MRCOG part 1 information

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MRCOG part 1 FAQ's

MRCOG Part 1 Exam Dates

When is the next sitting of the MRCOG Part 1?

MRCOG Part 1 Fees

How much does the MRCOG Part 1 cost?

The exam fee depends on which country you are in and is banded as per the table below:

Banding	Fees 2025
UK & Republic of Ireland	£550
Band A	£663
Band B*	£572
Band C	£456

See which band your country is in with this list of country bandings

MRCOG Part 1 Pass Rate

What percentage of candidates pass the MRCOG Part 1?

There is no pre-determined mark for passing the MRCOG part 1. This varies from exam to exam and is set using Ebel's method. Pass rates have been trending upwards in recent years. In the past 30-40% of candidates would pass each sitting of the MRCOG part 1 but from 2021 onwards the pass rate has been between 50-60%.

MRCOG Part 1 Format

What is the format of the MRCOG Part 1?

The MRCOG part 1 consists of two papers. Each paper comprises 100 SBA format questions making a total of 200 SBA questions over the two papers. Candidates have 2.5 hours to sit each paper making the exam 5 hours long in total. There is a 1 hour lunch break typically between papers. The scores are added together to give one mark i.e. candidtes do not need to pass each paper individually

What topics are covered in the MRCOG Part 1?

What is the syllabus of the MRCOG Part 1?

The Part 1 MRCOG assesses the scientific platform for clinical Practice. It does this by examining 15 core knowledge areas in 4 domains of understanding. It should be noted there is significant overlap in some of these areas:

Domain	Core Knowledge Areas
Understanding Cell Function	Physiology, endocrinology, and biochemistry.
Understanding Human Structure	Anatomy, embryology, and genetics.
Understanding Measurement and Manipulation	Biophysics, epidemiology, statistics, data interpretation, and pharmacology.
Understanding Illness	Immunology, microbiology, pathology, and clinical management.

The RCOG used to publish subject weighting for the MRCOG part 1 exam but this ceased when all of the Royal Colleges were asked to revise their curricula in line with GMC guidelines between 2019 and 2021. It is however unlikely the RCOG would deviate from the subject distribution previously used. The subjects covered over the two papers and the typical percentage marks associated with them are shown in the pie charts below

Applications for MRCOG Part 1

How do I apply for Part 1 MRCOG?

Application are made online via the RCOG webiste. If this is your first time applying for the MRCOG then you will first need to have your eligiability assessed and approved. This requires you submit your medical registration number (GMC number in the UK), RCOG account number ,government-issued ID and a copy of your primary medical degree certificate (if registered with another organisation other than the GMC). To apply you can click the link here

Number of attempts at MRCOG Part 1

Candidates have a maximum of 6 attempts to pass the MRCOG part 1. The RCOG requires candidates have attempted the Part 2 at least once within 7 years of passing the Part 1.

Where can i get further information on the MRCOG Part 1?

Where can i get venue details, candidate instructions and further information?

The RCOG website has a useful introduction to the MRCOG page. A number of useful links to their site are shown in the footer along with other vaulable revision tools. Exams are taken at Pearson Vue test centres, follow this link for further information on MRCOG test centres. To sign up to our MRCOG part 1 revision resource and start preparing click here

Start Preparing for MRCOG Part 1 Today!