 papers
MRCP Part 2 Written: overview
Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians - Part 2 Written is administered by Royal College of Physicians (UK). Clinical scenario-based MCQs at registrar level. Complex multi-system cases and clinical reasoning.
In practical terms the assessment is delivered as 270 best-of-five multiple-choice questions across 3 papers, and candidates are measured against a approximately 60%. It is scheduled 3 times yearly, so building a realistic timeline back from the sitting you intend to take is the first planning step.
Exam pattern at a glance
- Exam format
- 270 best-of-five MCQs across 3 papers
- Pass / selection standard
- Approximately 60%
- Frequency
- 3 times yearly
- Eligibility
- MRCP Part 1 pass
Subjects covered
Syllabus
- All internal medicine specialties at registrar level
- Multi-system disorders
- Complex pharmacotherapy
Subject focus and weightage
Candidates who score well tend to protect time for the highest-yield areas rather than reading everything evenly. For MRCP Part 2 Written, the topics that repeatedly carry weight include complex multi-system case scenarios, clinical governance and patient safety, statistical interpretation. Working these to mastery first, then broadening outward, is a more reliable use of limited revision time than a single linear pass through the syllabus.
The syllabus spans core subjects including All internal medicine specialties at registrar level, Multi-system disorders, Complex pharmacotherapy. A blueprint-led plan - allocating study hours in proportion to how heavily each subject is examined - usually beats spending equal time on every subject.
High-yield areas
Study priorities
- Complex multi-system case scenarios
- Clinical governance and patient safety
- Statistical interpretation
How to prepare
A dependable preparation cycle for MRCP Part 2 Written moves through three repeating phases. Learn: build the core concept for each topic once, from structured notes, so the framework is solid before you test it. Recall: convert that understanding into durable memory with active recall and spaced repetition rather than re-reading. Practise: apply it under exam conditions with question banks, reviewing every wrong answer until you understand why the correct option wins - which for this exam is where clinical-reasoning gaps surface.
Timed, full-length practice in the exam's own format is what converts knowledge into a score: it trains pacing, and the stamina a long paper demands. Analyse each mock not just for the total but for which subjects and question-types are dragging the score, then feed that back into the next study block.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MRCP Part 2 Written exam and who conducts it?
Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians - Part 2 Written is conducted by Royal College of Physicians (UK). Clinical scenario-based MCQs at registrar level. Complex multi-system cases and clinical reasoning.
What is the MRCP Part 2 Written exam pattern?
The stated format is 270 best-of-five multiple-choice questions across 3 papers. The pass or selection standard is Approximately 60%. Because pattern and marking can be revised between cycles, confirm the current structure on the official notification before you sit.
Who is eligible for the MRCP Part 2 Written?
Broadly, eligibility is: MRCP Part 1 pass. This is a summary only - the definitive eligibility criteria, documentation and any registration or attempt limits are published by Royal College of Physicians (UK) for each sitting.
Sources and currency
Sources: official examination-body notifications and information bulletins (NBEMS, NMC, GMC, the relevant UK Royal College, USMLE/NBME, AMC, MCC and the Gulf health authorities as applicable). Exam patterns and eligibility change between cycles - always confirm the current sitting's rules, dates and fees on the official body's own notification before you apply. Last verified July 2026.
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