MRCP PACES Exam Preparation Course

MRCP PACES (Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills) consists of five stations designed to test bedside clinical skills, history-taking, communication, and professionalism. Candidates rotate through real or simulated patient encounters, with clinical examination, history & communication, and consultation tasks forming the core of the assessment.

Each station in the MRCP PACES is evaluated on multiple domains, such as examination technique, identifying clinical signs, communication, clinical judgment, and managing patient concerns. To pass, you must meet or exceed the minimum score threshold and demonstrate competence in all key skill areas, rather than just a cumulative total.

Successful preparation for MRCP PACES involves:

• Hands-on practice with real patients or trained volunteers to refine examination and communication skills
• Mock stations and timed practice sessions mimicking exam conditions
• Case review focusing on frequent PACES topics (e.g. cardiology, respiratory, abdominal, neurology)
• Seeking structured feedback to identify and improve weak areas
• Maintaining excellence in English communication, since all stations are conducted in English

All PACES exams are conducted in English, and we recommend your English language ability should be equivalent to IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Level 7.5 in each module.

If patients do not speak English, there will be a surrogate giving history on a patient’s behalf, and all surrogates used will speak English.

If you have been placed on a waiting list by the three colleges, this waiting list is only applicable for the respective diet you have applied for and will not roll over into future diets. When the subsequent application window of PACES opens, this will mean your space on that current waiting list will now become null as we were unable to accommodate you a seat in the diet you applied for. A new waiting list will form per diet, and applications will only be considered for that specific diet aligned with the centres running during that particular time period.

You must submit a new application in order to be considered for the future diet, and any fees you paid for a previous diet will be refunded by your college of entry as a result of not gaining a space. Please get in touch with your college of entry if you are experiencing any error messages in applying for the new diet.

We can not transfer applications to future diets, nor can we transfer funds to future diets, as these must be refunded.

You can apply to sit PACES in up to four different centres. This can be indicated on the online application form and you will be considered for a space in one of the centres. Whilst this offers an opportunity to apply to more centres, it does not increase your chances of getting a space in each centre. You must also be prepared to travel to any of your chosen centres.

Candidates will be notified on the outcome of their application within 2 weeks from the application period closing date. MRCP(UK) Central Office aims to have a response to all candidates before the UK application period opens.

We will advise you when to complete payment of the examination fee. Instructions will be given within two weeks of the application period closing date. 

If you are paying by card will be able to use the ‘pay now option’ which will become active in your MyMRCP(UK) online account once your application is confirmed as successful.

Yes. You may apply for a future diet of PACES in certain location (subject to normal eligibility requirements) if you have an outstanding result from a current attempt, or if you have not yet sat your current attempt. If you have applied and paid for a future exam and are successful in your current attempt, you will be automatically withdrawn and receive a 100% refund. If you are unsuccessful in your current exam but have paid for a future attempt, you will remain registered.

As only selected centres will be accepting provisional applications, we advise you to check the centre locations page for further information.

Some spaces in some centres are reserved for local trainees only.  We work with local organisers to identify those local trainees.  All remaining spaces will be allocated by the eligibility criteria. We will try to prioritise those who are near the end of their eligibility periods, however we cannot guarantee that every candidate will get a space on this basis.

No.  Candidates can apply at any time during an application period and be considered for a space (subject to normal eligibility requirements).  There is no advantage to applying early in an application period.

It is advisable to print a copy of the form, complete it, scan and email it through to the relevant Form of Faith inbox.

Please fully complete a paper application form and send a scanned copy to your chosen college of entry, stating that you have experienced some technical issues.  Your College of entry may email you to ask some specific questions about the issue you experienced, with a view to trying to resolve any recurring technical problems.

Requests for specific dates can only be guaranteed when made on medical or compassionate grounds, supported by comprehensive documentary evidence . Candidates enter the PACES examination on the understanding that they could be allocated to any date within the main assessment period. Candidates who enter the examination in the knowledge that they may have work or personal commitments during the assessment period do so at their own risk.
Please note that any candidates who are booking clinical courses in preparation for the PACES Examination are strongly advised not to seek to book a course that falls within the main assessment period for the PACES Examination.