MRCOG practice

How to prepare for the MRCOG

MRCOG Part 3 is a circuit of 14 twelve-minute tasks, each either a role-play with a trained actor or a structured discussion with an examiner, and each assessing three or four of five domains. Prepare from the Part 3 knowledge requirements in the RCOG syllabus and the Green-top Guidelines, which the RCOG says inform the exam, and rehearse both task types out loud against the clock, including linked tasks and writing.

What happens in the MRCOG exam: parts, timings and marking A complete MRCOG practice station, with its scorecard MRCOG dates and countdown

Step by step

  1. 1

    Get your Assessment of Training approved early

    To sit Part 3 you must have passed Part 2 and had your Assessment of Training (AoT) approved. You can apply for the AoT at any time after passing Part 1, without waiting for your Part 2 result; allow up to four weeks from the published deadline for it to be processed. Sittings are in May and November.

  2. 2

    Revise from the Part 3 knowledge requirements

    The RCOG syllabus sets out requirements for each part of the exam under each of its 15 knowledge areas. For Part 3 they include justifying investigations and interventions, critically discussing management options, presenting a balanced view of risks and benefits, and taking notes concisely and accurately.

  3. 3

    Revise the Green-top Guidelines and national guidance

    The RCOG says its Green-top Guidelines inform the exam itself and will help you understand what questions are asking and how best to answer them. Its revision page also points you to NICE guidelines, the BNF, its Scientific Impact Papers and The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist.

  4. 4

    Practise simulated patient and colleague tasks

    Actors know the case and have scripted prompts, and a lay examiner on four tasks judges communication, patient safety and information gathering from the patient's point of view. Practise introducing your role, mainly open questions, information in manageable amounts without jargon, shared decisions that respect autonomy even against medical advice, and informed consent with attention to capacity.

  5. 5

    Practise structured discussions with a senior

    In a structured discussion the examiner may give you new information as the scenario evolves and then ask more, and may move you on so that you do not run out of time. Ask a consultant to run evolving cases with you and to make you justify each decision.

  6. 6

    Prepare for linked tasks and writing

    A circuit may contain linked tasks, where the second builds on the first, and there may be a writing task. Practise carrying what you learnt in one task into the next, and writing clear, concise, accurate notes within the time.

  7. 7

    Run full circuits to time

    Each task lasts 12 minutes, including two minutes of reading. Rehearse full circuits with a timer, planning each task in the reading time. The RCOG's own eLearning recreates a 14-task circuit with interactive videos to show the format and marking, and has a free sample video.

Official resources

Practise with MedMock

MedMock groups Part 3 tasks by type (information giving, breaking bad news, consent, an acute obstetric emergency led through a midwife, communication with colleagues, and clinical or ethics and governance structured discussions), each with two minutes' reading and an AI actor or examiner. It runs each task on its own, with no linked tasks and no writing task, and you can have each task you finish marked, as in the worked example of an information-giving task.

Practise MRCOG stations Free trial, no card needed.

Questions candidates ask

How many attempts do I get at Part 3?

Four. If you have not passed after four attempts, you must take Part 2 again.

Is there a time limit after passing Part 2?

You must attempt Part 3 at least once within seven years (pro rata) of passing Part 2; if you do not, you will have to take Part 2 again.

What is the pass mark?

There is no fixed pass mark. The RCOG sets the standard for each sitting with its own method, so the pass mark can change from one sitting to the next. The format page explains how the exam is marked.

Is the exam changing?

The RCOG plans to launch a new Part 3 exam model in 2027 through its Global Expansion and Sustainability Project. Prepare for the current 14-task format, and check the RCOG's Part 3 pages before you book.

Do I need a course?

No course is required. The RCOG says the only courses it can wholeheartedly recommend are its own, and it has a dedicated Part 3 eLearning resource.

How long should I prepare?

The RCOG does not set a preparation period. Plan around the AoT deadline and the May or November sitting you want, and book when you can run full circuits to time across the syllabus.

Sources

Checked on 27 September 2026.

Exams and their regulations change. MedMock is not affiliated with any examining body; always check the current guidance on the official site before you book.