How long should I prepare for MRCP Part 1?

Most candidates working full-time need 3 to 6 months. The most effective approach is question-led: work best-of-five questions by specialty, review every explanation, and target the clinical sciences and pharmacology early because they are commonly neglected. Timed mock papers in the final weeks build the stamina needed for two 3-hour papers in one day.

Is there negative marking in MRCP Part 1?

No. MRCP Part 1 has no negative marking, so you should answer every question. Leaving a question blank can only lose you a mark you might otherwise have gained by an educated guess.

How many MRCP Part 1 practice questions does MedLumen have?

MedLumen's MRCP Part 1 bank is a comprehensive, regularly updated set of best-of-five questions mapped to the MRCP(UK) blueprint, with full-length timed mock papers, AI-adaptive selection that targets weak areas, detailed explanations and analytics by specialty. The live question count is displayed on this page.

What comes after MRCP Part 1?

After passing Part 1 you progress to MRCP(UK) Part 2 (a written exam) and PACES (the practical clinical examination). Completing all three confers MRCP(UK) and is a key requirement for higher specialty training in the UK.

MRCP Part 1 Question Bank 2026 | Best-of-Five Practice Questions & Mocks

What Is the MRCP Part 1 Exam?

MRCP(UK) Part 1 is the first of three assessments in the Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians examination, run by the Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK. It tests how you apply basic and clinical sciences to common and important medical problems — the foundation for higher specialty training in medicine.

It is a written exam of two 3-hour papers, each containing 100 best-of-five (BOF) questions, sat on the same day — 200 questions in total.

💡 The trap most candidates fall into

The clinical sciences and clinical pharmacology components carry real weight but are the areas working clinicians neglect most. Building these in early — rather than relying on clinical instinct — is consistently where the marginal pass becomes a comfortable one.

Passing Part 1 unlocks MRCP(UK) Part 2 (written) and PACES (the practical clinical exam). Completing all three confers MRCP(UK).

MRCP Part 1 Format: Two Papers, 200 Questions

Both papers are sat on the same day, so stamina and pacing matter as much as knowledge.

The Papers

Best-of-Five (BOF)

Questions2 × 100 = 200

Duration2 × 3 hours

FormatOne stem, five options

Negative markingNone

Choose the single best answer from five plausible options — testing applied reasoning, not recall.

Standard & Result

Criterion-Referenced

Pass markStandard-set

Typical region~55–65%

Attempts allowedMaximum 6

Sittings3 per year

The pass mark is set by the Hofstee and Angoff methods against paper difficulty, so it shifts slightly each diet.

✓ No negative marking — answer everything

Every question deserves an answer. With no penalty for wrong responses, an educated guess on a tough item is always better than a blank.

MRCP Part 1 High-Yield Topics

Coverage spans the whole of general medicine plus the clinical sciences. Marks cluster around the major medical specialties and the science that underpins them.

Highest-Yield Areas

Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics: mechanisms, interactions, adverse effects, pharmacokinetics — woven through every specialty.
Cardiology: ECG and arrhythmia interpretation, heart failure, valvular disease, inherited conditions.
Endocrinology & Metabolic: pituitary and adrenal axes, thyroid, calcium, diabetes complications.
Gastroenterology & Hepatology: liver disease, IBD, malabsorption, GI physiology.
Nephrology: acid–base, electrolytes, glomerular disease, AKI and CKD.
Haematology & Infectious Diseases: anaemias, clotting, malignancy, antimicrobials and tropical disease.
Clinical Sciences: cell and molecular biology, genetics, immunology, physiology and statistics — the most under-prepared, high-yield block.

💡 Don't skip the statistics

Medical statistics and study design appear every sitting and are quick marks once learned. A few hours on sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and relative risk pays off disproportionately.

How to Prepare for MRCP Part 1

Most candidates working full-time need 3 to 6 months. The plan below is question-led — the most efficient route to a pass. See our MRCP guides on the MedLumen blog.

Month 1 · Foundations

Clinical sciences, pharmacology and statistics first

Front-load the under-prepared blocks while motivation is highest. Do focused questions on pharmacology, immunology, genetics and stats, reviewing every explanation. These are reliable, learnable marks.

