This post is about the very first step towards the MRCOG journey i.e. Part ONE exam.
I have tried to give a piece of general advice, an essential reading materials list and an outline for the preparation of MRCOG part one.
Before going for this exam, you need to understand what is this exam all about and then plan accordingly.
Understand the exam
All the essential information about the exam is available on RCOG website. Just to summarise important points:
- MRCOG comprises three parts. Parts 1 & 2 are written exams and part 3 is a clinical skills assessment exam.
- Part 1 MRCOG assesses the basic sciences’ knowledge relevant to the clinical practice of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the level of a UK ST3 Trainee.
- You can take part 1 after completing your house job / internship.
- It would be beneficial if you have some working experience in Ob/Gyn as about 25% of questions are based on your clinical knowledge.
- This exam can be taken while you prepare for the first part of your local postgraduate exams in Ob/Gyn (as usually, all these exams assess knowledge of basic sciences)
How to book the Part 1 MRCOG exam
- Applying for the Part 1 exam is a two-stage process: eligibility and booking.
- You must first have your eligibility application processed and approved before you can make a booking application online.
- Please follow this link for updated information from the website: Booking Part 1
Exam Calendar
Part 1 MRCOG is conducted two times per year in the months of January & July at various locations across the globe
Exam Format
Written exam
Two papers each consisting of 100 Single Best Answer (SBA) questions
Paper 1 —50% of marks
Paper 2 —50% of marks
No minimum score is required for each paper. The outcome is determined by the candidate’s overall marks.
Timetable
SBA Paper 1
Duration 2.5 hours (150 min)
100 SBAs
Paper 1: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Embryology, Endocrinology, Epidemiology/Statistics, Genetics, Physiology
Lunch break (approx. 60 min)
SBA Paper 2
Duration 2.5 hours (150 min)
100 SBAs
Paper 2: Biophysics, Clinical Management, Data Interpretation, Immunology, Microbiology, Pathology, Pharmacology