Examinations

Candidate feedback

Candidates receive information about the breakdown of their results.

MRCP(UK) Written Examinations and Specialty Certificate Examinations

Results letters accessed through candidates' My MRCP(UK) accounts clearly set out the following information:

• Examination result – whether the candidate has passed or failed the examination
• Overall score – the mark the candidate achieved in the examination
• Pass mark – the mark required to pass the examination
• A detailed analysis of the candidate's performance in the exam broken down by specialty/topic - the percentage of questions correctly answered within each blueprint heading. An example follows:

* Please note that these categories are for indicative purposes only and do not represent absolute classifications.

Top tips for candidates

Example results letter with top tips for candidates.pdf

MRCP(UK) Part 2 Clinical Examination (PACES)

Result letters accessed through candidates' My MRCP(UK) accounts clearly set out the following information:

• Examination result - whether the candidate has passed or failed the examination
• Overall score - the mark the candidate achieved in the examination
• Total score for each skill
• Total score for each encounter.

This is provided so that candidates may have a meaningful understanding of their performance in the examination and to help them identify areas of relative strength and weakness.

Candidates seeking additional feedback are advised to discuss the breakdown of their marks with their educational supervisor or whoever oversees their clinical and educational progress.

Counselling

Candidates may also receive an additional form of feedback, known as counselling, at the request of a chair of examiners (following review and discussion of the performance of each candidate after each examination cycle), or the Clinical Examination Board. Reasons may include:

• Poor performance in maintaining patient welfare (Skill G)
• Poor performance overall (failed 6 or more skills)
• Physical or verbal roughness with a patient/surrogate.

All candidates defined above will receive counselling in the form of a letter from their relevant examination department, indicating the areas of their performance that were felt to be problematic and how future performance might be improved, and a copy of their marksheets.

Any candidate who requests further information regarding their performance is sent copies of their marksheets. The colleges will not enter into correspondence about their performance unless via the Appeals and Complaints procedure, which makes clear that any appeal which seeks to question the exercise of professional or academic judgement will not be considered.