MRCS Part A

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NEW: Microlearning!

Introducing Microlearning, a comprehensive, searchable library of Media, Expanded Explanations (written topic summaries) and Flashcards, designed to strengthen your knowledge on hot topics that commonly appear in the MRCS Part A exam.

With comprehensive coverage of over 150 topics, ranging from Abdominal Trauma to Volvulus (and everything inbetween), you'll never need to scour the web for critical MRCS Part A exam content again!

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The overall pass rate for the 2022/2 exam was 43% - for our users it was 48%, which is a significant difference considering how notoriously hard the exam is!

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MRCS Part A question bank

4300+ Comprehensive MRCS Part A SBA Questions

Never run out of questions with this extensive resource - the largest bank of exam-style SBA questions available. Now including new, image-based questions covering X-ray/imaging interpretation, ECG interpretation, and Electrolyte changes - all of which are themes from recent MRCS Part A Exams!

We've also updated 600 questions so the resource continues to closely match the exam!

Past Papers

Simulate the most recent MRCS Part A exams with Past Papers compiled using our expert knowledge

Detailed, Dynamic Explanations

Make your revision session super-efficient by instantly displaying comprehensive explanations for both correct and incorrect answers

Contextual Clues

Highlight the key information in a question vignette and improve your question analysis skills

Expanded Explanations

Efficiently access everything you need to know about the topic tested in the question vignette. Each Expanded Explanation contains sub-sections so that you can quickly navigate to the information you need

More Questions Like This

Feel like a question has flagged a gap in your knowledge? Now, you can quickly test yourself by attempting some similar questions, before jumping back into your session

Specialty-Specific Videos and Podcasts

Revise with exam technique podcasts and hundreds of anatomy demonstrations presented by the legendary Professor Harold Ellis

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MRCS Part A experts

At Pastest we know all there is to know about the MRCS Part A exam - and how to help you pass! 

This expertise, developed through detailed analysis of each exam sitting and listening to our loyal customers, means we are able to produce the most accurate MRCS Part A revision resource available.

Read our Exam Insights blog for a wrap-up of recent MRCS Part A exams or our Complete Guide for all you need to know about the MRCS Part A Exam.

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NEW Mobile App!

Our brand new, game-changing app is ready for download on iOS and Android!

Our apps enable users to power through 26% more questions than non-app users and this latest release is packed out with exam-format questions, topic-based content, greater performance, enhanced usability and so much more!

Download it today to get started - exam success is in your hands!

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Incredibly helpful! Questions were similar to those in the real exam in terms of format and phrasing! Mock papers and past paper features in particular were extremely useful! Thanks Pastest!

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Giving the main MRCS exam felt like I was solving Pastest bank questions. Highly helpful videos and questions. Pastest any day.

Tommy Brave

The Pastest question bank was the only online resource I used and I passed the exam first time after five months of just doing the practice questions. This is a hugely useful resource and very convenient to use on the app while at work during quiet patches. The explanations for each question are helpful and clearly explained. I would recommend this resource to anyone considering taking the MRCS Part A exam.

Will Sloper

Choose your MRCS Part A resource

48-Hour Trial: Limited Access
FREE
Jan 2025 Exam
Access until 15/01/2025
£99.99
May 2025 Exam
Access until 07/05/2025
£149.99
Sep 2025 Exam
Access until 08/09/2025
£179.99

About the MRCS Part A exam

What is the MRCS Part A?

The Member of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) Part A is the first of two intercollegiate MRCS exams run by Colleges of Surgeons in Great Britain and Ireland. Earning a Diploma of Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons proves a candidates enhanced capabilities and clinical competence.

The Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) has recently been introduced to shortlist CST applicants.

For ST3, MRCS (Part A & B) must be completed by the time of offers.

Learn more about the MSRA exam here

MRCS Part A Exam Format

The MRCS Part A exam is 5 hours long and consists of two papers, both taken on the same day. Paper 1 (applied basic sciences) consists of 180 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and lasts for 3 hours. Paper 2 (principles of surgery in general) consists of 120 MCQs and lasts for 2 hours.

The full MRCS syllabus for both MRCS exams can be found on the Royal College of Surgeons website.

Please note, in September 2018 Extended Matching Questions (EMQs) were removed from the exam, and as such we removed these from the Pastest resource. Find out more about the exam format in our MRCS Part A Blog.

MRCS Part A Revision

In order to effectively undertake MRCS Part A revision we recommend practicing high quality MRCS Part A questions. Our resource contains over 4300 exam-style questions covering all the specialties found in the MRCS Part A syllabus.

To further enhance your MRCS Part A exam preparation, our resource also contains past papers, mock exams, videos and TeachMeAnatomy images. In addition, our MRCS question bank is also available offline using our cutting-edge MRCS Part A app.

MRCS Part A Exam Sittings

In the UK and Ireland, there are three exam sittings or 'diets'. Exam dates vary between the UK and Ireland exams, and International exams. For a full list of MRCS Part A dates visit the Royal College of Surgeons website.