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Four Principles of Effective Learning for Medical Students

At medical school, you will be faced with large volumes of content than you need to understand and memorise, in a relatively short space of time, particularly around exam season. We think it’s best to shorten the time needed for this revision by using effective learning methods. By following these methods, we hope you can not only boost your grades, but spend less time revising and more time following your other passions too! One aspect of medical education that can be quite tricky is figuring out how to strike a balance between the content you learn in lectures, and the real-life application of these concepts. We’ve found that using the ‘FAIR’ system helps make this transition from lecture theatre to ward much smoother. The FAIR system is as follows: Feedback Activity Individualisation Relevance Let’s take a look at each of these principles below: 1. Feedback Presenting your first patient to a senior colleague can be daunting. You will be nervous before doing it, but remember, every doctor once had to present their first patient to their senior at one point. So rather than viewing this as a terrifying situation, try to view it as a learning opportunity. You have the chance to talk to an expert about a patient, and ask them for feedback about the information that you have given. Imagine how much you could learn by repeating this process compared to reading a textbook, or sitting in a lecture theatre! For these conversations to be as helpful for you as possible, remember to be receptive to feedback. The more receptive you are, and the more willing you are to learn, the more you can take from the situation. Try not to take offence to any constructive criticism, your senior is trying to help you become the best doctor you can be! ! Our top tip for this section would be to get as much supervised practice as possible. Ask your colleagues in senior years or your friends to do some prior to your exam. Being receptive to feedback will help you to make minor adjustments that can help to both impress your examiner on CPSA day, and better treat patients when you get the chance to. 2. Active Learning Many of you reading this have probably heard this phrase mentioned by your peers, or even lecturers in the past, but what actually is active recall and why should you be using it? Active recall is a revision technique, not a learning technique. You must already understand information before trying to apply active recall to it. Let’s take medications involved in nephrology as an example. If I asked you to explain the mechanism behind potassium-sparing diuretics, could you? Some of you reading could recall that information with ease, others maybe not at all. However, if you could recall the information, but it required a bit more effort than a simple answer, your active recall is now working and being strengthened. Every time you practise active recall, in theory, you decrease the amount of time needed to recall a particular piece of information. Okay, great, but how can I use active recall? I couldn’t use active recall to teach myself the mechanisms behind the different classes of diuretics, however, I could use active recall to test myself on how well I knew the different classes once I had studied them. Active recall works on the principle of remembering information that you knew at one point in time, without using notes or a book to help you remember it. Anytime we take a test, we practise active recall. We have to recall information stored in our long-term memory to apply it to the question. Question banks, flashcards and quizzes are all revision methods that use the power of active recall. What revision methods should I base the majority of my revision on? Active recall quizzes Active recall flashcards Active recall question banks The opposite of active recall is passive revision. This is learning that doesn’t lead to much learning, leading to inefficient revision sessions and often longer time spent revising. Not ideal! Here are some revision methods that we should try to spend less time on: Reading Highlighting Watching videos Note how we said that the points above are revision methods that we should avoid, not learning methods. For example, watching videos and reading can be great learning tools, but not revision tools! Have a look here for some more information on active recall research on ! So why is it important to use effective revision methods? The information you learn or will learn at medical school is cumulative, meaning it remains relevant throughout your profession. Let’s face it, no matter how dull or interesting a topic of a lecture may be, retaining the information after having had the information verbally drilled into you for a couple of hours seems pretty impossible. Instead, you want to try and foster curiosity and discovery, and actively seek out methods to address the gaps in your knowledge. Active learning describes a broad range of learning activities, from student-patient clinical workshops to testing yourself using various . Essentially, it means that rather than just simply listening to your lecturer and making notes, you participate in interactive learning techniques that make you think actively about the topic. Below summarises the key differences between the two learning methods. Active Learning Generating your own learning strategies Questioning gaps in your knowledge to gain understanding Adopting feedback to improve your learning outcomes Passive Learning Waiting for instruction or direction Blindly accepting facts and making notes Ignoring feedback It can be challenging to consistently think about how new information and skills can fit into your existing knowledge. So when you come across a certain piece of information that you think is worth noting, instead of just consuming it and carrying on, why not stop and try to recall what you just learnt? There are many interactive learning tools and available to you (e.g., ). These are intended to supplement your university lessons and can provide more informal and engaging exercises designed to promote independent learning and develop clinical reasoning skills. include the use of visual aids such as concept maps, mind maps and . 3. Individualisation Remember that everyone learns in different ways. The techniques that your peers swear by may not work for you at all! You may have a friend who only uses textbooks and achieves top grades in every exam, while another friend who has sworn never to buy a textbook yet still manages to do well. Our top tip here is to find what works for you, and to try new ideas as well. Don’t be afraid to give different revision techniques a try. We constantly learn how to improve our learning - think about it like a skill you can develop, rather than a routine set in stone. Your university may not cater to your preferred learning styles, but feel free to look elsewhere for other resources. Whether that may be through talking through topics with friends, watching , or making or any other active learning method that helps promote your learning. 4. Relevance Ever been told by your tutors to spend more time on the wards? Despite this becoming a meme, there is some truth to it. We tend to remember concepts better when we have actually seen them, or remember conditions better when we can think of a real-life patient. The information you read or learn must be relevant in order to stick. When you meet patients for the first time, try to come up with questions you’d like to answer about their condition. By finding the answers to your questions, you become more alert and receptive to new information, allowing your brain to absorb information readily. ! For example, let’s say you’re on placement as a 1st year medical student and on a gastroenterology ward for the first time, seeing a patient who has been admitted with alcohol excess. The doctor you’re shadowing will ask you why alcohol-dependent patients are prescribed vitamins such as thiamine (vitamin B1). You may think that they may be deficient in the vitamin, and leave it at that. That doctor, then, informs you that the reason thiamine is needed in such patients is due to the impaired thiamine absorption that occurs in the intestine due to alcohol damage. Although this information may seem irrelevant at the time, you may find yourself trying to answer a multiple-choice question about the vitamin needs of an alcohol-dependent patient, with thiamine as an obvious answer. Yes, you may have remembered this by studying the topic, but more often, you’ll find yourself being able to remember where that knowledge came from, and how it was applied in practice. As such, throughout your medical training, it is important that you continuously reflect on the relevance of a topic and how you can translate your learning experience into effective practice. The outcome of this will be a better appreciation of the ways in which you can take information from the learning environment into the clinical environment. Conclusions We have summed up the above key principles of effective learning into a comprehensive, memorable FAIR structure to allow medical students to improve their knowledge and clinical expertise through discipline and a commitment to learning. By applying the elements of the four principles, we are confident you can become a more well-rounded and mindful student, capable of addressing the many challenges that lie ahead with confidence. How Quesmed Applies the Principles of Effective Teaching Whether you’re preparing for an AKT or an CPSA exam, you can rely on the next-generation learning platforms available at to help you learn medicine the smart way. We offer a comprehensive array of thousands of questions and flashcards, 10,000 medical school exam questions, 15,000 flashcards, and hundreds of video tutorials on our dedicated website and offline mobile app. Register, choose a plan and embark on your journey through medical school with a useful interactive learning platform designed by experienced medical professionals.

How to make the most of your first clinical placement

So your first placement is looming, it's all been academic up until now! It's time to see some real-life patients and spend some time in the real world and learn how to be a doctor! It might seem scary but placement is one of the most valuable things you'll do in medical school, so it's important to make the most of it! Tip 1: Turn up! Your first placement is often a radically different working environment to your previous time at university. You might have spent a lot of your time in lectures, tutorials and doing small group work. Placement exposes you to a unique learning environment that can sometimes be chaotic and overwhelming especially as you are just finding your feet and trying to absorb as much information as possible. Placement is essentially a practice run for employment as a doctor. Even if there isn't a specific activity or place you are scheduled to be, there is always something or someone worth seeing in hospital so it's always worth turning up to find some opportunities for learning. Tip 2: Find your supervisor Know who your supervisor is and try to make contact with them right at the very beginning of placement. Find out your supervisor's timetable, e.g. what clinics they do on what days – so you can make the most of spending time with them. Usually, you are sent your supervisors contact details through your medical school administrator. If not, consultants usually have a secretary who will know their exact whereabouts and be able to guide you! You can generally find a consultant's secretary via the hospital switchboard or by asking other team members. Top tip - You might like to research your supervisor, who is often a senior consultant, and see what their specialist areas are. Showing interest in these areas will help your supervisor cater any teaching or activities towards your personal development needs. This is exactly how you would approach your Educational/Clinical Supervisors when you newly graduate too so it's good to get into the habit now! Tip 3: Shadow an FY1 You will be a Foundation Year 1 (FY1) doctor soon enough, and spending time with a doctor in their first year or so will give you a whole new, very real, perspective on clinical medicine, what life is actually like as an doctor and how to survive your first job. Following a consultant is all well and good, but when you qualify, you won't be chairing MDTs or performing 6-hour surgeries – you'll be running around the wards siting cannulas and prescribing anti-emetics – so shadow these tasks! Being "on-call" with a junior doctor is particularly useful as this is often the most fast-paced time as a doctor. You'll get to see lots of patients and perform all the tasks you'll be expected to do in just a few years' time! Tip 4: Study on the go Bring study materials with you. There can be "downtime" as a student, where doctors are busy doctor-ing, and there's maybe not much interesting stuff to be doing – make sure you're not sitting doing nothing! Bring revision materials with you, and use any spare 10 minutes to look up a condition you saw on the ward round, revise the dosing of an antibiotic, or swot up on your vascular anatomy. Regular revision is the secret to passing finals! Downloading the Quesmed app ensures you always have revision resources such as our question bank, at your fingertips – and we're available offline too so you can still use the app even when connected to the ever-questionable NHS wifi! ! Tip 5: Be proactive As a medical student, you're already equipped with many useful skills for the hospital environment. For example, offer to perform observations for the nursing staff, help the phlebotomist on their rounds, grab the NEWS chart for each patient on the ward round, porter a patient to their x-ray, and phone the laboratory. Although these opportunities might seem "boring" and possibly not technically your job when you become a doctor, they make you very much part of the "team" and give you a better understanding of how the whole hospital system works. For the more assessment driven among you, lots of seemingly "simple" tasks like taking observations often come up in your end of year OSCEs! Tip 6: Take notes For example, if you're attending a ward round, keep a brief (anonymised) list of patients and presentations you've seen. You can refer back to this later and explore the presentation as part of your revision. It's often easier to remember the ins and outs of a condition when you can relate to a real patient. Bring a small notepad with a hardback so you can write "on the go", or take your phone with you to note down important points. Tip 7: Practice! Medical student placements are a place to practice everything you're learning and become a natural at those OSCE/CPSA stations! Examine patients, take histories, and perform tasks such as venepuncture and cannulation. Many hospital patients are bored and welcome the opportunity to share their stories with someone. It's also useful to examine a "surprise" patient where you don't already know the examination findings! This will give you confidence in your diagnostic abilities and become super confident when it comes to OSCE exams. Use Quesmed's OSCE/CPSA platform to revise the points to visit in a particular station before seeing a patient, or even team up with a colleague and find a patient who will allow you to practice, with mark sheets and all! ! Tip 8: See patients! See as many patients as possible! You want to become a natural at speaking to patients from all walks of life, with all types of conditions. Ask a senior doctor if they can observe you speaking to or examining a patient - or ask if you may present a patient on the ward round or to the consultant. You'll pick up tips and tricks and the important things not to miss for specific presentations. Tip 9: Enjoy! Enjoy the experience! Placement is fun, fast-paced and often the best learning experience in medical school. Placement may seem daunting, but it's often the most high-yield learning experience on your journey to becoming a doctor. Hopefully you now feel a little more prepared and know how to make the most out of your first hospital placement.

How to prepare for your medical school finals

Finals are looming! Where do you start? How do you prepare? Your medical school finals may be the most important exam you’ve ever sat. Here are some key tips on dealing with exam revision and getting through that final step to becoming a doctor. Know what you need to know This might seem obvious, but before you start any revision, you need to know what you need to know! Your medical school will have a syllabus with intended learning outcomes (ILOs), which you can print off, so you know exactly what you need to know for finals. These can be split into topics, body systems or otherwise. You can also use this as a checklist, ticking off or highlighting topics as you have revised them. It’s also useful to know the format of the exams you’ll be sitting in advance – for example, single best answer, practical examinations, oral examinations or written examinations. Find out how long each exam lasts and how many questions are expected. This way, there will be no surprises on the day! If you graduate from 2025 onwards, you’ll need to sit The United Kingdom Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA), a standard examination designed by the General Medical Council (GMC), which every graduating medical student will have to pass to practice in the UK. This is based on the GMC’s “”. For more information, read our blog article on and watch our on our YouTube Channel for more. Make a revision plan Calculate how long you have until finals, and split your time up accordingly. Depending on your time, you might spend a week on each speciality – e.g. cardiology, respiratory, gynaecology. If you’re short on time, prioritise important and high-yield topics that are likely to come up in examinations. Learning every tiny detail about every condition you’ve been taught about is unachievable! Identifying which topics you find most difficult can also be beneficial - as we’re prone to tactically avoiding studying these. Instead, you might want to study these first, or early on in your revision schedule and study the topics you enjoy more later on when you might feel less motivated. Identify your revision style Plan how you will revise and identify your favourite revision style – be it flashcards, video content or drawing mind maps. You might like to use several different revision styles to mix things up. Spaced repetition is one of the most effective revision tools – whereby you view a key topic or fact at increasing time intervals until it has become committed to memory. Using mnemonics and mind maps are fun ways to remember key facts. The funnier (or ruder), the easier they seem to recall. We all know the cranial nerves one… ! Revise on the go! Regular revision and consolidation is key. Using any spare moment, for example on your commute or whilst waiting for your takeaway pizza, to smash some revision. Using app-based revision tools like enables accessible spaced repetition of key facts and topics. Read our blog article all about Quesmed, and why it may be your number one revision tool. Study together! Studying with a study buddy or in a small group can boost motivation, help you pick up tips and mnemonics from others, and may also be beneficial for mental health if you’re the kind of person who needs human interaction! In addition, group studying is great for testing each other formally or informally using example questions and mock tests. Check out the function on Quesmed's app. ! Attend revision lectures Specific revision lectures run by your medical school or elsewhere are an excellent way to revise and consolidate high-yield topics. During finals season, Quesmed runs regular live on key topics likely to make an appearance in your finals. These are typically run in the evening and are also recorded and uploaded onto the YouTube channel, so you can watch them back at your leisure. Video or audio content can be played in the background when you’re cooking, tidying or commuting, helping you to utilise spare moments to squeeze in some more knowledge.  Practice with mock tests Practicing mock tests not only gets you into “exam mode” but also aids in time management, exam technique and familiarises you with the examination format. has several UKMLA AKT mock tests containing unseen questions that can be taken under timed conditions, just like the real exam. Once you’ve completed a test, you’ll receive your total score and a breakdown of your scores divided by speciality. In addition, you can go back to each question to review the explanations for each choice and look up any relevant notes. Remember to take breaks and have a life! It’s important not to let studying take over your whole life. Make time to engage in the things you enjoy. Make sure you have regular breaks, eat healthily and keep fit. Healthy body = a healthy mind. In particular, ensure you’re getting plenty of good quality sleep, as sleep has been shown to aid in consolidating facts. It might seem like an all-nighter before the exam is a good idea, but this is highly likely to hinder your performance in the examination. Don’t feel bad about an unproductive day; we all need a day off now and then! ! Medical school finals really aren’t that bad; with a little preparation, revision becomes easy, maybe even enjoyable! Good luck with your finals and your future career! !

