Start with a reasoning baseline
Use a mixed set to separate diagnostic, investigation and management errors. Part 2 planning should target the failed decision—not just the specialty.
Weeks 1–3: rebuild clinical decision maps
Work by specialty, focusing on interpretation, guideline-sensitive management and common nearest mimics. Review images and data in clinical context.
Weeks 4–6: mix and discriminate
Use mixed sets, compare plausible alternatives and practise reading the question’s final line first. Start timed 25–50 question blocks.
Weeks 7–8: management and safety
Prioritise unstable patients, immediate treatment sequences and investigations that change management. Revisit high-confidence errors urgently.
Final weeks: papers and calibration
Complete timed papers, analyse pacing and use short visual reviews between sessions. Stop adding resources.
A practical daily loop
Frequently asked questions
How long should I revise for Part 2?
Should I revise by specialty or mixed?
How much image interpretation is needed?
How should I review a wrong management answer?
Official sources and editorial note
Exam format information was checked against the official MRCP(UK) website on 30 July 2026. Examination dates, fees and delivery arrangements can change, so candidates should confirm the current position directly with MRCP(UK).
Independent educational guidance only. Med with Spence is not affiliated with MRCP(UK) or the Royal Colleges of Physicians.
Dr Sunney Salhan
NHS clinician, medical educator and creator of Med with Spence. The platform is designed to help busy doctors turn question-bank errors into clear, memorable clinical reasoning.
Founder credentials and editorial standards →Turn revision errors into clinical mental models.
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