Tag: how to prepare for MRCPsych Paper A

MRCPsych Paper A Course 2026: Complete Preparation, Exam Dates, Syllabus, Past Papers and Recalls MRCPsych Paper A Course 2026. Complete Preparation, Exam Dates, Syllabus, Past Papers and Recalls. Last updated: 28 August 2026 • EduBros Medical Examination Guide Enrolling in a structured MRCPsych Paper A course is the most reliable way for psychiatry trainees and international doctors to clear their theory exam without getting lost in endless reference textbooks. Preparing for MRCPsych Paper A can become unnecessarily complicated. Candidates often move between textbooks, reference notes, question banks, recall files, WhatsApp groups and different online courses without knowing what is actually important for the examination. Our dedicated MRCPsych Paper A course at EduBros was built to solve exactly that problem. Before discussing preparation, however, it is important to understand the examination itself: what MRCPsych means, who can sit Paper A, what the examination contains, the current syllabus, the next examination date, when results are published, what is changing in 2027 and how those changes affect candidates preparing now. This guide brings all of that information together in one place, followed by a detailed explanation of how we prepare candidates at EduBros. 150 Questions & Marks 3 hrs Total Duration 50% Neuro & Pharmacology 0 Negative Marking What is MRCPsych. MRCPsych stands for Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The MRCPsych examinations form an important part of postgraduate psychiatric training and assessment. The examination pathway currently consists of: MRCPsych Paper A MRCPsych Paper B CASC, Clinical Assessment of Skills and Competencies Paper A and Paper B are theory examinations, while the CASC evaluates clinical skills. Paper A concentrates primarily on the scientific and theoretical foundations of psychiatry. Paper B moves more towards clinical psychiatry and critical appraisal, while the CASC assesses practical clinical competencies. For many doctors, Paper A is therefore the starting point of the MRCPsych examination journey. What is MRCPsych Paper A. MRCPsych Paper A is the written examination covering the scientific and theoretical knowledge that underpins psychiatry. It includes subjects such as: behavioural science psychology human development psychopathology neuroscience neuroanatomy neurophysiology neurochemistry genetics psychopharmacology pharmacokinetics pharmacodynamics classification psychiatric assessment sociocultural psychiatry These are broad subjects, but the examination does not require candidates to read every psychiatry or neuroscience textbook from beginning to end. The real challenge is knowing: • what needs to be studied, • how deeply it needs to be studied, • what repeatedly appears in the examination, and • how the same concept is converted into an MCQ or EMI. That is the approach around which our Paper A preparation system is built. 1. High-Yield Theory Concise Notes 2. Embedded Recalls 3,500+ Past Questions 3. Topic Practice 8,000+ MCQs & EMIs 4. Pass First Diet Visualizing the EduBros MRCPsych Paper A course interactive study method. MRCPsych Paper A Exam Format. The current Royal College format is straightforward: Exam Feature MRCPsych Paper A Duration 3 hours Total questions 150 Total marks 150 MCQs Approximately two-thirds EMIs Approximately one-third MCQ format Single best answer from five options Negative marking No Main focus Scientific and theoretical basis of psychiatry Candidates receive one mark for each correct answer. There is no deduction for an incorrect answer, so candidates should attempt every question rather than leaving answers blank. The Royal College currently uses a Modified Angoff standard-setting process, which means there is not one permanently fixed percentage pass mark for every sitting. This is important because you may see websites telling candidates that the Paper A pass mark is always 62%, 65% or another exact figure. That is not technically correct. The required mark can vary between examination diets according to the College's standard-setting procedure. MRCPsych Paper A Syllabus. The current Paper A syllabus is divided into five major areas. Syllabus Area Approximate Weight Approximate Marks Behavioural Science and Sociocultural Psychiatry 16.67% 25 Human Development 16.67% 25 Basic Neurosciences 25% 37 or 38 Clinical Psychopharmacology 25% 37 or 38 Classification and Assessment in Psychiatry 16.67% 25 This tells you something extremely important about preparation. Basic Neurosciences and Clinical Psychopharmacology together make up approximately half of Paper A. At the same time, neglecting behavioural sciences, development, psychopathology, classification or assessment can easily cost enough marks to turn a comfortable pass into a failure. A good MRCPsych Paper A preparation strategy therefore needs to cover the complete syllabus, but it should not give every subject exactly the same study time. MRCPsych Paper A Exam Dates 2026. There were three