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With remaining 2026 exam diets for MRCS Part B OSCE fast approaching candidates i candidates in the UK, Egypt, Pakistan and elsewhere are gearing up for the final stage of preparation. While you could go topic by topic yet again, the best use of your time at this stage is to identify the things that you find most difficult and practice using the skills required to answer the types of questions that will be asked on the day of the exam.

Upcoming MRCS Part B OSCE Exam Diets 2026

Note: Do not assume you have the same test date and location as your colleagues or fellow candidates. Your specific exam date within that range will be confirmed and notified by the RCS.

Know Exactly What You’re Walking Into

Part B of the MRCS exam has 17 stations timed at 9 minutes each. There is 1 minute of reading time provided before each station. The circuit also contains 2 preparation stations and a rest station. The entire circuit takes about 3.5-4 hours to complete. Candidates are required to have good stamina to endure the long duration of the exam. Knowledge of the different fields of surgery is tested in the circuit.

The stations in the circuit are of two types: stations that test Applied Knowledge and stations that test  Applied Skills. The Applied Knowledge stations assess the candidate’s knowledge of various disciplines of surgery and critical care. The Applied Skills stations assess the candidate’s communication and clinical and procedural skills. Four of the communication stations are performed with the aid of a simulated patient and/or actor.  Physical exam and surgical skills stations may also be assessed with a simulated patient and/or actor. These may also include wound suturing or other basic procedures on skin pads or models.

The examiners use a borderline regression method to determine final overall assessment of a candidate. Each candidate is assessed on a variety of factors including the knowledge and skills they possess and also how they interact with others. For example, how they behave with the patient or how they convey a message to the bystander are taken into consideration.

Last – Minute Examination Checklist

At the final stage, your focus should be purely on revisions and not learning new content. Discussing or reading over the content may help you retrieve it. Make sure you revisit the following without fail:

• The relations of the lower limb nerves and vessels as well as the layers of the abdominal wall and the Brachial Plexus should be reviewed as they are tested frequently.
• Wound healing and fluid and electrolyte balance are examples of concepts in Applied Surgical Science.
• The primary survey of the ATLS as well as the Sepsis Six and the interpretation of ABGs are examples of Critical Care concepts.
• It is important to practice breaking bad news and obtaining consent for procedures over this final stage.
• Practice performing a thorough clinical exam of each of the major body systems.
• Practice doing various clinical procedures such as suturing, catheterization, and placing a nasogastric tube.

During this final stage of preparation, it is important to take a timed 9-minute stations practice test with a partner to help simulate the real test conditions.

Non-Academic Checklist : Just as Important

Let’s not forget these small yet important tips before walking into the MRCS Part B OSCE stations:

• Double check your exam location and time
• Allow extra time to travel to your exam, consider arriving the day before if it’s far away
• Check what ID you will need to bring (driver’s license, confirmation email)
• Get plenty of sleep the nights leading up to the exam, you can’t concentrate and think clearly if you are exhaustedly trying to revise
• Eat a good meal and if your blood sugar is low you won’t be able to think clearly
• Find a activity or practice a ritual to do between each station
• Before moving to the next station, practice going over the next step you will take
• Try to arrive when the exam is starting so you don’t feel rushed, you will have 1 minute to plan your first step, and read your first prompt
• Focus on performing the task and maintaining your professionalism toward staff members
• One station will not make or break the exam. If a station turns out poorly, think about the next step and focus on performing the next task.

Things to avoid

Candidates often focus on obscure details and not master the basics. More than remembering details, it is important to know the communication frameworks and understand the relevant stations for the MRCS OSCE exam. Last minute preparation should include practicing speaking out the answers. Many candidates engage in silent revision and are unsuccessful in answering the case during the time allotted.

Ignoring the “softer” stations (communication, ethics, consent). Remember these are equally weighted and easy to lose marks on through poor structure.

Honesty and safety netting often result in positive outcomes in the OSCE exam.  Remember, when in doubt, you should always say you don’t know or you would refer it to a higher level.

A Note to the MRCS Part B OSCE Candidates

No one walks into an exam feeling certain about every possible station. There may be topics you hoped to revise once more, and that is okay. What matters is that you can think clearly, use your training and respond to the task in front of you.

All the very best to everyone sitting the upcoming MRCP Part B OSCE exams in 2026.

If you have any queries regarding the exam or would like a last-minute roundup of important MRCS Part B topics and stations, we’re here to help. Get in touch with us today!