Quesmed: Why It Was My Number One Learning Tool

When I started medical school, I faced an endless struggle with how to tackle new styles of exams I was unfamiliar with. How could I prepare for my SBA/UKMLA exams while juggling lectures, tutorials, and placements? How do I even begin to practise for my CPSA/OSCEs which had seemingly endless different station types? I decided to use an online learning platform. That's where I found Quesmed - an incredibly useful method of learning that allowed me to consolidate all the learning materials I needed with a few taps on the screen. Sounds good? I've broken down all of the features of the Quesmed platform below to show you just how useful it can be during your medical school studies. Why I chose Quesmed as my online learning platform Online learning tools such as Quesmed have repeatedly proven their ability to make our lives easier as medical students. Whether it's free time on the wards or a lengthy commute, having interactive learning materials at hand makes it far easier to study. So out of all available online learning platforms, why did I choose Quesmed? First things first - Quesmed is a multifunction platform. It links a huge array of learning resources in one compact, integrated system accessible on both the website and mobile app. ! With a few swipes on their Question Bank platform, you can start doing questions, read relevant notes, assign flashcards to your daily feed and watch tutorial videos. As you progress through the platform, the system understands what concepts you're weak on and suggests daily flashcards to keep you on track. Personally, I found that regularly answering questions and reading the accompanying notes and flashcards the most helpful. This feature helped me pull together all the information I needed both for my own learning and for exams. The Question Bank ! Quesmed's Question Bank has made my life as a medical student a lot easier. I loved how the online learning platform had both material like anatomy and physiology as well as more complex every UKMLA condition and presentation. The sheer breadth of questions was amazing, covering every single possible speciality and learning objective I needed to know for exams. A great feature they have is that you can choose between core, medium and hard questions. This helped me develop my confidence early and allowed me to progress through the bank one step at a time. Each question has with it an explanation of the correct answer. If I were to answer a question wrong, I would read the accompanying notes, which allowed me to direct my learning to my weaker areas. This was super helpful when I came to the wards, as I could justify my decisions when asked questions by senior doctors. Finally, I really enjoyed how the book of notes and questions linked together. Quesmed has a fantastic section of notes available that covers all medical UKMLA AKT core conditions and presentations. These notes are progressive and explain each topic to you in detail. Once you reach the end of a chapter, you'll be prompted by a "Start Questions" button which lets you test your newfound knowledge! OSCE Platform ! CPSAs or OSCEs are known to be some of the most challenging exams in medical school. You're expected to go through simulated tasks under time pressure with a senior doctor watching your every move while being expected not to be phased by nerves. The stations on the were incredible. It literally had everything - from history taking and communication skills to ABCDE stations and procedures. The best thing about the OSCE platform? The stations are extremely similar to the actual exam, allowing you to revise every possible scenario. You could really tell that a lot of thought was put into them as they had lots of twists and turns, just like the real thing. ! It was also very useful to use it to revise with friends. Before I used Quesmed, I used textbooks and simplistic PDF mark schemes. Now, I just log on to the app, select a station (and timing) and pass my device to my friend, who can examine me on any station I need. After the session, I can go back through the app to see where I went wrong, which allows me to monitor my performance during multiple OSCE practice sessions. Another incredible thing about the OSCE platform is the Group Study mode. I sometimes use it when my friends and I are in different placements, and we can connect via an in-built video link within the platform to revise. I also really enjoyed the 'Find a Study Buddy' feature as I can just log on and find other people keen to revise online (sometimes through dedicated Mock OSCEs that Quesmed runs frequently). Lastly, the video OSCE guides really stood out for me. In addition to the classic examination stations, I loved how realistic the communication skill videos were and they really helped me prepare for difficult communication stations that came up in my actual OSCE (look up the on Youtube to see what I mean!) Quesmed's Social Media While not an actual product, Quesmed's social media is worth highlighting as I found myself returning to it regularly for revision (and some excellent memes)! They post one multiple-choice question on their Instagram, , each morning. These are very useful, as they really push my ability to actively recall information that I may have gone over weeks or even months ago. I always try to answer the day's question when I'm out and about, and I sometimes do them with my medic friends and compare answers. They also post really useful 'cheat sheets' that have quick summaries on different conditions, which I've screenshotted and saved to my notes. These summaries are great for having a skim through whilst on the way to a lecture or tutorial. Conclusion It wasn't until I moved onto my third year of medical school that I was able to crack the code with regards to finding a personalised revision method that worked for me. I discovered that I am an active learner and need a good mix of methods to stimulate my mind. Quesmed helped me find that mix. With all the questions, notes, videos and flashcards at my disposal, I could finally excel at my studies and apply my newfound knowledge to clinical practice. You need to work out your own balance and discover what works best for you. I think you will find that interactive online learning is the best way forward, and having an app like Quesmed, which compiles everything into one app, is the easiest and most effective way to learn at medical school. I hope it helps you save time that you can use to have fun, explore other interests, and enjoy life as a medical student! About the Author Tiarnán is a third-year medical student at the University of Plymouth with a keen interest in medical education, marketing and social media. He currently works with Quesmed as Social Media and Marketing Lead.

UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA) Exam Ultimate Guide

What is the UKMLA? The UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA) is a standardised medical licensing exam in the United Kingdom. You can think of it as a UK equivalent to the USMLE, which is an American standardised medical licensing exam that you must take if you wish to practise medicine in the United States. If you would like to see our YouTube video summarising the main changes, click The idea behind having an exam like this is to ensure all medical graduates qualify to the same standards. This is because currently, medical schools are otherwise allowed to set their own finals exams, and to some extent, curricula, which means there can be slight variance in what you study and how you are assessed depending on which medical school you go to. The UKMLA will align all medical schools to the same curricula and provide a consistent style and form of examination. The UKMLA is designed to assess the knowledge and skills of medical graduates to ensure that they meet the required standards for safe and effective practice as doctors. It is a new exam that the has introduced from 2024 onwards, and this post goes through what the exam is, who has to take it and how to prepare for it! Who Takes the UKMLA? The UKMLA is taken by all medical graduates who wish to practise medicine in the UK, regardless of whether they trained in the UK or abroad. This includes international medical graduates (IMGs), and those who are completing their medical degrees in the UK. For medical students in the UK, you will sit the UKMLA around the time you have your finals exams. Some medical schools implemented a ‘pilot’ UKMLA exam in the 2022-2023 academic year to give students an idea of what the exam will be like. For International medical graduates, it will eventually replace the PLAB (estimated to take place in early 2024) and you can consider the terms interchangeable for the purposes of this blog post, especially when we get to the format and content of the exam, whereby the PLAB blueprint will be replaced by the UKMLA content map. Exam Format The UKMLA consists of two main components: the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) and the Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA). For UK-based medical students, these are the equivalent of ‘Finals’ and ‘OSCEs/OSLERs’ respectively. For IMGs, these are very similar to PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 respectively. The AKT is a written exam that assesses your knowledge of medical science, clinical reasoning, and professional practice. For UK medical students this will be two 100 single best answer (SBA) question exams, taken on a computer, with each exam lasting 2 hours long. This would be the equivalent of PLAB 1 and you will see that the content maps reflect that. The two papers will examine clinical topics in the following . ! On the other hand, the CPSA evaluates your clinical and professional skills through a series of practical assessments. This part of the exam can take place at various clinical sites and is designed to reflect real-life scenarios. You will be given time to read a brief which will lay out a clinical scenario and ask you to perform a certain task(s). In most UK medical schools this is referred to as an OSCE/OSLER, or PLAB 2 for IMGs. Content The GMC have produced a covering each specialty that will be examined in the UKMLA AKT and CPSA, consisting of core presentations and conditions for each. Although a long document, please don’t be alarmed - in the UK this is very much aligned with your medical school curricula and similarly if you have trained abroad this is likely to be the case too. The content map is based on the , the ’, and lastly, common scenarios you may face as a Foundation Doctor working in the UK. The Outcomes for Graduates refers to three themes which helped shape the UKMLA content map: 1. Readiness for safe practice 1. Managing uncertainty 1. Delivering person-centred care Additionally, the content map is then organised into six main domains: 1. Areas of clinical practice 1. Areas of professional knowledge 1. Patient presentations 1. Patient conditions 1. Clinical and professional capabilities 1. Practical skills and procedures Here’s an example of what you can find in the content map. At Quesmed, our knowledge library is aligned to the UKMLA, covering exactly what you need to know for the exam: ! Exam fees In terms of cost, for UK medical students this cost is covered in your tuition fees. For IMGs, the cost of taking the UKMLA may vary, so it's important to check the GMC website for the most up to date information. Resits The UKMLA is a pass/fail exam. If you don't pass the UKMLA on your first attempt, you can resit the exam. However, there may be limitations on the number of resits allowed, and you'll need to meet certain eligibility criteria. UKMLA Preparation Having a quick read of some of the official guidance on the UKMLA that we have referenced in this post will help familiarise yourself with the format and content of this exam. When you see the list of conditions and presentations you need to know, on a first-read, this may seem quite overwhelming - however, don’t be alarmed - it is very likely your university curriculum is already largely aligned to the UKMLA content map. Cover/uncover method When approaching SBA questions, let’s first start with the cover/uncover approach. With this method you should cover the answers first, and this will allow you to break things down a bit more in the question. Have a look at the question below, we have deliberately covered the answers: ! Here you can see that you have someone with an ejection systolic murmur loudest on expiration at the left intercostal space which radiates into the carotid arteries, and without looking at the answer you can probably tell that it's most likely to be aortic stenosis. Then when you uncover and then you find that AS is one of the options you can select it with confidence knowing you are probably right. ! Let’s look at a harder question - have a look at the question below: ! So this is a question that asks a lot and the point here is that if you look at the answers first you may freak out because there’s quite a bit of text so what I suggest is that you cover once again. Read through the question - this person has weight loss, a cough, bloody sputum and he's a smoker - could this be lung cancer? They are also feverish, sweating, more thirsty than usual, finding it difficult to pass stool and confused. Could this be lung cancer with something else, like a complication of lung cancer? So in this scenario the latter group of symptoms is suggesting hypercalcemia - the patient is passing more urine, they’re constipated and confused, and the clubbing goes hand in hand (pun intended) with lung cancer. ! The answer here is hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy, which is associated with squamous cell lung cancer. ! This is a hard question so don't worry about it if you didn't get it but it's important to recognise that if you break things down, you may first come to the conclusion that this is probably lung cancer and it could be that it's related to something else. You could also figure out that it's related to hypercalcemia and then if you have all the information you will know B is the answer. Here you require a lot of steps to get the diagnosis but if you break it down and cover the answers first, you can take a bit more time to think about it without being stressed by lots of wordy different answers. Location – GP v Emergency Emergencies are very important and the emergency curriculum is important for examiners to assess your practice so if on day 1 an emergency happens you escalate accordingly. There's lots of guidelines that are very helpful such as ALS guidelines but also the back of the Oxford handbook I've always found very useful and as a junior doctor I used to look into it in my first couple of months as an F1 doctor. It’s important to understand what's in the question and the clues that will help you to answer it correctly. If you are in an outpatient or GP clinic that is different from the emergency department. For example if you're in the clinic the question will test knowledge of long term treatments, when you need to escalate and when you need to do things a bit more urgent. Whereas in the emergency department it will focus on A-E, and making sure that the important complications are dealt with early. The other aspect of demographics is knowing who the patient is so if it's a 70 year old you will have a different differential diagnosis to a 20 year old, so make sure that when you're looking at the presenting complaint you consider your differentials first and then which features are those that help make the diagnosis because lots of questions will ask you to weigh between different things, some of which could be completely unrelated. Investigations Investigations form quite a big chunk of most exams and you’ll often be asked to differentiate between definitive investigations to confirm the diagnosis or, the next best or initial investigation. For example a tissue biopsy in coeliac disease is the best or gold standard investigation, however if you were in primary care the initial investigation you may do is a panel of bloods including anti-tTg antibodies. Sometimes it's helpful to use guidelines for that however sometimes you have to use your clinical judgement. The other way to approach these questions is thinking ‘what will harm the patient most severely’ in the first instance. What you're doing here is trying to make sure that you can tell the examiner that you know what's safe and you know what you need to rule out early in terms of complications and that you are safe to manage patients on your own, and with help and escalating appropriately. A framework mnemonic I use for investigations is BBBII - not the catchiest but it helps me remember that the first thing to do is to check the background: history and examination, then bedside tests like ECG or blood glucose. Then you have blood tests, imaging, and invasive investigations - the point is we're usually opting for the least invasive stuff early which causes the least amount of harm and then the more invasive stuff later on. Similarly with management. After taking into account urgency, you are always trying to make sure to do the conservative stuff first then consider medical options and then surgical and that's how we think about management options in clinical practice too e.g. in emergencies again A-E first and then everything else. Exam technique As for the best practises for answering SBA there is a lot to say about exam technique and the key is to make sure that you are prepared so that on the day you have come through this many many many times so that you are not stressed. You probably will still be stressed in any case but this hopefully will give you a bit more about how you can minimise that on the day. Time management You have about a minute to answer each question and you have to balance between trying to answer questions quickly but also reading them properly and considering your options appropriately. What you should be doing early on in your revision is taking your time with questions, trying to think through the answers thoroughly, and then closer to the exam you should be going through timed quizzes to simulate the exam environment. Balancing between time management and taking in the question will come with practice and if you're not getting it early on that's fine it will come after a few weeks or months of work, so make sure you have enough time to make that transition from very slow reading to slightly faster and trying to work within exam conditions. Demographics For medical exams it’s quite useful to have some rules of thumb in your mind about different demographics because it allows you to raise your index of suspicion for certain diseases. So if the question mentions ‘a 22 year old athlete collapsing’ the first thing you are or hopefully will be thinking is ‘is this hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy’ because it's something you may have come across before. It's fine to have that initial thought in your head but you need to make sure that you are thinking about the rest of the question and whether or not it supports or doesn't support your diagnosis. Conclusion So that’s everything that I wanted to cover on the UKMLA exam and how to approach answering the questions you will be encountering in the AKT part of it, thanks for listening and if you have any further questions our email is in the description. With over 12,000 AKT questions and 250 practical CPSA stations, Quesmed is the single best resource for preparing for the UKMLA and your medical school finals. Our SBAs and CPSA stations cover all of the core presentations and conditions in the content map. We have 4 brand new UKMLA mock exams with input from students who sat the pilot UKMLA last year. Look out for lots more content from us which will help you with your UKMLA preparation and follow our socials for updates. We wish you the best of luck here at Quesmed! References

