Where I was born and where and how I have lived is unimportant. It is what I have done with where I have been that should be of interest.

------ Georgia O' Keefe

MRCP – Take it as a challenge. Passing it will give you every thing.

You can either do

MRCP (UK) ( www.mrcpuk.org)

MRCP ( Ireland)( www.rcpi.ie )

These exams are recognised all over and your career is sorted to some extent. But it’s a tough ride hence be prepared

These exams consist of 3 parts part one which is theory and part 2 has theory and clinical part. Its called PACES in UK

Part 1

Eligibility period 18 months post qualification( Final year)

To start with few golden rules

Start reading for these exams as soon as possible. I feel 6 months is enough for part one while at work or 3 months if not working.
It’s a day long exam with no negative marking. Blocks of 3 hours each consisting of best of 5.
Books like Kumar and Clarke or Davidson’s textbook of medicine help more than Harrison’s, Cecil or CMDT
Do good Multiple Choice questions
Some good web sites dealing with multiple choice questions are www.onexamination.com, www.123doc.com, www.pastest.co.uk and so on
You can buy loads of books from www.amazon.co.uk, www.bmj.com, www.pastest.co.uk and so on.
Books are cheap in India, Pakistan or in your own country hence try to buy books if possible before you come.
Remember reading blindly will not take you anywhere unless you are systematic . doing postgraduate in your own country helps as you read hard core medicine to pass post graduate exams.
Do not forget to read basic sciences .Good book is Easterbrook’s basics for MRCP-1.
The syllabus book sold by Royal College of Physicians is good. It costs £8.Philip kalra has a syllabus or topics book as well. I am not sure whether its still in circulation.
If you are working then going to a course does no harm. These can be bookes via ( www.bmj.com) . the hospital usually pays for these courses as part of study leave.
You can apply for study leave if you working in UK or Ireland.
Centres are spread all over UK for MRCP(UK) and in Ireland for irish exam.
Now a days these exams are being held in India as well. Try to book this and do it India if you are planning to come here. You can book it through www.rcplondon.ac.uk or www.rcpi.ie.
Passing part 1 helps to secure a job and rotations are a bit easy.

Good luck for the exams and prepare well

Part 2 theory

Part 2 theory is more clinical oriented
It’s a day long examination. Blocks of 2 X 2.5 hrs each
No negative marking.
There are different sections (www.mrcpuk.org)

Multiple choice questions

Most of these questions relate to clinical scenarios and data interpretation

You can take these exams all over UK
Books can be obtained from www.bmj.com, www.amazon.com, www.pastest.co.uk
Good books are the Beynon series or books by S.Sharma.
Lot of courses are available through www.bmj.com or www.onexamination.com
Again if you have good knowledge and sound background in medicine preparation is easy.
Try to prepare for 2-4 months for this exam.
Results are posted between 4-5 weeks on royal college website
If you are working in a hospital most of the libraries are well stocked or request your librarian to get some good books or request your Tutor in the hospital. Books for part 2 are usually expensive.
Some good books for MRCP 2 written(theory)

S Sharma

Bajaj series

Beynon series

Hans Ulrich Laasch

Syllabus keeps changing and new books keep coming so check Royal College website.

Part 2 Clinicals (PACES)

PACES stands for practical assessment of clinical examination skills.

Eligibility 18 months post registration or 18 months of senior house officer jobs which recognise training in medicine. Visit www.mrcpuk.org for further information

It indeed tests you to the limit.
Its approximately 3-4 hour examination in which you will have few short cases and communications/ethics/history taking stations.
This exam is also held all over the UK and abroad in few centres.
For a foreign medical graduate, I believe this is the toughest part.
It needs practice to pass.
To start with, once you are eligible and have decided to take the examination, start preparing.
As this is a clinical examination working the UK helps.
Try to attend post take rounds with the consultants or follow your specialist registrar.
Good communication skills as well as being gentle and polite helps
Try to befriend colleagues who have passed.
You can request the Registrars/Consultants in the hospital who are working to teach some good cases. Spending even half an hour with them helps as they are experienced
It helps if you are in a big city( it helps as you can go around the hospitals in your area and examine good cases) rather than a a small DGH near a sea coast as it happens to overseas doctors.
Carry a knee hammer, ophthalmoscope,tuning fork, cotton buds etc so that you get used to these
Good recommended books for MRCP clinicals are

1. 250 cases by Baliga

2. Mir, Ryder et al

Books are expensive . you can borrow from your library or request the librarian to get some copies.

Stick to one book as you can retain more
Lot of courses are available . You can book via www.bmjcareers.com or www.onexamination.com
I have heard through friends and colleagues and through my experience that attending as many courses as possible before the exam helps.
Some good courses are

Foxpaces, Pacesahead, etc

They are expensive hence try to get it funded through your study leave budget

You will also get study leave before examination hence try to form a group and go around and discuss about the cases.
Royal college of Physicians also does some teaching sessions. In the afternoon in London > If possible try to attend these.

Tips while taking the examination

· Understand the question

· Be polite, introduce yourself and take permission to examine

· Be gentle. Do not cause discomfort or pain during your examination

· Do a systematic clinical examination and discuss findings with your examination

· While undressing the patient maintain privacy, modesty of the patient

· Dress the patient after examination

· Say thanks and tell that you are going to discuss with the examiner if time permits.

· Do not argue with the examiner about findings. Remember rare diagnosis are rare to find in common clinical scenarios.

· In history taking and ethics be cautious and listen carefully. Read good ethics book.

· Practice history taking scenarios and ethics with your colleagues who are in the same boat

· Be confident or practice to be confident

The MRCP ( Ireland) is similar but final part( clinical examination ) has one long case and few short cases.The history taking, communication skills and ethics are included in these. These exams can be taken all over Ireland and few countries abroad.

Wait for the results for 4-5 weeks and celebrate if you pass.

Good luck !!