Month 2–3 · System Sweep

Specialty-by-specialty best-of-five practice

Work cardiology, endocrine, gastro, renal, neuro, rheumatology, haematology and ID in timed blocks. Let the analytics dashboard target your weakest systems automatically.

Month 4–5 · Mocks & Consolidation

Full timed mock papers under exam conditions

Sit full-length mocks to build the stamina for two 3-hour papers in a day. Review each mock thoroughly and re-drill the topics that cost you marks.

Final 2 Weeks · Targeted Review

Weak areas and bookmarks only

Drill your three lowest-accuracy areas, review bookmarked questions, and rest in the final 48 hours. No new content.

Why MedLumen for MRCP Part 1?

🤖

AI Adaptive Selection

Questions that expose your gaps appear more often, so every session targets where your score can rise fastest across the blueprint.

📊

Analytics by Specialty

Track accuracy in every specialty and the clinical sciences, with a projected standing relative to the pass mark.

📱

iOS & Android App

Practise on the iOS app or Android app, synced across devices.

📋

Full Mock Papers

Timed two-paper mocks that replicate the real exam day's pace and pressure.

📖

Detailed Explanations

Every answer is explained with the underlying science and current guideline reasoning — so you learn the why.

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Unlimited Resets

Reset and start fresh as many times as you need across multiple sittings.

MRCP Part 1 Curriculum Coverage

The question bank spans the full MRCP(UK) blueprint. Explore by area:

Cardiology Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics Clinical Sciences Dermatology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatric Medicine Haematology Infectious Diseases Neurology Oncology & Palliative Care Ophthalmology Psychiatry Renal Medicine Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology

MRCP Part 1 Question Bank Pricing

All plans include full access to the MRCP Part 1 question bank, mock papers and the AI analytics dashboard. Start free — no credit card required.

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7 days full access

Full MRCP Part 1 bank
Complete blueprint
Mock papers included
AI analytics
iOS & Android app

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Best Value

3 Month Access

$34.99

full 3-month access

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Unlimited mock papers
AI analytics + predictor
iOS & Android app
Unlimited progress resets

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1 Year Access

$99.99

full 12-month access

Full MRCP Part 1 bank
Unlimited mock papers
AI analytics + predictor
iOS & Android app
Covers multiple sittings

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Ideal across multiple diets

Frequently Asked Questions About MRCP Part 1

What is the MRCP Part 1 exam?

MRCP(UK) Part 1 is the first of three assessments in the Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians exam, run by the Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians. It tests applied basic and clinical sciences across general medicine, as two 3-hour papers of 100 best-of-five questions each on the same day.

How many questions are in MRCP Part 1?

200 best-of-five questions total — two papers of 100, three hours each. One stem, five options, single best answer, with no negative marking.

What is the MRCP Part 1 pass mark?

It is criterion-referenced (Hofstee and Angoff), so it varies with paper difficulty — typically around 55–65%. First-attempt pass rates are historically ~40–55%.

Who is eligible to sit MRCP Part 1?

A recognised primary medical qualification and at least 12 months of postgraduate medical experience by the exam date. You don't need to work in the UK. Maximum six attempts.

What topics does MRCP Part 1 cover?

All major medical specialties plus clinical pharmacology and the clinical sciences (cell/molecular biology, genetics, immunology, physiology, statistics). Pharmacology and clinical sciences are heavily weighted and commonly under-prepared.

How long should I prepare?

Usually 3–6 months alongside work. Go question-led, front-load the sciences and pharmacology, and finish with full timed mock papers to build day-long stamina.

Is there negative marking?

No. Always answer every question — an educated guess can only help.

Is there a free MRCP Part 1 trial?

Yes — a 7-day free trial with full access to the question bank, mock papers and analytics, no card required.

What comes after Part 1?

MRCP(UK) Part 2 (written) and PACES (clinical). All three together confer MRCP(UK), a key requirement for higher specialty training.

Start Your MRCP Part 1 Preparation Today

Best-of-five practice across the full MRCP(UK) blueprint, with mocks and AI analytics. Free 7-day trial.

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📚 Further Reading from MedLumen Blog

→ How to Pass MRCP Part 1: The Honest Guide for Working Doctors
→ How to Pass PLAB 1 on Your First Attempt (2026)
→ All MedLumen exam preparation guides →