MRCP MRCP Part 2 23rd April 2025

A complete guide to MRCP Part 2 for 2025

If you’re preparing for the MRCP Part 2 exam, you’re in the right place. We’ve put together this comprehensive guide covering everything you need to know about the exam.

MRCP Part 2 is the second of three essential exams required to gain the Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians Diploma. To be awarded the diploma and move forward onto specialty training, you must pass all three parts of the MRCP examination:

• MRCP(UK) Part 1
• MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written
• MRCP(UK) Part 2 Clinical (PACES)

To help you prepare effectively for your MRCP Part 2 exam, we’ll soon be launching our own question bank, featuring high-quality, clinically relevant questions that closely reflect the style and standard of the actual exam. 

And, if you’re currently preparing for MRCP Part 1, you can check out our question bank here.

Which specialties require MRCP?

If you’re applying for any Physician Higher Specialty Training (PHST) programmes, you need to have successfully completed all elements of the MRCP(UK) – or an acknowledged equivalent – before the specified deadline. Usually, this will be by the offer date; however, you can check the individual specialty deadlines here.

This applies for the following specialties:

*Physician training only.

What is the MRCP Part 2 Exam?

When you sit MRCP Part 2 you will be expected to complete two papers over the course of a day. For each paper, you will have three hours to go through 100 multiple choice questions.      

MRCP Part 2 will test your knowledge, skills and behaviour as a doctor. In addition, your ability to understand and make clinical judgements will be assessed across a multitude of topics. The questions within Part 2 of the exam are based on the diagnosis, investigation, management and prognosis of a patient. 

What is the difference between MRCP Part 1 and 2?

Although MRCP Part 2 requires you to build on the knowledge that is assessed in Part 1, there is one key difference between the two exams. While Part 1 is purely made up of text based multiple choice questions, MRCP Part 2 often uses images to display clinical scenarios. Among other medical related occurrences, these images usually include x-rays, pathology slides, CT and MRI scans. On top of having the relevant medical knowledge, you will need to be able to interpret the information that is given to solve the problems and answer the questions.  

MRCP Part 2 Exam Dates

There are four different periods throughout the year that you can sit the exam. For UK students, the application fee is £489, while international students have to pay £655. You can submit an application for the MRCP Part 2 exam through the MRCP UK website.

The remaining exam dates for 2025 are as follows:

MRCP Part 2 Pass Mark 

The pass mark for MRCP Part 2 is 454. After sitting the exam, you will receive a result which has been curated by a process referred to as equating. This method of marking relies on a statistical approach, to ensure that candidates are awarded a comparable score for similar rates of performance across different parts of the MRCP exam. 

What is a good score in MRCP Part 2?

To achieve the set pass mark of 454, you need around 121 correct answers from the 200 questions. However, due to the marking process, answering this many questions correctly won’t necessarily result in a pass mark. Therefore, you are better off aiming for an overall score of 475 to 575. 

The key to achieving a good score on the MRCP Part 2 exam is making sure that you prepare effectively. As well as gaining an insight into the type of questions that will be included in the exam, going through sample MRCP Part 2 questions will encourage you to understand the concepts behind the right answers. 

Resources

There are several excellent resources available to support your preparation for the MRCP Part 2 exam. As the exam is based on the UK Core Medical Training (CMT) curriculum and national clinical guidelines, your study plan should align closely with these specifications. It’s also important to keep your clinical knowledge current by referring to up-to-date medical textbooks and relevant peer-reviewed journals.

In addition to building your theoretical foundation, it’s crucial to become familiar with the format and style of the exam. Practising a wide range of MRCP Part 2-style questions is one of the most effective ways to prepare. This helps you build confidence, sharpen your clinical reasoning, and manage your time effectively under exam conditions.

To support you with this, we’ll soon be launching our own MRCP Part 2 question bank, designed to mirror the real exam with high-quality, clinically relevant sample questions.

As well as exam question banks, consider enrolling in a preparation course. A variety of courses are available, delivered both in-person and online, by the three Royal Colleges that comprise the Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom. These can offer valuable insights, exam strategies, and structured revision support.

Good luck with your MRCP Part 2 exam preparation!