The Member of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom (MRCP) Part 1 exam is a critical assessment for medical graduates pursuing specialist training in the UK. For doctors and international medical graduates preparing for this examination, accessing reliable and free study materials is a common strategy. The provided source materials detail several online resources that offer complimentary past papers, question banks, and practice tests in formats such as PDFs and interactive online simulators. These resources are primarily hosted on educational and medical study websites, and their availability often depends on user registration or direct download links. It is important to note that these resources are not official examination materials but are curated by third-party educators and platforms to aid preparation.
Understanding the MRCP Part 1 Examination
The MRCP Part 1 is a written examination taken by doctors who have completed a minimum of twelve months of postgraduate medical experience. This includes both UK-trained doctors and international medical graduates (IMGs). The exam is the first step towards the MRCP (UK) Diploma, which is a post-graduate qualification designed to assess the knowledge, skills, and behaviours of doctors seeking to enter specialty training in the United Kingdom. Preparation for this exam typically involves extensive study of clinical medicine, with a focus on best-of-five (BOF) and multiple-choice question (MCQ) formats.
Free MRCP Part 1 Past Papers and Question Banks
Several online platforms provide free access to MRCP Part 1 questions and past papers. These resources are designed to mirror the style and content of the actual examination, offering candidates an opportunity to test their knowledge under timed conditions.
QuesMed Free Past Paper
QuesMed offers a free past paper consisting of 100 questions for MRCP Part 1. According to their blog, these questions are based on themes from previous exam sittings and are written to closely match the style of the actual examination. To access this free resource, users are required to click a "start test" button on their website. This suggests an interactive, online format rather than a downloadable PDF. The blog post is dated 18th November 2024, indicating the resource is current for recent exam preparation cycles.
Easy-Quizzz Practice Test Simulator
The Easy-Quizzz platform provides a free version of an MRCP Part 1 Practice Test simulator. This free version is described as a practice test that unlocks access to all online simulator questions. The full version, which requires purchase, offers over 120 constantly updated questions divided into 12 topics. The platform claims that 98% of users pass the exam on their first attempt after preparing with their 120-question database, which includes questions from previous and other exams. The free version serves as an introductory tool, allowing users to experience the simulator's format and time constraints.
Downloadable PDF Resources for MRCP Part 1
Several sources provide links to free PDF downloads of MRCP Part 1 study materials. These resources are often hosted on third-party repository links and are shared via educational blogs like Medicalstudyzone.com.
Medicalstudyzone.com PDF Downloads
Medicalstudyzone.com is a blog that shares links to free PDF downloads of various medical study resources. For MRCP Part 1, the site has posted links for several materials, including: * Passmedicine Qbank 2025 for MRCP Part 1 PDF: A question bank for practice. * PasTest for MRCP QBank Latest PDF: Another question bank resource. * Step Up to MRCP Review Notes PDF: A review notes book by Dr. Khaled Magraby. * Dr Khaled El Magraby Step Up to MRCP Part I and Part II Review Notes 2023 Edition PDF: An updated version of the review notes.
The blog repeatedly states that to ensure user safety and faster downloads, it uses trusted third-party repository links that are not hosted on its own website. Users are advised to click the provided links to access the downloads.
Other Free PDF Resources
Additional free resources are mentioned in other sources, though they may not be exclusively for Part 1 or may require navigation through linked websites. * Neurology 4 MRCP Group of Websites: This group, headed by Dr. Osama Amin, offers a vast free resource of questions and answers for MRCP and MRCPI, many in PDF format for easy downloading and printing. While many are neurology-themed, they cover broader MRCP content. The resources include a book titled "One year of hard Work" and an eBook "Teaching Best of Five Questions for MRCP UK and Ireland Part I Examinations 3ed." * Dr Ahmed Hakim's PDF: A 278-page PDF file of questions in BOF format with answers and explanations is available, though it is hosted on a Brazilian website which may be slow. * Other Websites: The source mentions that a "big and best selection of MCQs and BOFs" is available at certain links, some requiring free registration and others free for all. It also notes that Cuni.cz has 971 MCQs in an MRCP Question Bank, though it is described as getting dated.
Interactive Online Question Banks and Resources
Beyond PDFs, several platforms offer interactive question banks or online resources, some of which are free or offer free trials.
MedQ Interactive MRCP Website
MedQ, an interactive MRCP website, has made all 1,446 of its Best-of-five (BOF) format questions available for free. Free registration is required to access these questions. This is a significant resource, providing a large bank of practice questions in the exact format used in the MRCP Part 1 exam.
Medibyte for MRCP Part 2
While focused on MRCP Part 2, Medibyte is mentioned as offering online access to their MRCP Part 2 questions. The site is sponsored by Medipass, which runs courses for MRCP. This indicates that free access to Part 2 questions may be available, though the specifics are not detailed in the provided sources.
Clinical Tutor and Sheffield University
Clinicaltutor.com and Sheffield University are noted as sources for free Part 2 questions. Clinicaltutor.com offers some free Part-2 questions on its website, while Sheffield University provides free Part 2 questions in PDF format for downloading. Again, these are for Part 2, not Part 1.
Medicine CPD
The website medicinecpd.co.uk, from the publisher of the Medicine series of Journals, offers hundreds of free questions in BOF format. These are intended for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) purposes but are equally useful for MRCP revision. This resource is available for free online access.
Considerations for UK Medical Graduates and International Medical Graduates
For UK-based medical graduates and international medical graduates (IMGs) preparing for the MRCP Part 1, these free resources can be valuable supplementary study tools. However, several important considerations should be noted:
- Source Reliability: The resources are provided by third-party educational websites and are not official MRCP UK materials. Their accuracy and alignment with the current exam syllabus should be verified by the user. The official MRCP UK website should be the primary source for information on exam format, content, and preparation guidelines.
- Registration Requirements: Many free resources, such as those on MedQ or QuesMed, require free registration to access the questions. This involves providing personal details, which should be done with an understanding of the platform's privacy policy.
- Format and Accessibility: Resources vary from downloadable PDFs (which can be used offline) to interactive online simulators (which may require an internet connection). Users should choose the format that best suits their study habits.
- Currency of Materials: While some resources are updated for 2025 (e.g., Passmedicine Qbank 2025), others may be older (e.g., the Cuni.cz question bank is described as dated). It is advisable to seek the most recent materials where possible.
- Comprehensive Preparation: Free resources are excellent for practice but may not cover the entire syllabus comprehensively. Many candidates also invest in paid question banks, textbooks, and courses for thorough preparation.
Conclusion
A variety of free MRCP Part 1 study resources are available online, including past papers, question banks, and review notes in both PDF and interactive online formats. Platforms such as QuesMed, Easy-Quizzz, Medicalstudyzone.com, and MedQ provide accessible materials that can help candidates familiarise themselves with the exam format and practice their knowledge. However, these resources are provided by third parties and are not official examination materials. UK and international medical graduates should use them as part of a broader, well-structured study plan that includes official guidance and, if necessary, paid resources for comprehensive coverage of the MRCP Part 1 syllabus.