Paper A examination diets scheduled for 2026: Diet Examination Date Application Period Result Date Paper A Diet 1 9 April 2026 5 to 15 January 2026 15 May 2026 Paper A Diet 2 9 July 2026 5 to 15 May 2026 7 August 2026 Paper A Diet 3 12 November 2026 17 to 27 August 2026 11 December 2026 These are the currently published Royal College dates. What is the next MRCPsych Paper A exam. The next scheduled MRCPsych Paper A examination is: 12 November 2026 Official Royal College Scheduled Diet For candidates who have already registered, this examination is particularly important because it is the last scheduled Paper A diet in 2026 and the final Paper A examination before the new syllabus takes effect in January 2027. Can I Still Apply for the November 2026 MRCPsych Paper A. As of 28 August 2026, the published application window has closed. Applications were accepted from: 17 August to 27 August 2026 The Royal College states that applications must be completed by 3:30 pm UK time on the final application date, and late applications are not accepted. Therefore: If you have already applied Your next Paper A examination is 12 November 2026, with results scheduled for 11 December 2026. If you did not apply You will need to wait for the next available Paper A diet. At the time of this update, the official exam-date page is still publishing the 2026 schedule rather than a complete 2027 Paper A schedule. More importantly, exams from January 2027 onward will use the new syllabus. Major MRCPsych Paper A Syllabus Change in 2027. This is probably the most important MRCPsych Paper A update candidates need to know at the moment. The Royal College has confirmed that Paper A and Paper B syllabi are being updated. The College states that: September 2026: the new syllabus is scheduled to be published. January 2027: the new syllabus comes into effect. Candidates sitting examinations through the end of 2026 should continue using the current syllabus. Candidates preparing for examinations from January 2027 should use the updated syllabus after it is released. Is November 2026 the Last MRCPsych Paper A Attempt Under the Current Syllabus. Yes. Based on the currently published examination schedule and syllabus-change announcement, the November 2026 Paper A is the final Paper A examination under the current syllabus. That makes this examination unusual. Candidates sitting November already have something that the first candidates sitting a revised examination inevitably have less of: years of past-paper history. The existing Paper A syllabus has been tested repeatedly. Because educators understand recurring concepts and previous question styles, candidates benefit from multiple examination recalls. Consequently, revision can be structured around an established examination pattern. When a revised syllabus begins, candidates will naturally have fewer past papers that directly represent the revised blueprint. New preparation materials also need time to mature as candidates and educators learn exactly how the revised syllabus is being tested. That does not mean the 2027 examination will suddenly become impossible. It means there will initially be less historical examination evidence specific to the revised syllabus. For candidates who have already registered for November 2026, this is therefore a very valuable opportunity. You are preparing for an examination whose syllabus and historical testing patterns are already well documented. Who Can Take MRCPsych Paper A. The Royal College currently states that you can take Paper A if you are a fully registered medical practitioner. The examinations are not restricted only to UK psychiatry trainees. They may also be taken by doctors outside approved UK training programmes and by eligible overseas doctors. This is why candidates from the UK, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Ireland and many other countries prepare for MRCPsych examinations. Previous specialist experience in psychiatry is not itself a requirement for eligibility for Paper A. However, candidates should always check the latest Royal College eligibility regulations before submitting an application. How Do You Apply for MRCPsych Paper A. Applications are made online during the published application period. The Royal College advises candidates to: • create or use their College web login • complete the online application • update personal and contact information • provide the required medical registration and training information • declare any reasonable-adjustment requirements • complete payment within the application window The online application is only available during the published registration period. Late or incomplete applications are not accepted after the deadline. New candidates should therefore avoid waiting until the final hours of the application window. MRCPsych Paper A Exam Fee in 2026. For 2026 examinations, the published Paper A fees are: Candidate Category 2026 Fee PMPT trainees and affiliates £568 Non-PMPT trainees and affiliates £630 The College currently accepts Visa or MasterCard