MSRA 11th November 2026

MSRA 2027 Complete Guide

The Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) is a computer-based exam used in recruitment to several postgraduate medical specialties. It assesses professional judgement and the application of clinical knowledge at Foundation level.

For 2027 recruitment, the published MSRA windows are 5–20 January 2027 and 10–18 February 2027. Your allocated sitting depends on the specialties you’ve applied to and available capacity.

MSRA exam dates 2027

The dates below cover the January and February sittings for 2027 recruitment. The GP recruitment timetable publishes both windows and the expected invitation dates, so it’s important to check your specialty’s timetable and Oriel messages for details on your own application.

Will I sit the MSRA in January or February?

The January sitting is open to applicants to the specialties using the MSRA. February is reserved for applicants who apply to Core Psychiatry and/or General Practice only.

Applying only to those specialties doesn’t guarantee sitting the exam in February. If demand exceeds capacity, some eligible GP and Core Psychiatry applicants will be allocated January. NHS England also states that withdrawing applications won’t let you change an allocated window. Make sure to read its 2027 sitting-allocation guidance before making plans around a particular month.

Which specialties use the MSRA?

The specialties and programmes below use the MSRA as part of recruitment. How your score contributes to selection varies, so check the recruitment guidance for your chosen specialty.

• ACCS Emergency Medicine CT1/ST1
• Anaesthetics CT1/ACCS
• Clinical Radiology ST1
• Community Sexual and Reproductive Health ST1
• Core Psychiatry CT1
• Core Surgical Training CT1 
• General Practice ST1
• Nuclear Medicine ST3
• Neurosurgery ST1/ST2/ST3
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology ST1
• Ophthalmology ST1

How do I apply for and book the MSRA?

You can apply through Oriel for a specialty that uses the MSRA. It’s worth noting that registration with Pearson Professional Examinations and booking an assessment are separate stages.

• Follow the registration message: After applications close, follow the registration message sent through Oriel, using the credentials associated with your account. If several specialties send the same credentials, you only need to register once.
• Wait for the booking invitation: Confirmation that you’ve registered isn’t an invitation to sit the exam. Your account may initially show no pre-approved assessment.
• Book your appointment when invited: Choose an available centre, date and time within your allocated window. Check that you’ve received a booking confirmation.

These steps are set out in NHS England’s registration guidance and booking guidance. If you’ve requested an adjustment beyond extra time, Pearson may arrange the appointment for you. You’ll just need to follow the instructions for your approved adjustment.

Where can I sit the MSRA?

The exam is delivered at Pearson assessment centres in the UK and overseas. Applicants living or working in the UK during the assessment window are expected to use a UK centre. Applicants outside the UK can use an overseas centre, subject to availability.

Your preferred centre may fill up, so check available appointments when your invitation arrives. Correct any difference between your Oriel name and your government-issued ID through your Oriel profile. NHS England explains the process in its assessment-centre and booking guidance.

Can I request reasonable adjustments?

Request adjustments on your application form, with supporting evidence, at the time of application. NHS England says requests submitted after the application deadline won’t be considered. Read the adjustments requirements before submitting your form, including the evidence needed for the support you’re requesting.

MSRA exam format: how long is it?

The standard assessment has 170 minutes of timed papers, with an optional five-minute break between them.

The papers are timed separately, with the optional break after PD. Follow the break instructions given at your assessment centre. Approved extra time changes the standard timings above. 

Professional Dilemmas paper

PD is a Situational Judgement Test (SJT). You’ll consider professional situations from the perspective of an F2 doctor. It assesses professional integrity, coping with pressure, and empathy and sensitivity.

There are two question formats:

• Ranking: order four or five actions by how appropriate they are.
• Multiple choice: select three responses from at least eight options that work together as the most appropriate response.

The official PD guidance explains how the answers are marked. Ranking answers receive more marks the closer they are to the agreed answer key; there’s no negative marking.

You can see an example of a PD question from our question bank below:

Clinical Problem Solving paper

CPS assesses how you apply clinical knowledge to decisions in Foundation-level practice. Its question formats are Single Best Answers and Extended Matching Questions. In an extended matching set, separate scenarios share a list of response options.

You can see an example of a CPS question from our question bank below:

MSRA syllabus and content map

The official CPS blueprint lists these 12 topic areas:

• Cardiovascular
• Dermatology / ENT / Eyes
• Endocrinology / Metabolic
• Gastroenterology / Nutrition
• Infectious Disease / Haematology / Immunology / Allergies / Genetics
• Musculoskeletal
• Paediatrics
• Pharmacology and therapeutics
• Psychiatry / Neurology
• Renal / Urology
• Reproductive
• Respiratory

How does MSRA scoring work?

The marks from the assessment are normalised. NHS England states that there’s no maximum achievable MSRA score, so a standardised result shouldn’t be interpreted as a mark out of a fixed total. See its scores and outcomes guidance.

For GP applicants, NHS England describes scores in each paper as normalised around a mean of 250 with a standard deviation of 40. GP scores are also grouped into bands; a band 1 in either paper means the application won’t progress. These are GP-specific scoring rules.

A useful target depends on your specialty and the recruitment round. Check the relevant shortlisting and selection rules rather than treating a previous year’s interview threshold as a guaranteed target for 2027.

When are MSRA results released?

Results are published against your application in Oriel. The release date differs by specialty. The published 2027 timetables include:

Check the timetable for Anaesthetics, Clinical Radiology or GP for updates. If you’re applying elsewhere, use that specialty’s timetable.

Can I resit or transfer a previous MSRA score?

Check your specialty’s rules before applying. For example, the GP guidance requires you to declare whether you’d like to be considered for a resit or transfer an earlier successful score when you reapply; that decision can’t be changed after submission. Read the GP resit guidance if this applies to you. Don’t assume the same rule covers a different specialty.

MSRA costs and expenses

Allow for travel and, if needed, accommodation when choosing your assessment centre. Your preferred centre may be full, so you may need to travel further. NHS England states that expenses incurred in sitting the MSRA are not reimbursed by the MSRA team.

How to prepare for the MSRA

Start with the official MSRA practice paper and answer rationales to see how the questions are presented. Then use your answers to identify the clinical topics or professional-judgement questions that need more work.

Plan preparation around both papers. For CPS, use the content map above to identify gaps in your clinical knowledge. For PD, read the answer rationales and consider why each response is appropriate, rather than memorising an answer order.

Build in timed practice so you can get used to the separate paper limits. Review errors and revisit weaker topics before doing another set of questions. How much preparation you need depends on your starting point and the time you can consistently make around work.

Our MSRA practice questions article links to examples of PD and CPS questions. For help organising your preparation around work, read our MSRA revision guide.

For more practice questions, explore the Medibuddy MSRA Question Bank.

“A really useful resource. The only thing I used. The notes were really helpful, they were really at the right level for the exam.”

Dr. Victoria Hodges 8th Ranked (315 CPS, 325 SJT)

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What to expect on MSRA exam day

Check your booking confirmation and the official admission and ID requirements before travelling. NHS England says to arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment. Your first and last name must match your ID; check the full policy for acceptable documents and alternatives.

Read the instructions for each paper carefully. There’s no negative marking, so aim to answer every question. A medical glossary and list of abbreviations are available during the assessment. See the official candidate tips for the tutorial and further guidance.