Top 5 tips for approaching your final year at medical school

Congratulations on getting through to your final year of medical school! After many years of studying medicine, the thought of starting your first job as a doctor can be quite daunting. Add to that your day-to-day clinical attachment, UKMLA AKT and CPSA exams, and additional exams such as the Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) and Situational Judgment Test (SJT); it can get a bit too much to think about! That's why we've set out the top 5 tips to help you get through your final year and take you one step closer to being a doctor! Tip 1: You are only expected to know the basics by the time you graduate ! In the past few years, you have come across a lot of medical knowledge through seeing patients, reading and attending lectures. However, one of the main issues of 'drinking from the fire hose' of medical knowledge is that you're never quite sure which information is important to remember for your day-to-day life as a doctor. Do you need to know that a common cause of osteomyelitis in sickle cell disease is Salmonella? Or that neuromyelitis optica is associated with aquaporin-4 antibodies? The truth is that the more niche material you'll come across is essentially just 'good to know' rather than 'need to know'. This sort of information sometimes comes up in your written exams, but you will not need to know about it during your time as a foundation doctor. At a professional level, your seniors will expect you to do the basics: be on time, bring up results, order and review investigations and generally ensure that any concerns are fed back in a timely manner. In terms of knowledge, you will be expected to know and practice the core aspects of medicine that relate to commonly encountered scenarios and emergencies: Principles of emergencies (the first steps to do prior to involving your seniors, like taking bloods, or performing an ECG) Principles of advanced life support (including administering good CPR) Interpreting blood tests, ECGs and chest x-rays Understanding the rationale of requesting investigations and prescribing treatments for your patients Procedural skills like bloods, cannulas and catheters Communicating effectively with patients, families, and colleagues. That's it. You're not expected to make a diagnosis of acute intermittent porphyria at 3am on a night shift (although that would be quite cool to see!) All you need to do is engage with the curriculum to understand the above key principles, and you will be more than fine to start as an effective, useful member of the clinical team! Tip 2 Remember that where you do your foundation training doesn't matter in the long term ! Applying for foundation jobs can generate a lot of anxiety for medical students in their final year. There is just so much uncertainty about where you will be placed and whether this will impact your career in the long term. The truth is that it really doesn't matter where you go for foundation training. All foundation programs in the UK are regulated by the GMC and provide similar clinical experiences. In all programs, you will have six different rotations in various medical or surgical specialties (including a community placement in F2). The main focus is to develop competence in basic clinical and non-clinical skills such as communication and teamwork. At the end of the two years, all doctors will be expected to achieve the same competencies. Sometimes you might like to choose specialties that you might like to pursue as a career. If you don't manage to do those specialties during your foundation years, don't worry! You can always do them during an 'F3 year' (a commonly-taken "year out" after F2) and during your core training. In summary, it doesn't matter where you end up for foundation training. Clinical training is very long (!), and there will be many opportunities to pursue your interests during and after your foundation training, wherever you end up for the next two years! Tip 3 Be aware of key deadlines for the year ! There is much to keep up with in final year, let alone the extra assessments you must pass! Make sure to familiarise yourself with the key deadlines on the UKFPO website so you can prepare in advance for the application forms you need to fill in and the exams you need to sit. Generally speaking, you can sit the Situational Judgement Test either in December or January. Delivery of the Prescribing Safety Assessment exam is usually decided by your individual medical school, so it's worth checking in beforehand to see when you'll be sitting it. Tip 4: Focus on active learning for your written/OSCE exams At this point in your medical school career, you've likely come across a study method that works for you! Final year is about bringing together all the information you've learnt throughout your years at medical school and focusing on any gaps in your knowledge so that you can graduate as a competent foundation doctor! That said, there's a lot to do in final year, so it's important to use your time wisely. Active learning is the most efficient way to revise and review lots of information in a shorter period of time. Many studies have shown that 'active learning', where you engage deeply with the material, is the quickest (and most long-term) form of learning in many different fields. The most well-established way to test yourself is through a question bank, for example, Quesmed's , which allows you to work through relevant clinical scenarios to understand which differentials, investigations and management plans are appropriate for a wide variety of presentations. Another powerful way to revise is by going through spaced repetition flashcards, which help you drill down the key facts you need to remember to aid your problem-solving. For CPSA/OSCEs, practice is absolutely key. We recommend investing time in finding a reliable study partner or group to practice scenarios, examine patients and gain feedback on your performance. You can also use our dedicated as a source of interactive mark sheets, progress tracking and videos to familiarise yourself with tricky OSCE stations! Tip 5: Enjoy your last year as a student! ! Becoming a doctor is a long journey with many hours spent revising or working unsociable hours. It's worth remembering that this is your final year as a student, where you are very much in control of your own schedule. Therefore, it's important to focus on your mental health by taking regular breaks, seeing friends, going on holiday or doing whatever helps you relax. Additionally, if you have any particular medical (or non-medical) interests, now is the time to explore that interest!

The Quesmed Complete Guide to MRCP Part 1

So you want to start your MRCP diploma journey but aren't quite sure where to start? Continue reading for a full guide on everything you need to know about MRCP Part 1, the first of three exams that need to be passed in order to achieve the MRCP diploma. What is the MRCP Part 1? MRCP Part 1 is a written exam taken by doctors who have completed a minimum of 12 months of postgraduate medical experience. This includes both UK-trained doctors and international medical graduates (IMGs). The purpose of MRCP Part 1 is to evaluate a candidate’s understanding and knowledge of common and important disorders, as well as clinical sciences relevant to medical practice at a level appropriate for entry to specialist training. Who undertakes the MRCP Diploma? MRCP Part 1 is the first exam on the journey towards the MRCP (UK) Diploma. You must have at least 12 months of postgraduate medical experience before applying to sit the exam, which usually means waiting until completion of FY1 in the UK before applying. The MRCP Diploma is a post-graduate diploma designed to test the skills, knowledge, and behaviours of a doctor who wishes to undergo medical speciality training in the United Kingdom. Many doctors - within the UK and abroad - undertake the MRCP diploma even if it is not a training requirement in order to provide additional value to their portfolio, but also to develop their skills and knowledge further. In order to achieve this qualification, you have to sit and successfully pass three exams: MRCP Part 1 MRCP Part 2 Written MRCP Part 2 Clinical , also known as PACES Any doctor who wishes to start specialist registrar training in the UK within a physician or medical training programme must have completed all parts of the MRCP diploma in order to enter the relevant specialist training. The specialities where MRCP is a requirement are reproduced below: ! Exam Format - MRCP Part 1 The MRCP Part 1 examination is designed to test the doctor’s knowledge of clinical science as relevant to their medical practice. The aim is to ensure the candidate understands common and important disorders that they may come across during their specialist training, at an entry level. The exam is currently completed electronically and is comprised of two papers, each with 100 questions in a best of five format, where one answer will be the single best answer. There is no negative marking, and each correct answer is awarded a single mark. If taken in the UK, you will sit the exam at home and will be monitored remotely whilst doing so; if taken internationally, the exam will be sat at a test centre. What is the style of MRCP Part 1 Questions? In the MRCP Part 1 exam, the questions are usually single-step logic with succinct stems; the focus of the question is usually on immediate next steps or basic sciences. This is as opposed to the two-step logic with more complex clinical reasoning and longer stems where more information is provided for the candidate to integrate and synthesise in order to come to a conclusion; this is the type of question you will encounter in the MRCP Part 2 written exam. Therefore, the questions tend to ask one of a handful of things: What is the most likely diagnosis? What is the next step in management? What is the best or next treatment? What is the best investigation? Or some basic sciences question, such as drug mechanism of action or mode of inheritance There will always be 5 options, and one option will be the best answer, though the other 4 options will often be a close match and possibilities, hence single best answer. Here are some example exam questions to help you understand the format a bit better! In the question below, you can see the question mainly asking about the most appropriate treatment for ESBL. This question is testing the candidate’s understanding of clinical microbiology and drug resistance. ! This next question illustrates how a question that wants to test core sciences principles, such as genetics, may be phrased. Here, through the past medical history and background, the candidate is expected to determine the underlying diagnosis as MODY3, and use this to answer the question about the gene that is most likely affected. The logic in this question is more two-step, and as such this may be considered a more difficult question, however the core of the question remains basic sciences and has less of a clinical focus, making it more similar to what may be encountered during the MRCP Part 1 exam. ! Finally, the question below is an example of a question aiming to test a candidate’s ability to put together limited clinical information to come to a reasonable best diagnosis. ! At Quesmed we have worked closely with the best physicians who have taken and successfully passed the MRCP exams in order to develop over 4500 questions as part of our that are based on themes from previous papers. What Specialties are covered in MRCP Part 1? The subject of the questions is based on a careful blueprint designed to ensure that an appropriate range of medical knowledge is tested. Therefore, each speciality or subject area being tested is given a rough proportion of the total number of questions available across both papers, as displayed in this table. For example, across both papers, one would expect to answer approximately 14 questions on Cardiology, and 8 questions on Geriatric Medicine. ! MRCP Part 1 Exam dates and Fees Plan ahead as there are only fixed dates when you can sit the exam, published by the Royal College of Physicians. Application deadlines are usually several months in advance of the exam itself, so it is imperative to check ahead of time so you do not miss out on your desired date. ! You should check the current fees directly on the as it may be subject to change. Results and unsuccessful attempts Results are published online, 1-2 months after completing the exam. The results release dates are available on the Royal College of Physicians website, so you have an idea of when to expect to hear if your attempt has been successful or not. The pass mark for the MRCP Part 1 examination is 540. Most candidates will score between 200-800; the minimum score is 0, and the maximum score is 999. This score is scaled, such that it is calculated by taking into consideration not only the number of questions the candidate has correctly answered, but also the relative difficulty of the question and the exam. Once MRCP Part 1 has been passed, the candidate then has 7 years to complete the remaining sections of the MRCP Diploma - MRCP Part 2 written, and MRCP Part 2 PACES. If unsuccessful, candidates are permitted a maximum number of 6 attempts. If the exam has not been passed after 6 attempts, then the candidate will need to be supported in additional training with appropriate evidence before further attempts are allowed. How to prepare Everyone prepares differently, and there is no single right or wrong answer, but here are some tips that may help you as you plan your revision strategy! At Quesmed, we have worked closely with expert physicians to develop over 4700 Questions as part of our These are based on themes and topics that have appeared in previous exams. Alongside our questions, we have generated a dedicated reference textbook that you have access to as part of your subscription. This textbook covers all the key topics that you will need to know about prior to sitting your MRCP exams, and has been developed carefully with the MRCP blueprint in mind. Here are some useful tips to get you started with your revision: 1. Start early. - Don’t underestimate the depth and breadth of topics covered in this exam. Starting well in advance gives you a buffer for unexpected hurdles. 2. Plan your revision. Set timelines and goals. Be aware of the range of topics covered by the exam as discussed above, and ensure your revision strategy covers these specialities 3. Do as many practice questions as possible Practice questions should be the core of your revision, especially questions that cover previous exam themes Take time to read detailed explanations on why your answer is correct or incorrect to further guide your revision and fill in any gaps 4. Diversify your study materials. - Don’t rely on one single resource - Obtain a good reference textbook or get access to a detailed online knowledge library to synthesise your revision notes 5. Take mock tests - Taking tests in timed conditions can help you replicate the exam experience and get used to the time pressures you may face in the exam 6. Use official resources where available. - The Royal College of Physicians publish sample questions on their website. - These are a great way of getting used to the types of questions asked and can also be used as mock tests. 7. Study groups and flash cards. - Join or create a study group! - Discussing topics and testing each other can provide different perspectives and help in clarifying doubts. - Flash cards can be an invaluable resource to allow you to test yourself on key topics quickly. 8. Breaks and Health - Remember to take regular breaks and maintain your health. - This is a marathon, not a sprint. We normally recommend 3-6 months of target revision, depending on your clinical commitments. References - - - - -

