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How to Use Your Revision Time Effectively for the MRCPCH Exams

Posted on January 28th, 2012 by Tim Smith

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) require all potentially eligible members to successfully complete the MRCPCH exam process in order to be a qualified member. Guidelines set by the RCPCH stipulate that every candidate wanting to sit the exams must hold a medical qualification recognised by the Colleges of Paediatricians and Child Health.

Potential candidates who wish to take the exams will only be considered 18 months after the graduation date on their diplomas of medical qualification if they have also spent at least six months training in a post involving the care of medical patients. Once you are eligible, however, you will be able to take the MRCPCH examination which comprises of three separate sections:

*MRCPCH part 1 – The first exam consists of two written papers focusing on basic paediatrics and the science of paediatrics.

* MRCPCH part 2 is also a two part written examination covering the application of clinical knowledge and decision making skills in all areas of paediatrics and child health.

* The final process is the newly instated MRCPCH Clinical Examination which consists of a ten station practical assessment.

Preparing for the MRCPCH exams in 5 steps

The entire examination process however has proven to be a particularly difficult task with up to 75% of trainees failing the MRCPCH 1 exam at each sitting. It’s therefore important to take the necessary steps for the best chance of preparing for the MRCPCH examinations.

1.Selecting a suitable exam date – Once you know you are eligible for the exams, the first step is to set your exam date, preferably 3-6 months away depending on your work schedule. Committing to an exam date will give you a measurable goal to work towards and give you a suitable time to prepare.

2.Outline your strengths and weaknesses within the syllabus – Once you have become familiar with the core syllabus a good revision tip is to create a structured study plan to identify areas which may need improvement and allocate more time and effort to these areas of study.

3.Practicing with previous papers – Anyone who has taken the MRCPCH exams and was successful will tell you the key to passing your exam is practice, practice, practice. When doing practice papers, keep to a restricted time as this will be good preparation for real exam conditions.

4.Try out different revision techniques – There is a wide range of revision sources available including revision classes, revision guides and courses, with each potentially suiting a different learning style. Trying several different techniques will allow you to find the most effective ones and will enhance your knowledge and skills to give you a greater chance of success.

5.Try a variety of revision sources – Using a range of revision techniques will enhance your knowledge and skills as well as giving you a greater chance of success. Take a look at a selection of revision classes, revision guides and courses and see which one suits your learning style.

PasTest has a variety of medical revision material and courses to improve your medical knowledge for the MRCPCH exams. Visit the company’s website or call 01565 752000.

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