When should I sit Part A?

That's up to you: you don't need a training post, only your primary medical qualification. It is an exit requirement for core surgical training, and ST3 posts ask for the full MRCS by the initial offers date, so passing Part A early leaves more time for Part B and your portfolio before ST3 applications.

How many attempts do I get?

Up to six, with one more possible under the Additional Attempt Policy. You are also expected to pass Part B within seven years of passing Part A.

What does it cost to sit?

£670 per attempt with RCS England for the current sittings, whichever of the three annual dates you choose.

Do I need to be in a surgical job to enter?

No. You need a primary medical qualification acceptable to the GMC or the Medical Council in Ireland. Doctors outside training posts enter on the same terms.

Coming soon

MRCS Part A

MRCS Part A is the written half of the MRCS: two papers in one five hour day. You need the full MRCS to finish core surgical training, and Part A comes first.

MRCS Part A

Coming soon

Multiple choice questions in the style of both Part A papers, with every answer explained.

The examination

What you are sitting

You don't need a training post to sit it, only a primary medical qualification the GMC or the Medical Council in Ireland accepts. The JCST treats the full MRCS as an exit requirement for core surgical training, and ST3 person specifications ask for it by the initial offers date.

hours of written papers, in one day: 5
per attempt: £670
sittings a year: 3

Format: A five hour written examination in one day: Applied Basic Science (3 hours), then Principles of Surgery in General (2 hours), marked as one combined total
Fee: £670 per attempt (RCS England, 2026 to 2027 sittings)
Attempts: Up to 6 attempts, with one more possible under the Additional Attempt Policy
2026 sittings: 21 January, 22 April and 9 September, at Pearson VUE centres
Eligibility: A primary medical qualification acceptable to the GMC or the Medical Council in Ireland; you do not need to be in a training post

Run by The Intercollegiate Committee for Basic Surgical Examinations (ICBSE) and the four surgical royal colleges. Sat during core and early years training; an exit requirement for core surgical training. Checked against ICBSE: MRCS regulations (January 2025) and RCS England: MRCS Part A, accessed 2026-07-26. Formats and fees are the bodies’ to change; always confirm against the official page before you book.

The revision platform

Everything for the MRCS Part A, on any screen

Read the notes on a tablet, answer questions on your phone between lists, and see every answer marked and explained. One account works on your computer, tablet and phone.

Structured notes
Every topic from definition to prognosis, with illustrations and flowcharts.
Track your progress
Your level in every area of your syllabus, with focus areas that open the questions to practise next.

Air under tension. Air leaks in with each breath and cannot escape, so the heart and the other lung are pushed aside.

Ask the tutor
Ask about any answer, or to be asked it as a viva; the reply names the note to revise.
Timed mock papers
Full papers under Part A timing, with a report at the end.

Structured notes
Every topic from definition to prognosis, with illustrations and flowcharts.
Track your progress
Your level in every area of your syllabus, with focus areas that open the questions to practise next.
Ask the tutor
Ask about any answer, or to be asked it as a viva; the reply names the note to revise.
Timed mock papers
Full papers under Part A timing, with a report at the end.

Questions

Common questions

Something else? Contact Us

Guides & articles

Know what matters, and when.

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