The Quesmed Complete Guide to MRCP Part 2

Well done on getting through MRCP Part 1! This was your first step towards achieving the MRCP Diploma and may have also been your first post-graduate examination since qualifying as a doctor. Continue reading as we go through everything you need to know about the second part of the MRCP Diploma, MRCP Part 2. What is the MRCP Part 2? MRCP Part 2 Written is an exam taken by doctors who have completed MRCP Part 1 successfully. This includes both UK-trained doctors and international medical graduates (IMGs). The purpose of MRCP Part 2 is to evaluate a candidate’s ability to integrate clinical presentations alongside test results in order to determine diagnoses and management plans. Who undertakes the MRCP Diploma? MRCP Part 2 is the second exam on the journey towards the MRCP (UK) Diploma. It is completed after MRCP Part 1, which candidates are eligible to attempt after having had at least 12 months of postgraduate medical experience (which usually means waiting until completion of FY1 in the UK). The MRCP Diploma is a post-graduate diploma designed to test the skills, knowledge, and behaviours of a doctor who wishes to undergo medical speciality training in the United Kingdom. Many doctors - within the UK and abroad - undertake the MRCP diploma even if it is not a training requirement in order to provide additional value to their portfolio, but also to develop their skills and knowledge further. In order to achieve this qualification, you have to sit and successfully pass three exams: MRCP Part 1 MRCP Part 2 Written MRCP Part 2 Clinical, also known as PACES Any doctor who wishes to start specialist registrar training in the UK within a physician or medical training programme must have completed all parts of the MRCP diploma in order to enter the relevant specialist training. The specialities where MRCP is a requirement are reproduced below: ! Exam Format - MRCP Part 2 Written The MRCP Part 2 Written examination is designed to test the doctor’s knowledge of clinical medicine as relevant to their practice. The aim is to ensure the candidate understands common and important disorders that they may come across during their specialist training, at an entry level. The exam is currently completed electronically and is comprised of two papers, each with 100 questions in a best of five format, where one answer will be the single best answer. There is no negative marking, and each correct answer is awarded a single mark. If taken in the UK, you will sit the exam at home and will be monitored remotely whilst doing so; if taken internationally, the exam will be sat at a test centre. What is the style of MRCP Part 2 Questions? In the MRCP Part 2 Written exam, the questions are usually complex, with long stems requiring the candidate to integrate several pieces of clinical information, including the results of investigations, in order to come to the correct answer. The questions may require the candidate to apply two-step logic frequently, for example by first coming to the diagnosis based on the information given, but the question being about treatment rather than the underlying diagnosis. These more complex question stems are designed in order to mimic clinical reasoning and clinical medicine as may be experienced in clinical practice; this is in contrast to Part 1, where the stems are usually shorter, with single-step logic, and a greater focus on clinical sciences. Therefore, the questions in MRCP Part 2 Written tend to have a slightly more clinical focus, asking the candidate to either make a diagnosis or identify the next best step in management, treatment, or investigation. There will always be 5 options, and one option will be the best answer, though the other 4 options will often be a close match and possibilities, hence single best answer. Here are some example exam questions to help you understand the format a bit better! In this question below, the candidate is expected to integrate the patient’s history, including social history, alongside examination findings, in order to first come to the underlying diagnosis of enterobiasis. The question, however, requires two-step logic; rather than asking what the diagnosis is, it asks what the definitive treatment would be for the patient. ! ! This next question illustrates a more complex stem. The candidate is provided with a clinical history but also investigation test results. The candidate must use this information in order to answer the question, which again relies on two-step logic; first, coming to the conclusion that the underlying diagnosis is most likely Coeliac disease, and then using this to answer the question itself about the most likely long-term complication. ! ! At Quesmed we have worked closely with the best physicians who have taken and successfully passed the MRCP exams in order to develop over 2000 questions as part of our that are based on themes from previous papers. What Specialties are covered in MRCP Part 2? The subject of the questions is based on a careful blueprint designed to ensure that an appropriate range of medical knowledge is tested. Therefore, each speciality or subject area being tested is given a rough proportion of the total number of questions available across both papers, as displayed in this table. For example, across both papers, one would expect to answer approximately 9 questions on Haematology, and 19 questions on Infectious diseases. ! MRCP Part 2 Exam dates and Fees Plan ahead as there are only fixed dates when you can sit the exam, published by the Royal College of Physicians. Application deadlines are usually several months in advance of the exam itself, so it is imperative to check ahead of time so you do not miss out on your desired date.You should check the current fees directly on the [RCP website] (https://www.mrcpuk.org/mrcpuk-examinations/part-2/exam-dates-and-fees) as it may be subject to change. ! Results and unsuccessful attempts Results are published online, 1-2 months after completing the exam. The results release dates are available on the Royal College of Physicians website, so you have an idea of when to expect to hear if your attempt has been successful or not. The pass mark for the MRCP Part 2 Written examination is 454. Most candidates will score between 200-800; the minimum score is 0, and the maximum score is 999. This score is scaled, such that it is calculated by taking into consideration not only the number of questions the candidate has correctly answered, but also the relative difficulty of the question and the exam. All components of the MRCP diploma must be completed within 7 years of the candidate’s first successful attempt at the MRCP Part 1 examination. If unsuccessful, candidates are permitted a maximum number of 6 attempts. If the exam has not been passed after 6 attempts, then the candidate will need to be supported in additional training with appropriate evidence before further attempts are allowed. How to prepare Everyone prepares differently, and there is no single right or wrong answer, but here are some tips that may help you as you plan your revision strategy! At Quesmed, we have worked closely with expert physicians to develop over 2000 Questions as part of our [MRCP Part 2 Question Bank](https://quesmed.com/mrcp-part-2-question-bank/]! These are based on themes and topics that have appeared in previous exams. Alongside our questions, we have generated a dedicated reference textbook that you have access to as part of your subscription. This textbook covers all the key topics that you will need to know about prior to sitting your MRCP exams, and has been developed carefully with the MRCP blueprint in mind. Here are some useful tips to get you started with your revision: 1. Start early. - Don’t underestimate the depth and breadth of topics covered in this exam. Starting well in advance gives you a buffer for unexpected hurdles. 2. Plan your revision. Set timelines and goals. Be aware of the range of topics covered by the exam as discussed above, and ensure your revision strategy covers these specialities 3. Do as many practice questions as possible Practice questions should be the core of your revision, especially questions that cover previous exam themes Take time to read detailed explanations on why your answer is correct or incorrect to further guide your revision and fill in any gaps 4. Diversify your study materials. - Don’t rely on one single resource - Obtain a good reference textbook or get access to a detailed online knowledge library to synthesise your revision notes 5. Take mock tests - Taking tests in timed conditions can help you replicate the exam experience and get used to the time pressures you may face in the exam 6. Use official resources where available. - The Royal College of Physicians publish sample questions on their website. - These are a great way of getting used to the types of questions asked and can also be used as mock tests. 7. Study groups and flash cards. - Join or create a study group! - Discussing topics and testing each other can provide different perspectives and help in clarifying doubts. - Flash cards can be an invaluable resource to allow you to test yourself on key topics quickly. 8. Breaks and Health - Remember to take regular breaks and maintain your health. - This is a marathon, not a sprint. We normally recommend 3-6 months of target revision, depending on your clinical commitments. References - - - - -

The Quesmed Complete Guide to MRCP PACES

Well done on getting through MRCP Part 1 and MRCP Part 2 written! You will have no doubt worked hard to get to this point and you are one step closer to achieving the full MRCP diploma. One final obstacle stands in your way - MRCP Part 2 Clinical, or PACES - and this is your guide to conquering the last hurdle! What is the MRCP Part 2 Clinical (PACES)? MRCP Part 2 clinical, often referred to simply as PACES, is a practical exam taken by doctors who have completed MRCP Part 1 and Part 2 written successfully. This includes both UK-trained doctors and international medical graduates (IMGs). The purpose of PACES is to test the candidate’s ability to perform clinical examination and consultation skills to determine underlying diagnoses and synthesise management plans. Who undertakes the MRCP Diploma? MRCP PACES is the final of three exams on the journey towards the MRCP (UK) Diploma. It is completed after MRCP Part 1 and MRCP Part 2 Written, which candidates are eligible to attempt after having had at least 12 months of postgraduate medical experience (this usually means waiting until completion of FY1 in the UK). The MRCP Diploma is a post-graduate diploma designed to test the skills, knowledge, and behaviours of a doctor who wishes to undergo medical speciality training in the United Kingdom. Many doctors - within the UK and abroad - undertake the MRCP diploma even if it is not a training requirement in order to provide additional value to their portfolio, but also to develop their skills and knowledge further. In order to achieve this qualification, you have to sit and successfully pass three exams: MRCP Part 1 MRCP Part 2 Written MRCP Part 2 Clinical or ‘PACES’ Any doctor who wishes to start specialist registrar training in the UK within a physician or medical training programme must have completed all parts of the MRCP diploma in order to enter the relevant specialist training. The specialities where MRCP is a requirement are reproduced below: ! Exam Format - MRCP Part 2 Clinical (PACES) The aim of PACES is to ensure the candidate understands common and important disorders that they may come across during their specialist training, at an entry level, and how to manage them practically. In order to do this, PACES is designed as a practical, face-to-face ‘OSCE’ style examination designed to test the candidate’s ability to perform essential clinical skills across 5 stations lasting 20 minutes each. In total, you will meet 8 patients across these 5 stations (called ‘patient encounters’). Some of these stations are further broken down into 2 x 10 minute components. Each station is separated by a 5 minute rest, and each station is examined by 2 examiners. This format is referred to as the PACES carousel, pictured below. ! The exam consists of the following stations: 4 Examination stations: 6 minutes for the examination, where the candidate has to perform a clinical examination of one of the major organ systems 4 minutes for a structured viva where the examiner asks the candidate, usually, to summarise their findings, present a likely differential diagnosis, and also a management plan 2 communications stations: 10 minutes for the entire station, covering a range of possible topics, including difficult consultations such as breaking bad news or health behaviour change, as well as ethical and legal dilemmas There is no viva - 2 Consultation stations: 15 minutes for the consultation, where the candidate has to take a focused clinical history and perform a focused clinical examination, followed by an explanation of the likely diagnosis and next steps to the patient 5 minutes for a structured viva, where the examiner usually asks the candidate to summarise the case, provide a differential diagnosis, and management plan Exam Marking - MRCP Part 2 Clinical (PACES) As you rotate through the carousel, you hand one examiner at each station an envelope containing your marksheets. There are 16 marksheets within your envelope, one for each examiner, covering each patient encounter. A typical marksheet for the examination stations is shown below and the full range can be downloaded on the . The examiner will take out the relevant marksheet at the start of your station and begin assessing you when you start. ! At each patient encounter, one of 7 key clinical skills (A-G) are assessed by the examiners. You should note that not every skill is examined at every station, as some of the skills may not be relevant in the station. This is why you may notice some of these skills being absent on some of the marksheets. These skills are as follows: ! The examiner has to decide if they have seen the skill demonstrated or not, by scoring each skill as ‘satisfactory, borderline, or unsatisfactory’. The marksheets provide some explanatory text that may help the examiner make their decision; for example, as you can see below, finding clinical signs that are not present may result in an unsatisfactory mark being awarded in the physical signs (B) clinical skill: ! MRCP PACES Exam dates and Fees Plan ahead as there are only fixed periods of time (known as ‘diets’) when you can sit the exam, published by the Royal College of Physicians. The exam happens at hospital sites and the Royal College will almost always place you at a site away from your base hospital. You should therefore be prepared to travel, which can sometimes be quite a distance away. Application deadlines are usually several months in advance of the exam itself, so it is imperative to check ahead of time so you do not miss out on your desired date. You should check the current fees directly on the [RCP website] (https://www.mrcpuk.org/mrcpuk-examinations/paces/exam-dates-and-fees) as it may be subject to change. ! Results and unsuccessful attempts Results are published online, 15 working days after the last exam within the diet. The results release dates are available on the Royal College of Physicians website, so you have an idea of when to expect to hear if your attempt has been successful or not. In order to pass the MRCP PACES exam successfully, the candidate must: Obtain a minimum score of 130 out of a possible 172 Not fail any single clinical skill (i.e. a minimum score needs to be achieved for each clinical skill) It is therefore possible to fail an entire station and still pass PACES if the overall score and each individual clinical skill has been passed. Your results will be summarised on a matrix provided to you after the exam when results are announced. As you can see in this example matrix below, each encounter is scored, but the overall pass mark is determined by the candidate meeting the minimum mark across each individual clinical skill, plus an overall score of at least 130. ! All components of the MRCP diploma must be completed within 7 years of the candidate’s first successful attempt at the MRCP Part 1 examination. If unsuccessful, candidates are permitted a maximum number of 6 attempts. If the exam has not been passed after 6 attempts, then the candidate will need to be supported in additional training with appropriate evidence before further attempts are allowed. How to prepare The PACES revision materials at Quesmed are a great place to start your revision; with over 100 simulated clinical videos of typical encounters you may come across in the exam, as well as a dedicated reference textbook, it is a great place to get a sense of what you may come across and to kick-start your revision. But PACES is a difficult exam and your approach should be multi-faceted. To help you on your journey, we spoke to some top-performing doctors who completed the MRCP diploma for their tips and tricks when it comes to preparing. Here is what they advised: Leave plenty of revision time Ideally, you want to spend at least 6 months preparing for this exam This will give you plenty of time to not only learn the theory, but also start putting into practice what you have read Make sure you plan your revision strategy at the start so that you cover everything you need to in the time you have allowed for your revision Practice makes perfect Practice, practice, practice! Practice on real patients that you see on the medical take - approach them as you would a PACES patient by being systematic and thinking, ‘What else would I do if I were to encounter this patient in the exam?’ This allows time spent at work to be effective revision also But you don’t need to practice on patients alone; patients are a great source of clinical signs but it can be difficult to perfect your systematic, seamless examination skills on hospital patients Therefore, don’t hesitate to practice on your friends, family, and teddy bears! Getting your examination slick and effortlessly under 6 minutes is all about repetition, and healthy individuals (or teddies!) are a great way of perfecting this Seek out a PACES teaching group at your local hospital, and if there isn’t one, meet up with your colleagues regularly to go and see relevant patients on the wards By performing examinations or consultations as part of a group, you will gain confidence in performing in front of others and remaining calm and collected when being observed Watch Videos The Quesmed PACES revision tool will allow you to see a lot of the clinical signs and presentations that you will encounter in the exam from home It also provides a detailed reference textbook, which can help you learn the theory that will underpin your exam performance Obtaining a subscription to an online revision tool like this will help you take your revision to the next level and allow you to reinforce the signs and presentations you are seeing on real patients in hospital Don’t neglect the theory Good practical skills as well as the ability to formulate diagnoses and synthesise management plans depends on a good understanding of the underlying medicine So, don’t depend on in-hospital learning alone Find a good PACES textbook and learn the theory as well Then, put the theory into practice every day at work Time yourself Whether that’s through a formal mock test set up at your hospital, or through roping in friends and family - you should practice your skills under the time limits that you will face in the exam Remember, 6 minutes is a very short time to perform a full examination, and you need to be able to perform the examination effectively with minimal effort or much thought; this is so that you can really focus during the limited time on the clinical signs you are seeing, rather than what the next step would be in your examination Breaks and health Remember to take regular breaks and maintain your health This is a marathon, not a sprint Seek support from your friends, family, and colleagues at work if you are struggling Getting ready for exam day Here are some checklists for you to go through before and on the day of the exam to ensure you are ready for the day! Before the exam day: Review the [rules and regulations] (https://www.mrcpuk.org/mrcpuk-examinations/regulations) of the PACES exam Print and check your admission documents sent to you Plan your route to the exam centre and ensure you leave plenty of time for transport delays Ensure your photographic identification is ready to come with you - this needs to be an appropriate ID with your full name, signature, and photograph Ensure the name on your admission document matches the name on your ID, and contact the RCP if not as soon as possible Ensure you have leave arranged from your hospital to attend the exam On the exam day: Arrive in advance of the exam start time - an hour before the reporting time on your admission document Be aware that your bags, coats, and devices will have to be stored in a separate room Make sure you are dressed appropriately in a smart manner as you would for work, in clothes that allow you to move freely to examine patients (avoid tight or excessively flowing clothing) You can bring your own stethoscope but other equipment will be supplied if required; if you have any other medical equipment with you, you should let the lead examiner know and they can advise whether or not you should take it in with you Be aware of anything that might make it more difficult for you to demonstrate empathy and understanding in stations that require communication skills, for example a facial veil or dark glasses. If you do not clearly demonstrate these abilities, examiners will mark the corresponding skills as unsatisfactory References - - -

