Acquire Preparation Tips for MRCS Exam
The Membership Examination of the Surgical Royal Colleges of Great Britain and Ireland (the MRCS) is meant for surgical trainees in the generality part of specialty training. Moreover, the MRCS exam is a pivotal step in a surgical career.
Besides, it determines whether a surgical trainee possesses the correct knowledge, skills and attributes to complete basic training and advance to higher levels of specialist surgical training.
Right Time for Preparation
Don’t make the mistake of waiting for the last moment to start your preparation. In addition, a candidate who is taking the MRCS exam for the first time needs at least a duration of 4 months. That duration is further necessary to get a good grasp of the surgical topics and understand the foundation for the exam.
You can prevent the risk of rushing through topics and missing topics by starting early. Furthermore, time is a necessity to read, understand and train to get the skills to pass an exam. Online MRCS course with mock exams can be further beneficial for exam preparation. Read on to know more about exam pattern and tips for exam preparation.
MRCS Part A Exam Pattern
MRCS Part A Exam consists of 2 papers. First paper comprises 180 MCQs and extends for 3 hours with a 10-minute break in between. Second paper is composed of 120 MCQs and extends for 2 hours. Each MCQ is given one minute only. Try your best to finish each question within 50 seconds.
Flag questions that you are doubtful about. Re-attempt them only when you have completed answering all the questions. Make sure you choose the most logical and the nearest answer when you don’t know an answer.
Tips For Examination
You are bound to come across questions that are long or scenario based. Read them first and look at the scenario to pick the clues. Make sure that you take the break of 10 minutes after 90 questions of the paper 1. Do not continue without the break. The most overwhelming part of the exam used to be answering 180 questions continuously.
It used to make the candidate tired during the last hour of the exam. The exhaustion at times gets dragged to the paper 2 after the break. Take all the advantages you are allowed.
Fuel up yourself with instantly available glucose, sugars and a cup of coffee during the breaks. It will help you refresh. Do a bit of stretching if your body feels stiff. It can happen after staying in the same position for long hours.
Refrain from reading anything in the morning or discussing any answers or questions of the paper 1 with anyone during the breaks. Relax and get ready for the next paper.
You may feel overwhelmed in the second paper and you might even feel exhausted. This is totally normal. Just like a surgeon, you cannot give up in the middle of the surgery. Keep on moving forward one question at a time and finish the exam with a positive attitude.
Hope you found this information helpful. All the best with your MRCS Exam preparation. Good Luck!
