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With MRCP PACES Oct 2026 diet exams just around the corner, you are probably worrying about whether you have prepared enough and what you should focus on next.
It is possible that you have a thorough understanding on how to examine a patient and still be unable to demonstrate it in an examination setting .This can be particularly frustrating if you get the right answer but fail to justify or communicate it in an efficient manner. With the case of MRCP PACES, there are several other aspects the examiners consider, such as interpersonal skills and time management, apart from your knowledge levels.
At this stage of revision, it is best to practise doing exams and strengthen the areas you tend to lose marks.It would be more helpful to focus on honing your skills to work within the constraints of an examination setting and to become desensitized to the nervousness you get from working in an unfamiliar environment and completing unpleasant or difficult tasks. Focus on the things that you can do to improve your communication or help you explain and justify answers in an efficient manner.
Know your Examination Well in Advance
Exam Schedule
Your scheduled exam date and center should be at the forefront of your plan. A quick look into the examination dates for MRCP PACES exam October 2026:
October 2026 sittings are at:
- Abu Dhabi, UAE : 2nd to 4th October
- Chennai, India : 5th to 9th October
- Oman: 8th to 12th October
- Cairo, Egypt: 10th to 15th October
- Kuala Lumpur and Perlis, Malaysia: 15th to 18th October
- Singapore: 16th to 21st October
- Colombo, Sri Lanka: 22nd to 24th October
- Islamabad, Pakistan: 26th to 30th October
- Hong Kong: 26th to 31st October
- Ajman, UAE : 27th to 29th October
- Dubai, UAE: 31st October to 1st November
Note: Exams don’t run on every day of a window, so always verify your personal slot on MyMRCP(UK).
Exam Pattern
You will be marked at each of the five clinical stations, assessed by two independent examiners. You can start at any one of the stations and move to the next every 20 minutes until you have completed the cycle. There is a 5-minute period between each station.
What’s next in your revision plan
In the remaining days, simulate a mock exam scenario with a friend and cover the basics of a physical exam, a communication scenario, and every other possible station.Then, for each of these, ask for feedback on the following:
- What did you miss?
- Where did you lose time?
- What is one thing you should change for your next attempt?
Write down the feedback you receive. Be specific about what needs work. Instead of writing “practise neurology”, note the exact thing to improve, such as “describe the pattern of weakness before discussing possible causes”. That gives you a clear task for your next practice session.
Develop a process for incorporating thinking into your examination routine
For physical examination stations, work on memorizing the steps to the process so you don’t have to think about the next step while you are doing the examination. Once you can do the examination without thinking about the steps, determine what you are going to say about the finding, your working diagnosis, and your plan. Always practice timed examinations
Communication Stations are Equally Important
It is likely that you spent the majority of your time practicing the physical examination and overlook practicing communication skills. But remember, communication stations are equally important. The communication stations involve a variety of skills including Clinical Communication, Clinical Judgement, Managing Patients’ Concerns and Maintaining Patient Welfare. You should practice in depth and cover all aspects. Focus on stating things in a clear and simple manner.
Simulated Patient Task Stations
It is important that you practise taking a focused history to identify the key points to examine the patient. If you are short on time, it is better to perform a fewer number of relevant examination procedures.
Practice the entire process. Create a mental outline of the important symptoms of the case, then perform an appropriate physical examination based on your outline. Before the examiners’ questions, come to a clinical impression and explain this to the patient. Also, let the patient know that they have the right to raise any concerns. Explaining your impression lets the patient and examiner know that you have considered all the information you gathered, reinforces your understanding of the case. Also, be prepared to answer the examiner’s questions as well.
Practice Other Cases As Well
It is also important that you practise other stations as well. Make sure that you practise a range of different skills including taking a history, performing an examination, and interpreting ECGs. Time yourself, and don’t let yourself become stuck on one station. Vary the order of the stations as well while practicing.
Practice as though you will take your exam tomorrow
In the days prior to your exam, you should practice as though you are taking your exam the next day. Keep things as unpredictable and challenging as you can, this will not only reinforce things you have practiced, but help calm your nerves and control your expectations for your real exam.
Use random case orders to practice starting the next case as quickly as possible, particularly if the preceding case was long or difficult.
Make sure you don’t take your errors to the next station. Take a moment to reset and prepare to evaluate and manage the next case presented to you.
Walking Into the MRCP PACES Exam
As your exam day approaches, you shouldn’t be worried about your MRCP PACES exam pass mark. Your success depends on your performance. Keep your attention on the patient or case in front of you: listen carefully, explain your thinking clearly and take each station as it comes.
Good luck to everyone sitting PACES this October. Trust the work you have already put in, and give each encounter your full attention.
For all MRCP PACES exam updates and last-minute preparation tips, visit the StudyMRCP Instagram page and follow us to stay informed.
By : patrick
