Can you sit PACES without MRCP Part 2 Written?
The MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written and PACES are the final two components of the MRCP qualification, an essential diploma for physicians who want to begin higher specialist training. The two exams can be taken in either order; the only exam you must pass before applying for PACES is MRCP Part 1.
But there's more to PACES eligibility than that one rule. The Royal Colleges recommend a certain amount of clinical experience behind you before you attempt the clinical exam, and the regulations on how long a Part 1 pass lasts changed recently. The seven-year deadline many candidates still plan around no longer applies.
Read on to find out more about the requirements for taking the PACES exam and learn which MRCP Part 2 exam you should sit first.
MRCP Part 2 and PACES: what you need to know
The MRCP(UK) diploma is split into two parts. Part 1 is a written multiple-choice exam that tests your understanding of the scientific principles and core clinical knowledge underpinning medicine. Part 2 focuses on applying that knowledge to clinical scenarios.
Unlike Part 1, MRCP Part 2 consists of two different exams: Part 2 Written and PACES. Part 2 Written is another multiple-choice exam, while PACES is a face-to-face clinical exam. It stands for the Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills, and its full official title is the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Clinical Examination (PACES).
Many candidates abbreviate MRCP(UK) Part 2 Written to just “Part 2”, even though PACES is also technically a Part 2 exam.
Do you need to pass MRCP Part 2 Written before PACES?
No. Passing MRCP Part 1 is the single exam requirement before you apply for PACES. The Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians, which runs the exam, confirms that once you have passed Part 1, you can apply for either Part 2 Written or PACES. Neither second-stage exam depends on the other.
To be awarded the full MRCP(UK) diploma, you do need to pass all three parts eventually. The order of the two second-stage components is yours to choose, though most candidates sit Part 2 Written first.
MRCP PACES eligibility criteria
There are a handful of requirements that need to be met ahead of every PACES application.
A pass in MRCP Part 1
This is the one hard rule. Without passing MRCP Part 1, you can't apply for PACES or for Part 2 Written. Before attempting MRCP Part 1, you’ll need to have attained a primary medical qualification recognised by the GMC, and you must have graduated at least 12 months prior to the Part 1 examination date.
Clinical experience after graduation
It’s not a strict requirement, but MRCP(UK) recommends at least two years of clinical experience following your primary medical qualification before you attempt PACES. That typically means finishing the two-year foundation programme and entering Internal Medicine Training, or an equivalent period of training elsewhere. Of those two years, at least four months should be spent in posts involving the continuing care of emergency medical patients.
The reasoning is that PACES asks you to examine real patients across a wide range of conditions, and that's difficult to do well without ward experience behind you.
English language ability
Every PACES station runs in English, so the Federation recommends a standard equivalent to IELTS Level 7.5 in each module. Where a patient doesn't speak English, a surrogate gives the history on their behalf, and surrogates speak English too.
Exam attempts
You can sit each part of the MRCP(UK) exam (Part 1, Part 2 Written, and PACES) a maximum of six times each. Note that this is six attempts per part, not six across the whole diploma. If you reach six attempts at PACES, you can apply for a single exceptional additional attempt, but only by submitting evidence of further educational activity agreed with your educational supervisor.
Do MRCP Part 1 or Part 2 passes expire?
Not any more. MRCP(UK) used to require candidates to complete the whole diploma within seven years of passing Part 1, but this rule was removed in 2024. A Part 1 pass no longer expires, so there's no countdown forcing you to finish Part 2 Written or PACES by a set date.
Since the rule no longer applies, if you passed Part 1 more than seven years ago, you can now apply for Part 2 without having to retake Part 1. However, you are still limited to six attempts at each exam, and this applies regardless of how much time has passed since your last attempt.
Which should you sit first: MRCP Part 2 Written or PACES?
There's no official rule, so this comes down to strategy and personal preference. However, most candidates take Part 2 Written first. It helps build the solid foundation of knowledge that you’ll need to pass PACES, so taking the written paper first makes preparing for the clinical exam much easier.
Historical data suggests that pass rates are higher for candidates who take Part 2 Written in the first two years after graduation, and then wait one or two years before sitting PACES. Dates for Part 2 Written are also easier to book, and the written format is cheaper to resit if things don't go your way.
That’s not to say that sitting MRCP Part 2 Written before PACES is absolutely essential. It’s just highly recommended. Some candidates have successfully prepared for both exams simultaneously and passed them both within a short space of time.
Do you need to revise MRCP Part 2 for PACES?
In a sense. PACES and Part 2 Written draw on the same body of clinical medicine, so to prepare for PACES, you will need to revise the core clinical knowledge that is tested in Part 2 Written. But you don’t need to study any specific multiple choice questions.
Part 2 Written checks your diagnostic and management reasoning through Best of Five questions. PACES puts you in front of real patients and surrogates across a series of stations, testing physical examination, history taking, communication, and clinical judgement under time pressure. You need the same underlying knowledge for both, but PACES also demands bedside skills that no amount of question practice alone will build. Our full guide to the MRCP PACES exam breaks down each station and what examiners are looking for.
If you've already passed Part 2 Written, much of your factual revision carries straight over. If you haven't, you will need to make sure your clinical knowledge is solid while you drill the practical skills PACES is built around.
Prepare for MRCP PACES with Pastest
Strong PACES preparation blends three things: solid clinical knowledge, repeated practice at exam-style stations, and honest feedback on your technique.
Pastest's MRCP PACES revision platform covers the clinical scenarios and stations you'll face, with high-quality patient case videos, teaching cases and over 200 spot diagnosis and flashcard skills tests. If you learn best with hands-on teaching, our 1-day PACES in-person course puts you through mock stations with examiner-style feedback.
Not sure where to start? Our PACES revision guide covers everything you need to know to prepare for the exam, including learning strategies and revision plans.
Frequently asked questions
Can you do PACES without MRCP Part 2 Written?
Yes. You only need a pass in MRCP Part 1 to be eligible for PACES. Part 2 Written and PACES can be taken in either order once Part 1 is done. However, it’s strongly recommended to sit the written exam first, as it helps build the core clinical knowledge you’ll need to prepare for PACES.
Is PACES the same as MRCP Part 2?
Not quite. PACES is the MRCP(UK) Part 2 Clinical Examination: the practical, bedside half of the second stage. The MRCP Part 2 Written exam is a separate paper. Both fall under "Part 2" of the MRCP(UK) diploma, which is why they're easy to mix up.
Can international medical graduates sit PACES without working in the UK?
Yes. You don't need to be working in the UK, hold GMC registration, or be enrolled in a UK training programme to sit PACES. What you need is a recognised primary medical qualification and a pass in MRCP Part 1. PACES runs at international centres as well as UK ones, though UK places are prioritised for UK trainees.
How many attempts do you get at PACES?
Candidates are allowed six attempts at PACES, with the same limit applying separately to Part 1 and Part 2 Written. If you reach six, you can apply for one exceptional additional attempt by showing evidence of further study.
How long do you have to sit PACES after passing MRCP Part 1?
There is no time limit. The old rule requiring you to sit MRCP Part 2 within seven years of passing Part 1 has been removed. So, your Part 1 pass doesn't expire, though the six-attempt cap still applies. MRCP(UK) recommends you have at least two years of postgraduate clinical experience before sitting PACES.