credit/debit-card payments through the online application. Candidates should always confirm the latest fee before applying because examination fees can change from year to year. Can MRCPsych Paper A Be Taken Online. Paper A and Paper B are digitally delivered through Pearson VUE. Depending on availability and arrangements, candidates may sit through a Pearson VUE test centre or through the approved remote examination system. Test-centre availability can be limited and places operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so candidates should follow the booking instructions sent after their examination application is processed. When Will the November 2026 Paper A Result Be Announced. The currently scheduled result publication date is: 11 December 2026 The Royal College states that candidates receive their result letter by email on the published result date. How Many Times Can You Attempt MRCPsych Paper A. The current College guidance limits candidates to six attempts per examination component, subject to provisions for exceptional circumstances and additional attempts. This is another reason to approach preparation properly rather than sitting Paper A simply to “see what happens.” What Happens After Passing Paper A. MRCPsych does not finish with Paper A. Candidates must subsequently satisfy the requirements for the remaining MRCPsych components, including Paper B and CASC. The College has also extended the theory-paper validity period. Its current exam information states that the validity period is six years, beginning from publication of the result of the first theory paper passed, for the candidates covered by the updated rule. That gives candidates substantially more flexibility than the older validity period. How Difficult Is MRCPsych Paper A. Paper A is not difficult simply because the individual concepts are impossible. The difficulty comes from the breadth of the syllabus. In one preparation period, a candidate may need to move from: receptors and neurotransmitters, to developmental theories, to attachment, to neuroanatomy, to pharmacokinetics, to genetics, to descriptive psychopathology, to cognitive psychology, to rating scales, and then back to adverse drug effects. If your resource explains every subject like a textbook, the reading burden quickly becomes enormous. If your resource is too short, you begin missing tested details. The correct balance is therefore: "Complete enough that the syllabus is covered, concise enough that the material can actually be revised repeatedly before the examination." The EduBros Balance Principle That balance is the main principle behind EduBros. How Long Should I Prepare for MRCPsych Paper A. There is no universal number. For most working doctors, somewhere around 8 to 12 weeks of structured preparation can be a reasonable starting point, although candidates with limited background knowledge may prefer longer and candidates with recent preparation may need less. A better question is: How much of the syllabus can I complete, revise and practise properly before exam day? Reading notes once is not preparation. A proper Paper A cycle should involve: Learn → Test → Review → Repeat → Mix Topics → Mock Exam → Final Revision This is why simply owning a 1,000-page resource is not the same as being prepared. The Most Efficient Way to Prepare for MRCPsych Paper A. We recommend dividing your preparation into four phases. Phase 1: Understand the syllabus Build the conceptual foundation. Do not begin by randomly solving thousands of questions without understanding what you are studying. Phase 2: Immediate testing Once you finish a concept, test it. This shows you how theoretical knowledge becomes an examination question. Phase 3: Past papers and recalls After your first syllabus pass, start working heavily with previous examination material. Look for repeated themes rather than trying to memorise isolated answer letters. Phase 4: Mixed mocks & rapid revision In the final weeks, your preparation should increasingly resemble the real examination. This means: mixed topics, timed practice, EMIs, full mocks, rapid high-yield revision, revisiting errors, repeated concepts, weak-topic correction. That is also the structure we have tried to build directly into the EduBros platform. Which Is the Best MRCPsych Paper A Course. Candidates usually search this question when they are already overwhelmed. There are several established MRCPsych resources available. The better question is not simply: “Which course has the most pages?” or: “Which question bank has the largest advertised number?” Ask instead: • Does the course cover the complete syllabus? • Does it tell me what depth I actually need? • Can I understand the notes quickly? • Are past-paper questions connected with the concepts they test? • Can I practise questions by topic? • Are there EMIs? • Are recent examination recalls incorporated? • Are explanations included? • Can I identify my weak areas? • Are there full mock examinations? • Is there something for final-week revision? • Can I ask for help when a