Preparing for exams
This section will help you learn more about what you need to do to prepare for each exam.
A College resource available is Trainees Online (TrOn) which is an online learning resource to support trainee psychiatrists in preparing for MRCPsych exams. For any queries regarding TrOn please contact tron@rcpsych.ac.uk.
Frequently asked questions about preparing for our exams can be found here.
MRCPsych Paper A is a written paper on the scientific and theoretical basis of psychiatry.
How long is the exam and what are the questions?
Paper A is a three hour exam worth 150 marks, comprised of 150 questions.
It is made up of approximately:
- two-thirds multiple choice questions (MCQ) and
- one-third extended matching item questions (EMI).
What does it cover?
Paper A covers the following sections of the syllabus:
- Behavioural Science and Sociocultural Psychiatry
- Human Development
- Basic Neurosciences
- Clinical Psychopharmacology
- Classification and Assessment in Psychiatry
On Paper A, the percentage split/marks on a 150 mark exam is/would be:
| Behavioural Science and Socio-cultural Psychiatry | 16.67% / 25 |
| Human Development | 16.67% / 25 |
| Basic Neurosciences | 25.00% / 37 or 38 |
| Clinical Psychopharmacology | 25.00% / 37 or 38 |
| Classification and Assessment in Psychiatry | 16.67% / 25 |
Members of the College can log in and access sample questions from this link. Non-members should email the Examinations team at examinations@rcpsych.ac.uk
MRCPsych Paper B is a written paper which assesses critical review and the clinical topics in psychiatry.
How long is the exam and what are the questions?
Paper B is a three-hour exam worth 150 marks, comprised of 150 questions.
It is made up of approximately two-thirds multiple-choice questions (MCQ) and one-third extended matching item questions (EMI).
- One-third of the paper covers critical review.
- Two-thirds of the paper covers clinical topics.
What will it cover?
Paper B will cover the following sections of the syllabus:
- Organisation and Delivery of Psychiatric Services
- General Adult Psychiatry
- Old Age Psychiatry
- Psychotherapy
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Substance Misuse/Addictions
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Psychiatry of Learning Disability
- Critical Review
| Organisation and delivery | 5.50% / 8 |
| General Adult | 20.00% / 30 |
| Old Age | 9.00% / 14 |
| Psychotherapy | 5.50% / 8 |
| Child & Adolescent | 9.00% / 14 |
| Substance misuse | 6.50% / 10 |
| Forensic | 5.50% / 8 |
| Learning disability | 5.50% / 8 |
| Critical Review | 33.5% / 50 |
Current syllabus (PDF)
Current critical review syllabus (PDF)
Members of the College can log in and access sample questions from this link. Non-members should email the Examinations team. Examinations@rcpsych.ac.uk
Sample questions from Paper B - Login required (PDF)
Taking Papers A and B online: Sample exam
The Clinical Assessment of Skills and Competencies (CASC) tests your clinical skills in a range of clinical situations.
What is the format for the CASC?
The CASC format is like an OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination).
Please note the circuit of eight ‘link stations’ which used to take place during the morning session has ceased to exist.
The CASC is made up of two circuits of individual stations which will test your clinical skills:
The morning circuit will allow you four minutes to read the instructions and seven minutes to complete the consultation task
The afternoon circuit will allow you 90 seconds to read the instructions and seven minutes to complete the consultation task.
The sixteen CASC station exam is made up of:
- 5 x stations focused on History Taking, including risk assessment
- 5 x stations focused on Examination - both physical and mental state, including capacity assessment
- 6 x stations focused on patient Management.
Circuit 1
- 6 x stations focused on Management
- 1 x station focused on Examination
- 1 x station focused on History Taking
- 4 minutes reading time prior to entering each station
- 7 minutes to perform the task
Circuit 2
- 4 x stations focused on Examination
- 4 x stations focused on History Taking
- 90 seconds reading time prior to entering each station
- 7 minutes to perform the task
The College reserves the right to change the order in which the circuits are presented.
CASC syllabus and blueprint
The new CASC syllabus, mapped to the 2022 core psychiatry curriculum will be applicable from September 2023.
Watch the CASC syllabus webinar
The Q&A is available under FAQs about preparing for exams
How is the CASC marked?
See the criteria for scoring a pass mark in CASC.
Please see updated CASC marksheets:
Guide for CASC candidates
For further information about stations, the role players and how you will be assessed, see the CASC candidate guide.
eBook: The Maudsley Trainee Guide to the CASC
The College Library provides revision materials for trainees, including an eBook of The Maudsley Trainee Guide to the CASC. Access is via an RCPsych OpenAthens account, if you do not have an account yet, get in touch.
Further information
Videos showing sample stations
To see a CASC station brought to life, watch videos of sample stations from a face-to-face examination. The principles will remain the same for online exams.
Checking the CASC process
Read about the measures we take to ensure CASC provides a valid and reliable assessment of your knowledge and clinical skills – see the CASC quality assurance process.
CASC Candidate Questionnaire
After taking CASC, candidates are invited to complete a questionnaire providing feedback. Read a round-up of recent feedback.
CASC Blueprint
See the CASC Blueprint (applicable until August 2023).
IT requirements
Download the IT requirements to take the CASC online.