Quesmed MLA Content Map | UKMLA

Introduction The UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA), also known as MLA, is taken by all medical graduates who wish to practise medicine in the UK, regardless of whether they trained in the UK or abroad. The UKMLA is designed to assess the knowledge and skills of medical graduates to ensure that they meet the required standards for safe and effective practice as doctors. It is a new exam that the has introduced from 2024 onwards. The UKMLA consists of two main components: the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) and the Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA). For UK-based medical students, these are the equivalent of ‘Finals’ and ‘OSCEs/OSLERs’ respectively. For IMGs, these are very similar to PLAB 1 and PLAB 2 respectively. Content Map The GMC have produced a covering each specialty that will be examined in the UKMLA AKT and CPSA, consisting of core presentations and conditions for each. Although a long document, please don’t be alarmed - in the UK this is very much aligned with your medical school curricula and similarly if you have trained abroad this is likely to be the case too. The content map is based on the , the ’, and lastly, common scenarios you may face as a Foundation Doctor working in the UK. The Outcomes for Graduates refers to three themes which helped shape the UKMLA content map: 1. Readiness for safe practice 1. Managing uncertainty 1. Delivering person-centred care Additionally, the content map is then organised into six main domains: 1. Areas of clinical practice 1. Areas of professional knowledge 1. Patient presentations 1. Patient conditions 1. Clinical and professional capabilities 1. Practical skills and procedures Here’s an example of what you can find in the content map. At Quesmed, our knowledge library is aligned to the UKMLA, covering exactly what you need to know for the exam: ! Quesmed MLA Content Map At Quesmed, we have carried over all of the areas of clinical practice, core conditions and presentations from the MLA content map and brought it to life with several core features to help make your revision more targeted and effective. ! 1. Core conditions textbook You can now access our knowledge library entry for each condition directly via the content map by simply clicking the book icon on the right. This allows you to quickly access relevant content when going through the conditions in each area of clinical practice. Our content map is also fully searchable if you want to find exactly where each presentation and condition is located. ! 2. Question builder Our content map can also be used to build customised quizzes tailored to your exam preparation. You can select individual presentations, and/or conditions across multiple areas of clinical practice, if desired. This gives you maximum flexibility while also ensuring your revision is based on exactly what you need to know. ! 3. Question tags Our newly introduced question tag feature helps you understand where in the MLA content map each question is relevant to. Questions now have tags demonstrating the area of clinical practice, presentation and condition that they are relevant to, as well as their difficulty. This is particularly helpful for certain conditions which are not explicitly named in the content map, such as Atrial Fibrillation (likely under the umbrella condition ‘Arrhythmias’), that you would definitely need to know for your MLA AKT/CPSA. ! Conclusion Thanks for reading this overview of what the MLA content map is and how to get the most out of our content map feature. We hope this has helped shed light on what is a long and daunting document, and will help enhance your MLA AKT/CPSA preparation. If you have any questions about this, or any of our features please contact us at [email protected]. We wish you the very best of luck! References

The Ultimate MRCP Part 1 Online Revision Resources Guide

If you’re reading this blog post, you are probably trying to plan your revision strategy ahead of your upcoming MRCP Part 1 exam. We have already broken down the exam step-by-step for you in a , but here we will provide a detailed overview of what online resources you can use to prepare for this exam and pass with confidence. How do you revise best? Know your learning style! As you plan your revision, it is useful to first ask yourself, ‘How do I learn best?’ Some people are visual and auditory learners, others like to read and write. Some are very logical, using patterns and systems to develop an approach to learning, or like to work alone, while others like to work with others in groups. In reality, everyone learns differently, and most people are combination learners, moving between each learning style depending on their needs. You will find plenty of free materials online that can target each of your learning needs, where you need them. For example, there are videos available on YouTube or posts on social media such as Instagram, that will explain tricky concepts that you may have always struggled with. There are also many free applications that allow you to generate your own Anki flashcards, which can be useful to support your learning journey, as well as user experiences of the exam shared on Reddit or Twitter, to help you learn from their mistakes and plan your revision strategy going forwards. However, preparation for the MRCP Part 1 exam needs to be systematic, complete, and well-planned. The exam is challenging, with a pass rate of only around 50%-60%. As such, we would recommend using a dedicated online platform that has been designed to specifically walk you through the exam’s and meets all of your learning needs, whatever they are. The Best Online Resources 1. Quesmed.com Quesmed.com offers an all-in-one platform with an online textbook, video library, and extensive, blueprint-matched question bank, online and in a handy offline-ready app. This suits every learning style through its multi-media approach and allows you to revise the entire exam syllabus anywhere, anytime. Highlights: ✓ 6200+ Part 1 questions - covers the entire exam blueprint and allows you to practice the development of pattern recognition skills and logical learning styles ✓ Expanded question explanations - a detailed explanation works through why each question choice is right, or wrong, allowing you to develop the skills required to perfect single best-answer questions on the day ✓ Questions linked to relevant textbook chapter - after you finish each question, complete your revision on each topic as you go by reading the linked relevant chapter just below ✓ Customise and target your revision - online question builder can allow you to build your quizzes in any way you want, from a random selection to mimic the real exam, to targeting individual topics that you feel need more time and attention ✓ Extensive past paper library - based on previous themes that have emerged in the real exam ✓ Detailed online textbook - for the learner who likes to read and write, and to provide further detail to deepen your understanding of the exam blueprint ✓ Specialist-taught recorded lectures - recorded content covering tricky topic areas by specialty, ideal for everyone, and especially auditory and visual learners ✓ Handy app with both offline and online modes - you can take your revision with you anywhere now by simply carrying your device, so you can revise alone, or with others, and even when you’ve lost signal ✓ Doctor-driven content - by high-achieving doctors who have aced the exam themselves, for doctors ✓ Competitive and flexible pricing - pricing is £64.99 for a 3-month plan (compared with a minimum price point of £84.99 at Pastest.com, which is priced relative to a fixed exam date, and so is never cheaper than this - even if you are buying it with less than a month to go to the exam date.) There is also a monthly payment option of £39.99, which is not offered by most leading online platforms, including Pastest.com or Passmedicine.com. This can help you spread out the cost of an online revision resource, or allow you to only buy as much as you need. ✓ Money-back guarantee - if you use Quesmed.com to prepare for your MRCP Part 1 exam and you fail, you can get the full cost of your subscription refunded. 2. Pastest.com Pastest.com provides an impressive number of 7400+ questions covering the range of topics you will encounter on the exam, with an offline-ready app that allows you to revise on the go and the ability to filter the bank and build quizzes to target your revision. They also have many past papers that allow you to revise themes that have come up in previous exam sittings. Completing the Pastest question bank will likely expose you to most of the themes you may come across on the day, therefore! Each question is accompanied by an expanded explanation, which can allow you to understand the key learning points better. Their product is bundled into a handy app that is off-line ready. Drawbacks: ✖ No online textbook - Pastest.com do not offer an online textbook. If you want to use their textbook, you have to buy the physical version, which retails at £40. Their questions are furthermore not linked to any relevant textbook chapters. This may limit your ability to deepen your understanding of the relevant topics. ✖ No competitive and flexible pricing - Pastest.com has no option for a monthly subscription. Their fees are set relative to a fixed exam date, and the minimum price point is quite expensive at £84.99. ✖ No specialist-taught recorded lectures - Pastest.com do not offer recorded lectures delivered by high-achieving doctors. ✖ No money-back guarantee 3. Passmedicine.com Passmedicine.com is well-loved by many doctors who have sat the MRCP Part 1 exam. It has a user-friendly, intuitive interface which makes it very straightforward to revise and get to grips with. They have a question builder that allows you to filter the questions you want to see to target your revision. Furthermore, Passmedicine.com is well known for its competitive pricing, with subscriptions starting at £35. Question explanations are provided in greater detail below the main question with key facts about the diagnosis often being summarised. They also offer an online textbook. Drawbacks: ✖ Limited question bank size - Passmedicine.com has 4900 questions on their question bank, which may prevent your ability to cover the full blueprint and develop effective pattern recognition skills. ✖ No past papers - Though Passmedicine.com does offer 4 mock tests that try to replicate the real exam, they do not offer any past papers. Past papers are essential for you to get comfortable with the themes that have emerged in previous exam sittings. ✖ Suboptimal app - one of the biggest drawbacks of Passmedicine.com is its app. They have an app-like shortcut that can be added to your phone which provides off-line functionality. This experience is somewhat clunky, however, as its use is not as seamless as having a full app that is downloadable via the relevant application store on your phone. ✖ No specialist-taught recorded lectures - Passmedicine.com do not offer recorded lectures delivered by high-achieving doctors. ✖ No money-back guarantee 4. BMJ OnExamination BMJ OnExamination offers 3190 questions including mock tests based on recent exam themes. Their handy app and group study feature allows making your revision flexible and social. You can buy the question bank flexibly on a monthly basis if required as well, which allows you to tailor your access to revision materials, as and when you need them. Drawbacks: ✖ Limited question bank size - with only 3190 questions offered, you are less likely to cover the full blueprint and develop effective pattern recognition skills if you depend on BMJ OnExamination alone. ✖ Specialist-taught recorded lectures - BMJ OnExamination does not offer recorded lectures delivered by high-achieving doctors. ✖ No online textbook - BMJ OnExamination does not offer an online textbook. This means that if you want to read about a given topic in more detail, you will have to access additional learning materials to aid your revision. This can make it more difficult to revise using this platform as it does not offer an all-in-one learning experience. ✖ No money-back guarantee 5. StatPearls A US-based platform that boasts 3900+ questions that have been developed closely to match the style of the exam. With a money-back guarantee in place, they are confident that preparing with them will allow you to pass the exam with flying colours. Actionable intelligence is built into their platform to produce reports to help you target your revision areas. ✖ Limited question bank size - with only 3900+ questions offered, you are less likely to cover the full blueprint using this platform alone. ✖ No past papers - no mock tests made up of past papers; this means you are less likely to see previous exam themes, which can be recycled each year. ✖ No specialist-taught recorded lectures - there are no additional recorded lectures offered for the audio-visual learner. ✖ No online textbook - no associated online textbook is offered. This can make it more difficult to revise using this platform as it does not offer an all-in-one learning experience. ✖ No app - this can limit your ability to revise on the go. ✖ No money-back guarantee ✖ Non-competitive price point - starting at $199 for one month, this is one of the most expensive subscriptions that exists for this exam. 6. Royal College of Physicians The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) does offer a of 100 questions on their website. Though this is an important revision material that allows you to sample past questions from previous papers and get used to the style of the exam, it is certainly not an exhaustive learning resource. Summary There we have it! The best online revision resources for MRCP Part 1 in a nutshell. If you’re looking for an all-in-one platform that really does have it all, for every learning style, that is matched to the exam syllabus and will support all your learning needs at a reasonable price, you don’t need to look further than Quesmed.com. Here is a summarising table to remind you of all the features of the various online learning resources. | | Online textbook | Past papers | Lectures | App with offline mode | Money-back guarantee | Prices from | |-----------------------------|-----------------|-------------|----------|-----------------------|----------------------|-------------| | Quesmed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | £39.99 | | Pastest | | ✓ | | ✓ | | £84.99 | | Passmedicine | ✓ | | | | | £35 | | BMJ OnExamination | | | | ✓ | | £37.99 | | StatPearls | | | | | ✓ | $199 | | Royal College of Physicians | | | | | | Free | Whatever strategy you choose, we wish you all the best in your exam preparation!