concept makes no sense? • Can I realistically finish the resource before my examination? Those were the questions we used when building the EduBros MRCPsych Paper A Course. MRCPsych Paper A Made Easy by EduBros. We did not want to build another electronic textbook. There are already excellent psychiatry textbooks. There are already large reference books. There are already thousands of pages of neuroscience, psychology and psychopharmacology available to read. The purpose of an examination course should be different. A good course should tell you: what matters, why it matters, how much you need to know, how it has been tested before and whether you can answer it yourself. That is what MRCPsych Paper A Made Easy is designed to do. 1. Complete Paper A Notes Without Unnecessary Reading Our notes cover the current MRCPsych Paper A syllabus while deliberately removing unnecessary textbook-level expansion. That does not mean reducing difficult concepts to a few meaningless bullets. It means explaining the concept properly, then stopping when additional detail is unlikely to improve your examination preparation. The aim is: complete, but concise. You should not finish a chapter knowing interesting information that will never be tested while still missing a small concept that has appeared in three previous examinations. Our course is designed around examination relevance. 2. Written in Clear, Easy English MRCPsych is taken by doctors from many countries. English may be a candidate's first, second or third language. Complicated academic wording does not make a course academically stronger. If a concept can be explained clearly in simple English, that is how we prefer to explain it. The goal is understanding, not impressing candidates with vocabulary. Difficult concepts in neurochemistry, pharmacodynamics, genetics or psychology are broken down into clear explanations before moving to the examination-level detail. This is particularly useful for international candidates who understand medicine perfectly well but do not want to decode unnecessarily complicated academic language while revising. 3. Mini-Topic Learning Instead of Endless Chapters One of the biggest changes we made to the course was restructuring material into mini-topics. Instead of reading a very long chapter and then seeing questions days later, candidates study one focused concept at a time. After that mini-topic, relevant questions can immediately test the same concept. This creates a much more natural cycle: Read it → understand it → see how it was tested → answer it → correct the misunderstanding immediately. Our current Paper A page describes this as the Interactive Mini-Topic Learning Model. 4. Past-Paper Questions Embedded Within the Notes This is one of the most important differences in our approach. Past papers should not exist only as a giant question bank hidden at the end of preparation. If a concept has repeatedly appeared in Paper A, you should know that while studying the concept. For this reason, relevant past-paper questions are embedded after mini-topics throughout the course. When you learn a concept, you can immediately see how the same area has appeared in previous examinations. It changes the way you read. Instead of thinking: “I suppose this might be important.” you begin thinking: “Now I understand why this particular distinction matters.” That is much closer to real exam preparation. 5. Examiner Focus Notes Not every sentence in a topic has equal examination value. Our Examiner Focus sections highlight the parts that deserve particular attention. They are intended to answer questions such as: What distinction is commonly tested here? What fact causes candidates to confuse two options? What part of this concept has appeared previously? What is the examiner likely trying to separate? Which fact should I remember in the last week? That turns passive reading into targeted preparation. 6. More Than 3,500 Past-Paper Questions and Recalls Past-paper preparation has always been central to our Paper A system. Our course has accumulated more than 3,500 past-paper and recalled questions, with recent diets continuously reviewed and incorporated into the course. The archive includes questions spanning multiple years and recent examination diets, rather than simply providing one or two memory-based recall documents. The course also separates past papers so candidates can attempt examination material independently after studying it. Our existing course pages document collections covering examinations from previous years through the recent 2025 and 2026 diets. 7. More Than 8,000 Practice, Topic-Wise and Mock Questions Past questions are extremely valuable, but they are not enough by themselves. If you only memorise recalls, a familiar concept written differently can still defeat you. For this reason, the course contains thousands of additional topic-wise, mock and revision questions, taking the Paper A practice pool beyond 8,000 questions. Questions come with explanations so that practice is also learning. The objective is not to brag about a number. The objective is to make sure candidates see the same concept from multiple angles before the real examination. 