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If you are a doctor aiming for a thriving career in surgery, you have probably come across the letters ‘MRCS’ while exploring the qualifications involved. You may also have heard other doctors talk about Part A and Part B of MRCS and the different ways they prepared for each exam, leaving you with plenty of advice but little sense of how it all fits together. 

Since there are a lot of study resources available, it is easy to start gathering books, question bank and revision materials before you have a clear picture of the pathway ahead. However, before you do that, it would be really helpful if you had a clear idea of the exam. Who can take it? Where should you begin? What does each part assess? And how does MRCS fit into your wider surgical career plans?

If you are serious about MRCS, our new YouTube series, ‘All About MRCS’, is a perfect place to start exploring those questions.

Understanding the MRCS Exams

The membership of the Royal College of Surgeons examination has two parts. Part A is a written exam that assesses the knowledge needed for surgical training. Part B is an Objective Structured Clinical Examination, or OSCE, where candidates demonstrate clinical and practical skills across a series of stations. Candidates must pass Part A before taking Part B.

Knowing the difference matters when you plan your preparation. Reading and question practice may be central to your Part A routine. For Part B, you will also need to practise how you examine, explain, and respond in an exam setting.

Your Questions, Answered in One Series

When you are new to MRCS, even a simple question can send you through several pages of exam information. You might be looking up the format of Part A for one minute and wondering when to begin preparing for Part B the next.

That is why we created All About MRCS: a YouTube series to help aspiring candidates understand the qualification and think through their next steps. Presented by an AI avatar of Dr. Rakshith Chakravarthy, StudyMRCS Course Director, the videos bring all the important questions into one easy-to-follow series.

The All About MRCS series walks you through:

• MRCS eligibility: who can take the exam
• Exam booking: how to register
• Exam centres: where you can take the exam
• Format and structure: how the exam is organised
• Marking and results: how your performance is assessed and what happens after the exam

Watch the videos in order for an overview, or go straight to the topic you need help with right now.

Click here to watch the All About MRCS playlist.

Where Could MRCS Take You?

MRCS is a prestigious destination for doctors pursuing surgical training. In the UK and Ireland, completing both parts is expected for trainees progressing towards higher specialty training. Your next steps will still depend on the country where you intend to practise and the training route you choose.

You do not need to have every career decision settled before you start learning about MRCS. Understanding the exams now can help you ask better questions, set a realistic timeline, and prepare with more purpose.

Start with a Clearer Picture

Before you choose a study plan, take a little time to understand the journey ahead. Watch All About MRCS on the StudyMEDIC YouTube channel and get familiar with the pathway before taking your next step.