Free MRCP Part 1 Questions

Based on themes from previous exam sittings, we have put together a free past paper made of 100 questions to help you prepare for your upcoming MRCP Part 1 exam. These questions are not only representative of what has come up in the previous exams but are also written to closely match the style of what you will experience on the day. To try out this free MRCP Part 1 past paper, click the start test button above! MRCP Part 1 is a written exam taken by doctors who have completed a minimum of 12 months of postgraduate medical experience. This includes both UK-trained doctors and international medical graduates (IMGs). It is the first exam on the journey towards the MRCP (UK) Diploma which is a post-graduate diploma designed to test the skills, knowledge, and behaviours of a doctor who wishes to undergo medical speciality training in the United Kingdom. Click to sign up to our MRCP Part 1 and MRCP Part 2 question banks or PACES online videos.

How to Excel in Medical Exams | Proven Study Techniques for Success

Medical exams can be overwhelming due to the sheer content volume, but the right strategies can make a huge difference in your success. Whether you're preparing for the MLA AKT, OSCE or CPSA, MRCP, PLAB, or MSRA, the key to excelling is active learning, strategic revision, and consistent practice. This blog will explore proven study techniques to help you retain information better, improve recall, and boost exam performance. 1. Use Active Recall for Long-Term Retention Passive reading or highlighting notes may feel productive, but research shows that active recall is the most effective way to retain information. This technique involves actively retrieving information from memory rather than just reviewing it. How to Apply It: - Use Quesmed’s question banks to test yourself regularly. - Cover your notes and try to recall key points before checking your answers. - Use flashcards with spaced repetition to reinforce essential facts over time. Why It Works: Active recall strengthens neural pathways, making retrieving information during your exams easier. 2. Leverage Spaced Repetition for Maximum Efficiency Spaced repetition is a scientifically backed technique that involves reviewing information at increasing intervals to strengthen memory retention. How to Apply It: - Instead of cramming, review topics in a structured schedule. - Use Quesmed’s pre-built flashcards to test yourself daily. - Revise weaker topics more frequently to ensure mastery. Why It Works: Your brain consolidates information better when you space out your revision sessions instead of trying to absorb everything simultaneously. 3. Master SBAs and Clinical Scenarios with Qbanks Most medical exams, including the MLA AKT, MRCP, MSRA, and PLAB, rely on single-best answer (SBA) questions and clinical case scenarios. The best way to prepare is by using a realistic question bank that mimics the exam structure. How to Apply It: - Use Quesmed’s question banks to practice high-yield topics. - Simulate exam conditions with timed quizzes and mock tests. - Learn from detailed explanations to understand the rationale behind each answer. Why It Works: Practising with exam-style questions improves your ability to apply knowledge to clinical scenarios, a crucial skill for passing medical exams. 4. Reinforce Knowledge with the Feynman Technique If you can explain a complex medical concept in simple terms, you truly understand it. This is the core idea behind the Feynman Technique. How to Apply It: - Take a medical topic (e.g. heart failure management) and try to explain it to a non-medical friend. - Identify gaps in your knowledge and revisit those areas. - Use Quesmed’s Knowledge Library to clarify complex concepts. Why It Works: Teaching forces you to simplify and structure your knowledge, making recall easier during exams. 5. Simulate Exam Conditions with Timed Mocks Time management is critical in medical exams. Many candidates struggle to complete all questions due to poor pacing. How to Apply It: - Set a timer and attempt full-length mock exams. - Use Quesmed’s timed mock tests to develop exam stamina. - Identify which sections slow you down and adjust your strategy accordingly. Why It Works: Practising under timed conditions reduces anxiety and improves efficiency, ensuring you finish your exam on time. Conclusion Excelling in medical exams requires more than hard work — it requires innovative strategies. You can significantly improve your performance by using active recall, spaced repetition, question banks, and exam simulations. Quesmed’s comprehensive platform provides all the tools you need, from high-quality SBAs to flashcards and mock tests, to help you succeed. Start your free trial with Quesmed today and take your medical exam preparation to the next level!

How Quesmed Helps You Succeed in Medical Interviews & Specialty Training Applications

Securing a place in your desired medical speciality is highly competitive. Whether you're applying for Core Surgical Training (CST), Internal Medicine Training (IMT), Anaesthetics, Radiology, or Paediatrics, your interview is crucial. Quesmed question banks provide a structured, evidence-based approach to help you prepare for Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessments (MSRA), CST, IMT, Anaesthetics, Radiology, and Paediatrics Interviews. Here’s how Quesmed can help you maximise your success. 1. Master Competency-Based Interview Questions Most medical interviews assess leadership, communication, problem-solving, and teamwork competencies. How Quesmed Helps: - Access hundreds of interview questions tailored for different specialities. - Learn how to structure responses using frameworks like STARR (Situation, Task, Action, Result, Reflection). - Gain insights from high-scoring candidates to understand what interviewers are looking for. Why It Works: Competency-based interviews require structured and well-articulated answers—preparing with realistic questions ensures confidence and clarity. 2. Get Expert Guidance on Clinical Scenarios Most speciality interviews include clinical scenario questions to assess decision-making, prioritisation, and ethical reasoning. How Quesmed Helps: - Gain access to speciality-specific clinical questions. - Learn step-by-step frameworks to tackle ethical dilemmas and emergencies. - Improve decision-making with case-based discussions guided by expert doctors. Why It Works: Practising with real clinical scenarios prepares you for on-the-spot thinking, which is critical in medical interviews. 3. Perfect Your MSRA Exam Strategy The Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) is a key factor in speciality applications for CST, Anaesthetics, Radiology, IMT, GP, and other training pathways. How Quesmed Helps: - Access high-yield MSRA questions covering clinical knowledge and situational judgment. - Learn effective time management strategies for single-best answer (SBA) questions. - Track progress with performance analytics to identify areas for improvement. MSRA performance directly impacts speciality ranking, so a structured revision plan is essential. 4. Learn from High-Scoring Past Candidates Understanding what works for successful candidates can give you a competitive edge. How Quesmed Helps: - View and learn from detailed interview model answers from doctors who secured top training spots. - Learn how candidates tackled challenging questions and structured their responses. - Gain insider tips on what assessors expect. Knowing what works in actual interviews helps refine your approach and build confidence. Conclusion Acing your medical specialty interview requires structured preparation, clinical knowledge, and strong communication skills. Quesmed’s MSRA prep and interview question banks provide everything you need to stand out. Sign up with Quesmed today and take the next step in your medical career with confidence!

From Theory to Practice: How to Apply Medical Knowledge in CPSAs (OSCEs)

The Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA), often formerly referred to as the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), is a critical part of medical training, assessing how well candidates can apply theoretical knowledge in real-life clinical scenarios. Unlike written exams, CPSA/OSCE stations require practical skills, communication, and decision-making under time constraints. This guide explores the best strategies to transition from theoretical learning to effective OSCE performance. Understanding the CPSA Format The CPSA is designed to test clinical competence through a series of stations, each assessing a different skill. These stations typically include: - History-taking from a patient or simulated patient - Physical examination of a specific system - Clinical procedures such as cannulation or catheterisation - Communication skills, including breaking bad news or discussing treatment plans - Data interpretation and decision-making How to Prepare: - Review the assessment criteria for each station type. - Familiarise yourself with the clinical skills checklist used by examiners. - Use case-based scenarios to practice real-world applications of medical theory. Mastering History-Taking and Communication Effective communication is one of the most heavily weighted aspects of the CPSA. Candidates must demonstrate active listening, empathy, and structured questioning. Key Techniques: - Follow a structured approach: SOCRATES for pain history, AMPLE for trauma assessment. - Use open-ended questions first before narrowing down to specifics. - Practice explaining medical conditions in simple, patient-friendly language. - Engage in role-playing exercises with colleagues to refine interpersonal skills. Performing Clinical Examinations with Confidence Physical examination stations assess how well candidates can perform system-based assessments while explaining their findings. Commonly tested examinations include cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, and abdominal exams. Best Practices: - Use a systematic approach such as IPPA (Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation) for general exams. - Narrate your actions as you perform them to show structured thinking. - Be mindful of professional etiquette, ensuring patient comfort and consent. Developing a Structured Approach for Clinical Procedures Medical procedures such as venepuncture, wound dressing, and IV cannulation are standard CPSA stations. These require precision, adherence to protocols, and patient safety awareness. Preparation Tips: - Break procedures into step-by-step sequences to ensure consistency. - Focus on infection control, sterility, and proper hand hygiene. - Use simulation tools and practice with actual equipment when possible. Enhancing Decision-Making and Data Interpretation Skills Some CPSA stations require candidates to interpret test results, ECGs, X-rays, or blood work and make appropriate clinical decisions. How to Improve: - Familiarise yourself with common lab findings and radiology patterns. - Apply a "pattern recognition" approach to identify key abnormalities quickly. - Practice clinical reasoning with past OSCE cases to develop structured responses. Practicing Under Exam Conditions Time management is crucial in CPSA stations, as candidates typically have 5–10 minutes per station. Practising under exam conditions can help build confidence and reduce anxiety. How to Simulate the Exam: - Time yourself during mock CPSA sessions to get used to pacing. - Work in study groups to receive feedback on strengths and weaknesses. - Use QUESMED’s OSCE station banks and mark schemes to track progress and practice with friends. Conclusion Excelling in the CPSA requires a blend of theoretical knowledge, structured clinical skills, and effective communication. Candidates can significantly enhance their performance by practising in a realistic setting, refining history-taking and examination techniques, and improving decision-making. Use QUESMED’s interactive CPSA/OSCE resources to streamline your preparation and maximise exam success.

The Ultimate UKMLA Study Plan: What to Revise and When

The UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA) is a mandatory exam for all medical graduates aiming to practise in the UK. With two key components—the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) and the Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA)—a structured study plan is essential for success. This guide provides a detailed timeline for what to revise and when to ensure candidates maximise their preparation. Understanding the UKMLA Structure Before creating a study plan, it’s essential to understand the exam format: - AKT: A written exam assessing medical knowledge across core clinical topics. - CPSA: A practical assessment similar to an OSCE, testing clinical and professional skills in real-world scenarios. The UKMLA aligns with the General Medical Council (GMC) curriculum, covering core medical knowledge, professional behaviour, and patient safety. Three-Month Study Plan for UKMLA Preparation Month 1: Building Strong Foundations Focus on understanding key medical concepts, reinforcing core knowledge, and identifying weak areas. - Study primary medical specialities according to the . - Use Quesmed’s Knowledge Library to review high-yield topics. - Begin practising SBA (Single Best Answer) questions daily. - Allocate time for active recall and spaced repetition using Quesmed’s flashcards. Month 2: Strengthening Clinical Application This phase should focus on applying knowledge to clinical cases and improving decision-making skills. - Increase the number of SBA practice questions to test the application of knowledge. - Engage in case-based discussions to develop structured diagnostic approaches. - Focus on clinical guidelines and national protocols, such as NICE guidelines. - Begin timed mock tests to simulate exam conditions and assess progress. Month 3: Intensive Exam Practice and Final Review As the exam approaches, focus on timed practice, revision of weak areas, and fine-tuning test-taking strategies. - Take full-length UKMLA mock exams to improve time management. - Review mistakes from practice tests and reinforce challenging topics. - Continue with active recall and flashcard-based revision for last-minute retention. - Prepare for the CPSA by practising clinical skills and communication scenarios. Key Areas to Focus on for UKMLA Success - Clinical Guidelines & Protocols: Knowledge of NICE guidelines and GMC standards is essential. - Statistics and Medical Ethics: Understand ethical dilemmas, patient safety, and be familiar with basic medical statistics including study design and calculations. - Diagnostic Reasoning & Investigations: Be familiar with interpreting test results, imaging, and lab findings. Strategies for Effective UKMLA Revision - Practice: Regular SBA practice is essential for developing exam confidence. - Follow a Structured Study Plan: Allocate specific topics to different weeks and adjust based on progress. - Simulate Exam Conditions: Timed tests will help with pacing and question comprehension. - Engage in Peer Discussions: Explaining concepts to others improves understanding and retention. Conclusion A well-structured study plan is key to passing the UKMLA. Candidates can confidently approach the exam by focusing on foundational knowledge, clinical application, and exam-style questions. Quesmed provides comprehensive UKMLA revision tools, including question banks, mock exams, and interactive learning resources. Start your UKMLA preparation today with a study plan that ensures success.