8. Dedicated Past-Paper Section Once candidates have studied the main material, they can attempt past examinations separately. This gives you two different forms of preparation: Learning mode: Past questions appear with the relevant concepts. Examination mode: Past papers can be attempted independently. Both are useful. One teaches you how questions connect with knowledge. The other tests whether you can retrieve that knowledge without being told the topic first. 9. MCQs and EMIs Paper A contains both single-best-answer MCQs and extended matching items. Therefore, preparing only with ordinary MCQs is incomplete preparation. EduBros includes both formats throughout relevant areas of the course. Candidates need to become comfortable with longer EMI option lists and learn how to distinguish closely related answers rather than simply recognising an obvious MCQ response. 10. Topic-Wise Question Practice There are times when you do not need another full mock. You need 30 questions on the subject you keep getting wrong. Our topic-wise practice allows candidates to focus on specific areas such as: antidepressants hypnotics and anxiolytics drug interactions perceptual disorders memory mood and affect volition and movement pharmacology psychopathology neurosciences This is much more efficient when correcting weaknesses. 11. Detailed Explanations Getting an answer wrong is useful only if you understand why it was wrong. Questions therefore include explanations designed to reinforce the underlying concept rather than simply display the correct option. A useful question bank should improve your score every time you use it. That means explaining enough for you to recognise the concept when it appears differently next time. 12. High-Yield Tables for Every Major Area Long notes are useful during first-pass learning. They are not always useful three days before the exam. For this reason, our chapters include high-yield summary tables. These bring together: repeatedly confused concepts, receptors, drugs, adverse effects, classifications, psychological theories, important associations, neuroanatomical structures, high-yield definitions, and commonly tested differences. They are particularly useful during second and third revisions. 13. Final Revision Summary Tables In addition to chapter-level summaries, the course contains dedicated final revision tables. These are intended for the final days when candidates do not have time to reread complete chapters. The purpose is rapid retrieval. By that stage you should already understand the concepts. The tables help you bring them back into working memory quickly. 14. Full Mock Examinations Knowing psychiatry and performing under examination conditions are not exactly the same skill. Mocks help candidates practise: time management, sustained concentration, mixed-topic switching, uncertainty, elimination between similar options, examination pacing, and answering every question. The course includes multiple mock examinations rather than relying entirely on topic-by-topic practice. 15. Unlimited Practice During Your Access Period Questions and mocks are designed to be repeated. A score from six weeks ago is less important than whether you can now answer the question correctly and explain the concept. Candidates can therefore repeat available quizzes, mocks and past-paper practice during their active course access rather than treating every test as a one-time activity. 16. Latest Recall Analysis After an examination, candidate feedback is valuable. We review remembered topics and questions from recent diets and compare them against the existing course. This helps us: identify direct repeats, identify conceptually repeated questions, identify newly tested themes, update related notes, add relevant questions, and refine future mocks. A question bank should not remain frozen while the examination continues changing. 17. Course Updates When we identify an important missing or newly tested concept, we update the relevant part of the course. That is particularly important now because the Royal College is preparing to publish its revised syllabus in September 2026. Our approach to the 2027 change will be the same: read the official syllabus, map every change, update the teaching material, build new questions around the revised areas and continue updating as real examination experience develops. 18. Personal Study Guidance Some candidates start four months before the exam. Others come with six weeks remaining. Some already know psychopharmacology but struggle with psychology. Others are comfortable clinically but have not studied basic neuroscience for years. Giving every candidate exactly the same revision timetable makes little sense. We help candidates structure preparation according to the time available and the areas that need the most work. 19. Direct Support When You Get Stuck Sometimes an explanation still does not make sense. Instead of spending an hour searching five different books for one concept, candidates can contact us for clarification. That support is part of the learning system. We want candidates to move forward rather than remain stuck because one sentence in a reference source is difficult to understand. 