When you’re getting ready for your examinations, it’s best to accept all of the guidance you can. We also offer resources to support your studies. Here are a few tips to help you achieve your best possible results:
¦ Talk to your supervisor. Do they believe you are ready to attempt the examination? Every individual has their own strengths and weaknesses. Your supervisor knows you well, and they should also be able to help you identify areas that you need to work on.
¦ Talk to your peers. How are they preparing for the examination? Many trainees find it helpful to set up a study group. You can learn from one another, and it keeps your morale high.
¦ For PACES, the best way to prepare is to gain as much clinical experience as possible. Try to see a variety of patients, with both acute and chronic conditions.
¦ If your hospital is a PACES examination centre you can volunteer to help out with the running of the examination, which will help demystify the examination process and help you feel more at ease when it comes to your turn.
¦ Find out if your hospital runs an in-house PACES training course and if they don’t, why not suggest they start one?
¦ For all of the examinations, read widely. The examination is mapped to the curriculum you’re following, so let that guide your reading.
¦ Make sure you’re familiar with key UK guidelines, such as NICE and SIGN.
You’ll also find free resources on the MRCP(UK) website, including reading lists, practice questions for the written examinations, and sample scenarios and videos for PACES.