UKMLA Exam: Everything You Need to Know for 2025 and Beyond

From 2024 onwards, the UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA) is a mandatory exam for all medical graduates wishing to practise medicine in the United Kingdom. Whether you’re a UK medical student or an international medical graduate (IMG), understanding the structure, content, and preparation strategies for the UKMLA is essential. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what the UKMLA involves, who it applies to, and how Quesmed can help you prepare effectively. What Is the UKMLA? The UKMLA is a standardised licensing exam introduced by the General Medical Council (GMC) to ensure that all doctors entering UK practice meet the same standard of clinical competence and professional knowledge. It replaces the PLAB for international graduates and standardises assessment across all UK medical schools. Who Has to Take the UKMLA? - UK medical students: Final-year students at UK medical schools will sit the UKMLA as part of their final exams. - International medical graduates (IMGs): From 2024, IMGs will take the UKMLA instead of PLAB to gain registration with the GMC. Components of the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) - A computer-based, multiple-choice examination featuring Single Best Answer (SBA) questions. - Assesses clinical knowledge, problem-solving ability, and application of professional practice. - Covers key medical domains such as cardiology, respiratory, gastroenterology, and mental health. Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA) - Similar to an OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination). - Tests communication, clinical examination, practical skills, and professionalism. - Delivered by UK medical schools or approved clinical centres for IMGs. The UKMLA Content Map The GMC has created a comprehensive UKMLA content map outlining the conditions, clinical scenarios, and domains students must learn. Key focus areas include: - Core presentations and patient conditions - Clinical procedures and capabilities - Professional behaviours and ethical practice Quesmed aligns its questions and learning tools directly with the MLA content map, making it easier for students to structure their revision and cover all required topics. How to Prepare for the UKMLA 1. Start Early - Begin preparation during your clinical years using structured revision schedules and resources mapped to the GMC guidelines. 2. Use High-Quality Question Banks - Quesmed offers over 10,000 UKMLA-style questions with detailed explanations, mock exams, and progress tracking. 3. Simulate Exam Conditions - Timed mock tests can improve time management and help reduce exam-day anxiety. Practising under actual exam conditions ensures familiarity with the test format. 4. Incorporate Active Learning - Use flashcards, case-based learning, and clinical scenarios to strengthen your recall and understanding. Quesmed's flashcard system uses spaced repetition to boost retention. Conclusion The UKMLA is often the final milestone in your journey to becoming a doctor in the UK. With the right strategy and the right tools, you can approach it with confidence. Quesmed's targeted questions, mock exams, and comprehensive learning resources are designed to help you prepare efficiently and effectively for the UKMLA in 2025 and beyond. Start your preparation today and take the next step in your medical career.

Tech-Enhanced Learning: How Digital Platforms Are Revolutionising Medical Education

The way medical students learn and revise has undergone a major transformation in recent years. Traditional textbooks and in-person lectures have been supplemented—and in many cases, replaced—by innovative digital platforms that offer flexible, interactive, and highly effective learning experiences. This blog explores how tech-enhanced learning tools revolutionise medical education and why platforms like Quesmed are at the forefront of this shift. 3 The Rise of Digital Learning in Medicine With the rapid growth of online education, digital platforms now play a critical role in how medical students and professionals access information and prepare for exams. Key factors driving this shift include: The need for flexible, on-the-go learning The integration of multimedia and interactive content The use of data analytics to personalise learning experiences The increasing demand for high-quality exam preparation tools Benefits of Tech-Enhanced Medical Education 1. Accessibility and Flexibility - Digital platforms make learning materials accessible from anywhere, at any time. Whether on placement, commuting, or revising at home, you can continue your learning with a mobile device. - Quesmed's free offline mobile app allows users to access question banks, flashcards, and textbooks without an internet connection—ideal for busy students and junior doctors. 2. Interactive and Engaging Content - Modern digital tools incorporate videos, animations, quizzes, and simulations, making learning more engaging. - This interactivity improves attention, understanding, and knowledge retention. - Quesmed provides various resources, including clinical videos, realistic OSCE stations, and Anki-style flashcards, designed to reinforce active recall. 3. Personalised Learning Paths - One of the most significant advantages of tech-enhanced learning is the ability to tailor study plans based on performance and progress. - Quesmed's platform tracks user activity and suggests areas for improvement, helping students focus their efforts where it matters most. 4. Real-Time Progress Tracking - Data-driven dashboards help learners monitor their strengths and weaknesses. - With Quesmed, users can view detailed analytics on quiz results, topic coverage, and question accuracy, making it easy to adjust revision strategies in real time. 5. Aligned to Exam Curricula - Effective digital platforms ensure that all content is aligned with national exam requirements. - Quesmed content is mapped to the UKMLA content map, ensuring users constantly revise what’s relevant for their exams. 6. Efficient Exam Preparation - Digital platforms offer structured preparation through timed mock exams, topic-wise quizzes, and revision tools—all in one place. - This convenience saves time and supports better results. How Quesmed Is Leading the Way As a trusted digital learning provider in the UK medical education sector, Quesmed offers: - 10,000+ exam-style questions - Interactive OSCE resources - Detailed Knowledge Library - Offline access via iOS and Android apps - Integrated flashcards and spaced repetition algorithms Whether you're revising for the UKMLA, MRCP, PLAB, or MSRA, Quesmed provides an adaptive and comprehensive learning experience that reflects how medicine is studied and practised today. Conclusion Digital platforms are reshaping the future of medical education by offering more innovative, faster, and more personalised ways to learn. With interactive tools, real-time feedback, and exam-focused resources, platforms like Quesmed are making it easier than ever for students to succeed. Embrace the future of medical education and explore how tech-enhanced learning can support your journey to becoming a doctor.

The Power of Flashcards: How to Boost Your Medical Knowledge Retention

In medical education, where vast volumes of information must be memorised and applied accurately, efficient learning strategies are essential. Flashcards are one of the most effective and time-tested techniques for improving memory retention. When combined with active recall and spaced repetition, flashcards become a powerful tool for long-term learning. This blog explores how flashcards can enhance your study routine and how Quesmed's flashcard system helps medical students and professionals learn smarter, not harder. Why Flashcards Work in Medical Education 1. Active Recall Flashcards encourage learners to retrieve information from memory, rather than simply reviewing it. This process, known as active recall, strengthens neural connections and enhances long-term retention. 2. Spaced Repetition Spaced repetition involves revisiting information at increasingly spaced intervals. Flashcards work perfectly with this technique, helping you focus on more difficult content while reducing review time for familiar material. 3. Efficient Use of Time Flashcards allow you to revise in short, focused sessions. They are ideal for quick reviews between clinical shifts, during commutes, or while waiting for ward rounds. 4. Versatility Across Subjects Flashcards are helpful for various topics, from anatomy and physiology to pharmacology and clinical guidelines. Whether you're preparing for the UKMLA, MRCP, PLAB, or MSRA, flashcards can effectively support your revision. 5. Encourages Active Engagement Unlike passive reading, flashcards require you to engage with the material. This increases motivation, attention, and overall study effectiveness. How Quesmed's Flashcard System Enhances Learning Quesmed offers a library of 15,000+ pre-built flashcards, designed and reviewed by doctors and aligned to primary medical exam curricula. The system incorporates: - Anki-style spaced repetition algorithms to reinforce retention - Progress tracking to help you focus on weaker topics - Integration with question banks and textbooks for a unified learning experience - Mobile accessibility allowing offline revision anytime, anywhere Tips for Making the Most of Flashcards - Use daily: Regular practice, even for 10–15 minutes a day, can lead to significant improvement. - Don’t create all your own: Save time by using Quesmed's professionally designed decks. - Actively recall, don’t guess: Try to answer the question fully before checking the answer. - Tag challenging cards: Focus future sessions on the most difficult concepts. Conclusion Flashcards are an essential tool for efficient and effective medical revision. When used correctly, they promote active recall, support spaced repetition, and enhance exam performance. Quesmed intelligent flashcard system is designed to help you retain key information and succeed in your medical exams. Incorporate flashcards into your daily study routine and build lasting medical knowledge today.

Free PLAB 1 Questions

We've created a 100-item practice exam designed to help international medical graduates prepare for PLAB 1. Closely aligned with the GMC's MLA Content Map, this mock exam mirrors the style and structure of the actual PLAB 1 exam. Try one of our PLAB-style practice exams for FREE by clicking the button below! The Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) test is required for international medical graduates (IMGs) who wish to practise medicine in the UK. The PLAB test assesses that doctors have the necessary knowledge and skills to practise safely at the level of a UK Foundation Year 2 doctor. For full guidance, please refer to the The PLAB test is closely aligned with the UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA), which all UK and international graduates must pass to practise in the UK. PLAB 1 corresponds to the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) of the UKMLA and uses the same MLA Content Map as its blueprint. PLAB 1 is a computer-based written exam consisting of 180 single best answer (SBA) questions, taken over 3 hours. It tests knowledge across clinical medicine, diagnostics, and professional practice—exactly what our mock papers are designed to help you revise.

How to Balance Studying for Exams While Gaining Clinical Experience

Balancing academic revision with the demands of clinical placements is one of the most significant challenges for medical students. With exams such as the UKMLA, PLAB, OSCEs and postgraduate exams like MRCP and PACES requiring structured preparation, it can be challenging to find time to revise while actively engaging in patient care and hands-on learning. This blog explores practical strategies to manage both responsibilities effectively, without sacrificing performance in either area. The Dual Demands of Medical Training Clinical experience is vital for developing real-world medical skills, communication techniques, and confidence in practice. Medical exams test core knowledge, guidelines, and diagnostic reasoning skills that require focused revision and review. To succeed as a medical student or resident doctor, it’s essential to master the balance between these two components. 1. Use Your Clinical Experience as a Study Tool Your day-to-day interactions during placement are rich learning opportunities. Link your clinical encounters with your revision schedule: - After seeing a patient with COPD, review respiratory physiology or inhaler management protocols that evening. - Reflect on common presentations you’ve observed and use Quesmed's question bank to reinforce understanding. - Take note of senior clinicians’ explanations — these often reflect exam content (particularly for undergraduate exams - listen to your lecturers!) and real-world applications. 2. Follow a Structured Revision Plan A flexible but consistent study timetable is essential. Allocate dedicated time blocks for revision around your clinical shifts. - Utilise tools like Quesmed to study in shorter, focused sessions, using question banks, flashcards, or video reviews. - Break down your study plan by speciality (e.g. cardiology, renal, neurology) and integrate them with your placement focus. 3. Leverage Digital Platforms for On-the-Go Learning Medical placements can be unpredictable, making it hard to stick to fixed revision hours. Quesmed offline app (particularly when NHS Wifi isn't working!) enables you to revise on the move. - Use flashcards or quizzes during commute times, coffee breaks, or between patients. - Make the most of short windows of time to review high-yield topics and maintain momentum. 4. Prioritise High-Yield Topics Not every topic is equally tested. Focus your revision on common presentations, red-flag symptoms, and clinical guidelines that frequently appear in exams. - Utilise Quesmed's analytics to pinpoint your weak areas and concentrate on improving them. - Allocate more time to frequently assessed systems, such as cardiology, respiratory, and gastroenterology. 5. Reflect and Consolidate Weekly Set aside time at the end of each week to review what you’ve learned both clinically and academically. - Use this reflection time to identify any knowledge gaps. - Reinforce key learning points through Quesmed's integrated flashcards and spaced repetition tools. Conclusion Balancing clinical experience and exam preparation can be challenging, but it is achievable with the right strategy. Utilise clinical learning as part of your revision, create a realistic study schedule, and leverage digital tools like Quesmed for flexible learning. With consistent effort and thoughtful planning, you can thrive in both clinical placements and medical exams.

Medical School to NHS: Transitioning Successfully as a Resident Doctor

The transition from medical school to working as a resident doctor in the NHS is one of the most significant steps in a doctor’s career. It’s a period marked by steep learning curves, new responsibilities, and often, uncertainty. However, with proper preparation and the right mindset, you can approach this stage with confidence. In this blog, we explore how to make the transition as smooth and successful as possible. Understanding the Role of a Resident Doctor In the UK, medical graduates begin their NHS careers as Foundation Year 1 (FY1) doctors. This involves working in supervised hospital placements, gaining practical experience, and learning how to function as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team. The role includes: - Patient reviews - Ward rounds - Clerking new admissions - Prescribing medications - Performing administrative tasks - Depending on the rotation, it may also involve assisting in theatre and participating in clinics 1. Build on Your Clinical Foundation The skills you learned during medical school form the basis of your practice, but the NHS requires you to apply them in real time. - Use your final year placements to familiarise yourself with ward processes, documentation, and electronic and/or paper prescribing. - Revise common conditions, emergency management protocols, and drug prescribing rules using Quesmed's up-to-date clinical content library. 2. Prepare for Foundation Duties In addition to daily responsibilities, medical students also prepare for exams such as the Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) and Situational Judgement Test (SJT). Staying organised during this transition is key. - Quesmed provides structured preparation resources for the PSA, including practice exams and detailed explanations. - Understanding clinical scenarios and ethical principles will also help you perform better in real-life NHS situations. 3. Time Management and Organisation You’ll quickly learn that time is one of your most valuable resources. Effective organisation can prevent burnout and help you maintain performance. - Develop habits like prioritising tasks on the ward and reviewing key cases at the end of each shift. - Allocate time each week for ongoing revision and reflection. 4. Seek Support and Mentorship Starting your first medical job can feel overwhelming, but support is available. - Engage regularly with your clinical and educational supervisors. - Ask for feedback and be proactive in learning from senior colleagues. - Join online communities or peer support groups for junior doctors. 5. Make Use of Digital Tools The early months of being a junior doctor are busy, and it can be challenging to find time to revise or consolidate your learning. - Use platforms like Quesmed to maintain progress in your postgraduate exam preparation, review clinical knowledge, and build confidence. Conclusion Transitioning from medical student to resident doctor is a defining stage in your journey, but it doesn’t have to be daunting. With preparation, support, and the right digital resources, you can thrive in the NHS. Quesmed is here to help you navigate this critical phase—providing revision tools, clinical resources, and ongoing support to build your confidence and competence as a newly qualified doctor.