20. Designed as a Self-Contained Primary Resource Our objective is simple: You should not need five separate paid resources to prepare for one examination. The course is designed to combine: complete notes + past papers + recalls + question bank + explanations + EMIs + topic practice + mock exams + high-yield revision + guidance inside one preparation system. Candidates can still consult an Oxford textbook, Fish's, Sims, Stahl or another reference when they genuinely want deeper reading. But your primary exam preparation resource should not force you to repeatedly leave the platform to understand what you are studying. EduBros vs SPMM for MRCPsych Paper A. SPMM is an established MRCPsych preparation provider and has been used by many candidates over the years. Its current website describes a system containing comprehensive SmartRevise study notes, a question bank of more than 8,000 questions, mock packages and separate crash-course options. Our philosophy is different. Feature EduBros Paper A SPMM Core notes Concise, syllabus-mapped notes in simple English Comprehensive SmartRevise notes Learning structure Mini-topic based Subject/resource based Past questions inside notes Embedded directly after relevant mini-concepts Question bank provided alongside study resources Examiner-focus points Integrated throughout notes Different revision structure Past-paper archive Major emphasis on recalls and previous exam diets Strong question-bank focus Topic-wise practice Yes Yes MCQs and EMIs Yes Yes Mock exams Yes Separate Booster mock offering described by SPMM High-yield tables Chapter-wise and final-revision tables SmartRevise and crash-course materials Language approach Intentionally simplified English Comprehensive reference-oriented study material Main EduBros philosophy Learn only the required depth, then immediately practise it Broad comprehensive MRCPsych preparation ecosystem This is not about saying that SPMM has no value. It clearly does. The question is what type of preparation suits you. Why We Prefer the EduBros Approach. If you enjoy comprehensive reading and want an established large resource containing extensive notes, questions and separate revision packages, SPMM may suit your learning style. Our concern is different. A working doctor has limited revision time. If you already have access to Oxford, standard psychiatry books, neuroscience references and online reading material, adding another large reference-style reading burden does not automatically make preparation more efficient. What many candidates actually need is someone to filter the information. Tell me what matters. Explain it simply. Show me how it has been tested. Make me answer the question. Correct me. Then move me to the next concept. That is the role we want EduBros to perform. We are not trying to replace every psychiatry textbook ever written. We are trying to prevent you from needing to read all of them to pass Paper A. Why Easy English Matters in MRCPsych Preparation. The actual psychiatric concept should be difficult when the concept itself is difficult. The wording used to teach it does not also need to be difficult. Consider a candidate studying after an eight or twelve-hour hospital shift. They do not need a paragraph that takes four readings to decode. They need: definition → explanation → example → examination point → question. That is how much of our content is structured. Simple wording does not mean reducing the academic standard. It means removing unnecessary linguistic difficulty between the candidate and the concept. Why Past Papers Matter So Much for Paper A. Candidates often ask: Do questions repeat in MRCPsych Paper A? The safest way to understand repetition is to recognise that it can occur at several levels. A question may be: directly similar, based on the same concept, testing the same distinction with different wording, or built around a previously examined theme. That is why past-paper work is valuable even when the next question is not word-for-word identical. The purpose is not simply memorisation. Past papers teach you what the examination considers important. Our Recent Paper A Experience. Our own candidate feedback has repeatedly reinforced the value of intensive past-paper preparation. For the July 2026 result set displayed on EduBros, the 14 candidates whose outcomes were recorded all passed, and candidates reported substantial overlap between the examination themes/questions and the material they had practised through the course. We treat these results as encouragement to continue improving the same system rather than as an excuse to stop updating it. Every examination gives us more information. Every recall helps us identify where the question bank can improve. Every candidate question shows us