MRCS B practice

How to prepare for the MRCS B

MRCS Part B is an OSCE of 17 examined stations, set at the level of early second-year core surgical training, and you must pass both its Knowledge and Skills sections at the same sitting. Prepare across the whole core surgical syllabus rather than just your chosen specialty, know regional and surgical anatomy, answer to current UK and Ireland guidelines and ATLS, and rehearse every station type out loud, keeping strictly to the task set, because marks are only given for what the instructions ask.

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

Step by step

  1. 1

    Check your attempts and time limit

    You must pass Part A first. You have up to four attempts at Part B, with one more possible under the Additional Attempt Policy, and you must pass within seven years of passing Part A or sit Part A again. You cannot enter a Part B sitting that starts within six weeks of one you have already entered.

  2. 2

    Revise the whole core syllabus, not just your specialty

    Topics are drawn from the ISCP Core Surgical Training common content, and the MRCS content guide shows the depth required. The exam aims to test a broad range of surgical conditions, not just the area you hope to train in, and any syllabus topic can appear in Part A, Part B or both.

  3. 3

    Know anatomy regionally and surgically

    Three stations test surgical anatomy, using images and other props such as prosections. You need the basic regional anatomy of the whole body plus general surgical anatomy, such as that of varicose veins or the thyroid; detailed specialist anatomy belongs to higher training.

  4. 4

    Answer to current UK guidelines and ATLS

    The content guide says the most recent UK and Ireland national guidelines and ATLS teaching are the accepted standards. The applied science and critical care stations cover critical care, written data and visual information, so practise interpreting results, charts and images out loud.

  5. 5

    Follow the instructions to the letter

    You get one minute to read each station's instructions, and marks are awarded only for the task set. At all stations the ICBSE expects you to introduce yourself, explain the purpose of the task, confirm the patient's identity and check consent, and to clean your hands before and after patient contact.

  6. 6

    Rehearse histories to time, then summarise

    In the ICBSE's example history station you have up to six minutes before the examiners stop you, ask for a summary of your findings and ask questions. Practise both history stations with a timer so you always finish with a clear, structured summary.

  7. 7

    Practise giving information, including after preparation

    The four communication stations are two histories, giving information to a patient or relative, and giving information to another health professional. Two stations follow a nine-minute preparation station, so practise reading case information carefully and following instructions closely. Communication is also assessed in stations other than the communication ones.

  8. 8

    Practise examinations and procedures fluently

    Three stations are physical examinations and two test generic skills, which may include wound suturing on skin pads or models. Examiners usually watch rather than talk, and you report your findings when asked, so practise examining fluently with a colleague timing you.

Official resources

Common mistakes examiners report

  • Doing more than the task. For an examination station about a painful knee, the ICBSE says you should not take a history or do a general examination: marks are awarded only for the task set. source

Practise with MedMock

MedMock covers the spoken Part B stations: the anatomy and pathology viva, the applied science and critical care viva, history taking, and giving information to a patient, a relative or another health professional, each with a minute's reading and nine minutes on the task. It has no preparation station and no hands-on clinical or procedural stations, so practise examinations and suturing in person. You can have each station you finish marked; the worked example shows an information-giving and consent station.

Practise MRCS B stations Free trial, no card needed.

Questions candidates ask

How many attempts do I get at Part B?

Up to four, and one additional attempt may be granted under the Additional Attempt Policy. An attempt counts as soon as you start the exam, even if you do not finish it.

If I pass Knowledge but fail Skills, do I keep the pass?

No. You must pass both at the same sitting; you cannot bank a section, and a resit means sitting all the stations again.

What level is Part B set at?

Early second-year UK core surgical training. You do not have to be at a particular training level or in an approved training post to sit it.

What feedback will I get?

A breakdown of your marks and no further feedback. It shows your marks for each content area and domain against the mean for candidates in your circuit, and the ICBSE encourages you to share it with your educational supervisor or training programme director.

How long should I prepare?

The ICBSE does not set a preparation period. Work back from your seven-year limit and remaining attempts, and book when you can run full timed circuits across all four content areas without prompts.

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.