How to Tackle UKMLA’s Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) Like a Pro

The UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) is a pivotal step in every UK medical student’s journey towards becoming a doctor and registration with the GMC. Designed to assess your understanding and application of clinical knowledge, the AKT forms one half of the UKMLA, alongside the Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA). Success in this exam requires more than just memorising facts—it demands critical thinking, strategic revision, and exam technique. This blog outlines how to prepare for the UKMLA AKT like a pro. What Is the UKMLA AKT? The Applied Knowledge Test is a computer-based assessment comprising Single Best Answer (SBA) questions. It tests your ability to apply clinical knowledge to realistic patient scenarios, making it an efficient and integrated exam. Topics are mapped to the GMC’s UKMLA content map and cover a wide range of areas, including cardiovascular medicine, professionalism, and prescribing. 1. Understand the Content Map The UKMLA content map is your blueprint for success. It outlines the presentations, conditions, and capabilities expected of all UK medical graduates. - Use it to guide your revision focus - Ensure you cover all domains, including clinical presentations, ethical scenarios, and emergency care - Quesmed's question banks are mapped directly to the UKMLA content map to keep your learning aligned 2. Practice with Exam-Style Questions The AKT consists entirely of SBA questions, so it’s crucial to become familiar with the format. - Quesmed offers over 10,000 AKT-style questions covering all major medical disciplines - Each question comes with detailed explanations, helping you understand why an answer is right or wrong - Timed mock exams on the platform simulate the pressure and pacing of the real exam 3. Use Active Recall and Spaced Repetition Long-term retention is essential, especially when revising across broad clinical areas. - Use QUESMED’s pre-built flashcards to test your recall - Take advantage of spaced repetition algorithms to reinforce learning over time - Integrate flashcard sessions between question practice to consolidate knowledge 4. Identify and Strengthen Weak Areas Utilise performance analytics to monitor progress and identify knowledge gaps. - Quesmed intelligent tracking tools show your strengths and weaknesses by topic - Focus revision on areas where your scores are lower - Tailor your quizzes and mock exams accordingly to maximise efficiency 5. Start Early and Build a Routine Cramming is not effective for the AKT. Aim for steady, consistent revision. - Create a weekly revision plan - Mix question practice, flashcard reviews, and textbook reading - Use placement experiences to contextualise learning and improve clinical reasoning Conclusion Succeeding in the UKMLA AKT is about thoughtful preparation, not just hard work. With the right resources, a structured approach, and regular self-assessment, you can enter the exam with confidence. Quesmed's UKMLA-focused question bank, mock tests, knowledge library, flashcards, and mobile app are all designed to help you revise efficiently and effectively. Start your preparation today and take control of your medical career.

UKMLA vs PLAB: Key Differences and How to Prepare for Each

If you’re planning to practise medicine in the UK, you’ll need to pass a licensing exam to gain GMC registration. For UK medical students, this is now the UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA), while international medical graduates (IMGs) have traditionally taken the PLAB (Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board) exam. However, the UKMLA will eventually replace the PLAB for IMGs as well. Understanding the differences between the two exams and how to prepare effectively is essential for success. What Is the UKMLA? The UKMLA is a national licensing exam designed by the General Medical Council (GMC) to ensure all medical graduates meet the same clinical and professional standards. Who takes it? - UK medical students - IMGs (from 2024 onwards) Exam format: - Applied Knowledge Test (AKT): A computer-based exam with Single Best Answer (SBA) questions - Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA): A practical exam similar to an OSCE Content: Aligned with the GMC UKMLA content map covering core clinical conditions, presentations, ethics, and professionalism. What Is the PLAB? The PLAB exam has been the standard pathway for IMGs to demonstrate their medical knowledge and skills before working in the NHS. Who takes it? - International medical graduates who trained outside the UK or EEA Exam format: - PLAB 1: A written exam with 180 SBA questions - PLAB 2: A practical OSCE-style exam with 16 stations testing clinical and communication skills Content: Based on UK clinical practice guidelines and scenarios relevant to an FY1 doctor. Key Differences Between UKMLA and PLAB - Audience: UKMLA is for both UK graduates and IMGs, while PLAB is only for IMGs - Content map: UKMLA uses a standardised GMC content map, while PLAB is based on PLAB blueprints - Exam structure: UKMLA AKT has fewer questions per sitting than PLAB 1, but focuses more on applied reasoning - Timeline: UKMLA integrates with UK medical school finals, whereas PLAB is a separate process How to Prepare for UKMLA and PLAB - Utilise structured question banks: Platforms like Quesmed offer thousands of UKMLA and PLAB SBA questions, accompanied by detailed explanations - Practise OSCE/CPSA scenarios: Video demonstrations and interactive mock stations help build confidence for practical exams - Review national guidelines: Familiarise yourself with NICE and GMC guidelines, as they are frequently tested - Simulate exam conditions: Take timed mock tests to improve your speed and accuracy - Track progress: Utilise analytics to identify weaker areas and reinforce challenging topics Conclusion While the UKMLA and PLAB share similar goals, the UKMLA is a more standardised exam that integrates directly with UK medical education. Both require thorough preparation with high-quality resources and structured revision plans. Quesmed offers tailored question banks, mock exams, and practical station resources designed to help you succeed in either pathway. Start your preparation today to take the next step in your medical career.

How to Excel in the UKMLA: A Comprehensive Revision Guide

Introduction The UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA) becomes a requirement for all UK medical graduates from 2024 onwards. The assessment consists of two components: the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) and the Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA), which includes the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Success in both requires strategic preparation, efficient time management, and access to high‑quality learning resources. This guide covers everything medical students and foundation doctors need to know—from understanding the exam structure to creating a study plan and making the most of question banks, flashcards, and OSCE practice. Understanding the UKMLA The UKMLA ensures that newly qualified doctors meet a single, consistent standard of knowledge and clinical competence. - The AKT is a multiple‑choice exam testing applied knowledge across basic science, clinical medicine, clinical pharmacology, and professional values. It requires synthesising information, not just recalling facts. - The CPSA assesses practical skills through stations covering history taking, physical examination, data interpretation, clinical reasoning, and communication. Candidates must demonstrate safe, patient‑centred care under time pressure. Knowing the exact format and weighting of each domain helps you tailor your revision. For example: - Cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurology systems consistently appear in high‑yield AKT questions - History‑taking and hand‑hygiene are crucial in OSCE stations Keep an eye on announcements from the General Medical Council (GMC) for any changes. Developing a Study Plan Start your UKMLA preparation early. Most successful candidates begin revising six to nine months before the exam date. - Use backwards planning: set your target exam date and work out weekly goals for each topic area - Allocate more time to areas you struggle with, but revisit strengths periodically to keep them fresh Study structure tips: - Divide your schedule into study blocks of 45–60 minutes followed by short breaks - Plan regular full‑length mock exams to assess progress under timed conditions - Aim for at least three complete AKT mocks and several OSCE run‑throughs - Build in rest days to avoid burnout—consistency beats cramming Using Question Banks and Mock Exams A high‑quality UKMLA question bank is indispensable. Working through exam‑style questions helps you: - Expose yourself to the breadth of topics - Understand examiner expectations and identify distractors - Train for time management under pressure Quesmed's question bank includes: - Over 11,000 clinical and 3,000 basic science questions aligned with the AKT - Themes from past papers and university‑specific exams - Detailed explanations for each question - A progress tracker to help identify and revisit weak areas Integrate question practice into your daily study plan, not just the final weeks of revision. Mastering the OSCE and CPSA Skills Practical skills require a different approach to written revision. For the OSCE/CPSA: - Practise taking histories with peers or family members - Volunteer to perform examinations during placements under supervision - Follow a systematic approach every time Additional tips: - Review OSCE mark schemes to understand how stations are scored - Use Quesmed's OSCE mark schemes to align with real examiner criteria - Watch expert-led demonstration videos - Record and critique yourself practising - Use checklists to ensure no key step is missed Enhancing Memory with Flashcards and Notes Spaced repetition is a proven method for long‑term retention. - Create flashcards for pharmacology, guidelines, and eponymous signs - Use apps that reschedule cards for optimal review intervals - Combine with a notes library for quick reference during question practice Quesmed’s platform offers: - Over 15,000 Anki‑style flashcards - A comprehensive knowledge library - Integration with the question bank for instant review after incorrect answers Summarise complex topics in your own words—the act of writing boosts retention. Leveraging Quesmed for UKMLA Success Having a single platform for all your study resources keeps revision efficient and structured. Quesmed's UKMLA package includes: - Four full AKT mocks - Six PSA mock tests - University‑specific exams - An offline mobile app for studying during commutes or shifts Additional features: - Join online group study sessions to foster collaboration - Discuss tricky questions with peers to gain new perspectives - Use the performance dashboard to track progress and adjust your plan Final Thoughts Preparing for the UKMLA is a marathon, not a sprint. Success requires: - Understanding the exam structure - Starting revision early - Practising with high‑quality question banks - Refining OSCE/CPSA skills - Using integrated platforms like Quesmed Stay consistent, seek feedback, and trust in your preparation. With the right tools and mindset, you can face the UKMLA with confidence and prove your readiness to practise as a future doctor.

Navigating MRCP Part 1 & Part 2: Study Strategies and Resources

Navigating MRCP Part 1 & Part 2: Study Strategies and Resources Introduction The Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians (MRCP) is a postgraduate qualification that doctors must obtain to progress into specialist training in internal medicine. MRCP Part 1 and Part 2 (written) are challenging exams that test clinical knowledge, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and diagnostic reasoning. A structured study plan, coupled with high‑quality resources, is essential to pass these exams. This guide breaks down what to expect in each part, highlights key topics, offers study strategies, and explains how an integrated question bank like Quesmed can streamline your preparation. Overview of MRCP Part 1 and Part 2 MRCP Part 1 is typically taken after the first year of postgraduate training. It consists of two three‑hour papers with 100 best‑of‑five questions each. The exam assesses basic science applied to clinical practice, including: - Cardiology - Respiratory medicine - Neurology - Gastroenterology - Endocrinology - Haematology - Genetics - Clinical pharmacology MRCP Part 2 follows successful completion of Part 1 and at least 12 months of clinical experience. It also includes two three‑hour papers with 100 best‑of‑five questions each, with a focus on: - Complex clinical scenarios - Differential diagnoses - Investigation interpretation - Management decisions Topics include: - Acute medicine - Oncology - Rheumatology - Dermatology - Obstetrics and psychiatry Passing both written parts is necessary to sit PACES (Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills), which tests examination and communication skills. Key Topics in MRCP Part 1 - Cardiology: arrhythmias, heart failure, valvular disorders, congenital anomalies - Respiratory: asthma, COPD, pulmonary embolism - Gastroenterology: liver disease, IBD, pancreatic disorders - Neurology: stroke, epilepsy, demyelinating diseases - Basic sciences: physiology, anatomy, genetics, biochemistry, immunology - Clinical pharmacology: mechanisms, side effects, interactions - Statistics and epidemiology - Endocrinology, renal medicine, infectious diseases Understanding patterns and the rationale for investigations is key. Key Topics in MRCP Part 2 Part 2 questions are longer and more clinically detailed. - Oncology: staging, treatment options, side effects - Haematology: leukaemias, clotting disorders, transfusion reactions - Rheumatology: connective tissue diseases, vasculitides - Dermatology: systemic clues from rashes - Neurology: management of emergencies like myasthenic crises - Obstetrics/psychiatry: integrated into general medicine scenarios Candidates must interpret lab results, ECGs, imaging, and pathology slides. Effective Study Techniques - Start with the Royal Colleges' blueprint to understand weightings - Use active learning: summarise, teach, apply through practice questions - Use case-based learning to connect theory and practice - Create mind maps for differential diagnoses - Attend study groups or revision courses for structure - Take timed mock exams and analyse explanations - Keep a notebook of errors for review before the exam The Role of Question Banks and Past Papers - High-volume, exam-style question practice is essential - Helps familiarise you with format, themes, and distractors - Past papers highlight frequently tested topics Quesmed offers: - MRCP Part 1: 7,200+ questions - MRCP Part 2: 2,100+ questions - Detailed explanations and continuous updates - Integrated knowledge library - Progress analytics to identify weak areas - Offline mobile app for flexible study Combining Videos, Notes and Flashcards - Use video tutorials for visual learning (e.g., murmurs, ECGs) - Quesmed’s MRCP Part 1 video course enhances clinical reasoning - Use flashcards for pharmacology, criteria, scoring systems - Apply spaced repetition for better retention - Flashcards can include formulae (e.g. corrected calcium, anion gap) Optimising Revision with Quesmed - Consolidating resources reduces cognitive load - Quesmed includes: - MRCP Part 1 and Part 2 banks - Video courses - Knowledge library - Progress dashboards - Study group features - “Complete MRCP” membership includes access to PACES resources - Offline access supports learning during busy shifts Conclusion Passing MRCP Part 1 and Part 2 demands dedication, smart study strategies, and access to reliable resources. By: - Understanding the exam structure - Focusing on high‑yield topics - Practising with updated question banks - Using flashcards and videos You can prepare with confidence. Quesmed supports you from your first revision session to your final exam with a complete, integrated platform.