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So, you have successfully cleared two out of three hurdles of the MRCP pathway. And now you are heading to the final hurdle, MRCP PACES. You may feel a little bit worried at this stage, as the PACES is purely a practical exam. Unlike the first two steps, here you have to communicate, examine, explain, and act like a working physician. But feeling worried is completely normal.
Always remember that you have cleared the theory parts. So, you already have the knowledge. And now it’s about showing it in real clinical situations. If you are someone who is preparing for the MRCP PACES November 2025 exam, this ultimate revision plan will guide you to make the most of the final month of preparation.
MRCP PACES Exam format
The MRCP PACES exam consists of five clinical stations. Each station lasts 20 minutes and is assessed by two independent examiners. Candidates rotate through the stations in a carousel format, where they will encounter both real and simulated patients. Candidates can start at any station and move to the next station every 20 minutes until completing it all. There will be a short 5-minute break provided between the stations.
What the PACES really tests
The main objective of the exam is to evaluate how you interact with patients, how you examine them, how you think clinically, and how clearly you communicate. The exam focuses on skills in areas such as
- Physical examination
- History taking and data gathering
- Clinical reasoning and diagnosis
- Communication and explanation
- Professionalism, empathy, and patient safety
What to focus on in the final month
- Run full mock circuits
Practise simulating the real exam environment. Timed mock circuits help you manage pressure and refine your delivery. The more you practise, the calmer you will be on the exam day.
- Practise your system examinations daily
Fluency is very important. Ensure your cardio, respiratory, neuro, abdomen, and locomotor sequences are structured and consistent. Your movements should feel natural and automatic.
- Prioritise high-yield clinical cases
Focus on cases that frequently appear in PACES, such as heart failure, valve disease, COPD, Parkinsonism, stroke, abdominal masses, thyroid conditions, diabetes complications, and common communication scenarios.
- Refine history-taking & communication skills
Practise active listening, summarising, structuring your questions, and explaining diagnoses in a simple, patient-friendly way. Practise situations like breaking bad news, discussing results, or explaining management plans.
- Record practice sessions
Record your practice sessions if possible. Watching yourself is one of the fastest ways to identify unclear explanations, rushed examinations, or inconsistent structure.
That’s all for the MRCP PACES November 2025 exam. Apart from all these, try to stay calm, organised, and well-rested. If you have any doubts or need assistance with exam preparation, contact the StudyMRCP team today. We offer systematic short and long-term MRCP courses that have a strong track record of success in recent years. You can even explore our premium study materials for free through the StudyMEDIC LMS 3.0 before joining the course.
Contact us for more information.
Authored By: Sarath
By : Admin