where an explanation can become clearer. Is the EduBros MRCPsych Paper A Course Enough on Its Own. We designed it to function as a complete primary preparation resource for the current Paper A syllabus. That means candidates should be able to complete their main preparation using: the notes, embedded past papers, question bank, topic-wise practice, EMIs, recent recalls, mocks, explanations, high-yield summaries, and final revision material without needing to purchase multiple other courses. That does not mean you are forbidden from opening a textbook. If you love neuroscience and want to read deeper, do it. If you want to verify a difficult point using an official source, do it. If a particular textbook explanation works better for you, use it. But additional reading should be optional clarification, not a requirement created because your primary course left half the syllabus unexplained. A Practical MRCPsych Paper A Study Plan. If You Have 12 Weeks Use approximately the first seven to eight weeks for systematic syllabus coverage. Complete questions alongside every topic. Use the next two to three weeks for past papers and mixed topic practice. Use the final weeks for mocks, weak-topic correction and high-yield revision. If You Have 8 Weeks Move more quickly through first-pass notes. Do not postpone questions until the end. Complete past-paper questions alongside each topic from day one. Start mixed mocks by the middle of your preparation. If You Have 4 Weeks You cannot study like someone with four months. Prioritise: syllabus-mapped concise notes, past-paper-heavy topics, Neurosciences, Psychopharmacology, high-yield tables, recent recalls, repeated question practice, mixed mocks. Do not spend three days reading one textbook chapter. If You Have 2 Weeks At this stage, trying to master every reference source from the beginning is usually unrealistic. Focus on: high-yield notes, past papers, recalls, repeated concepts, incorrect questions, final tables, mocks, your weakest high-weight topics. Your aim is now efficient mark recovery. What Should I Study First for Paper A. If you have enough preparation time, follow a structured syllabus order rather than jumping randomly between subjects. Our course currently contains dedicated sections covering areas including: Descriptive Psychopathology Dynamic Psychopathology Human Development Basic Psychology Social Psychology Pharmacodynamics Basic Pharmacology Adverse Drug Effects Rating Scales Neurochemistry Sociocultural Psychiatry Neuroanatomy Molecular Genetics Neuropathology Neurophysiology Applied Neurosciences Clinical Examination Pharmacokinetics Classification ICD-11 topic-wise questions mock examinations past examinations final revision tables This allows the official five-domain syllabus to be broken into manageable learning units rather than presenting candidates with five enormous headings. Common MRCPsych Paper A Questions. What is the next MRCPsych Paper A exam? The next scheduled Paper A examination is 12 November 2026. When is the November 2026 Paper A result? The scheduled publication date is 11 December 2026. Can I still apply for November 2026? The application period ended on 27 August 2026 at 3:30 pm UK time. Candidates who missed the window will need to wait for a future diet. Is November 2026 the last examination under the current Paper A syllabus? Yes. The College says candidates should continue using the current syllabus for examinations through the end of 2026, while the new syllabus takes effect from January 2027. When will the new MRCPsych syllabus be published? The College currently plans to publish it in September 2026. When does the new Paper A syllabus start? January 2027. Have the 2027 Paper A dates been announced? At the time of this update, the College's main exam-date page is publishing the 2026 Paper A schedule. Candidates waiting for 2027 should continue checking the official examination page rather than relying on estimated dates. How many questions are in Paper A? There are 150 questions worth 150 marks over three hours. How many MCQs and EMIs are there? Approximately two-thirds of Paper A consists of MCQs and approximately one-third consists of EMIs. Is there negative marking? No. Incorrect answers do not lose marks, so candidates are advised to attempt every question. What is the MRCPsych Paper A pass mark? There is no permanent fixed pass percentage. The College uses the Modified Angoff method to establish the standard for each paper. Can an overseas doctor take Paper A? Yes, subject to the College's eligibility and registration requirements. Paper A is not restricted only to doctors currently in UK psychiatry training. Do I need psychiatry training before Paper A? The College's current eligibility page states that Paper A eligibility requires you to be a fully registered medical practitioner. Which subjects carry the most marks? Basic Neurosciences and Clinical Psychopharmacology each contribute approximately 25%, meaning together they represent approximately half of the paper. Are MRCPsych Paper A recalls useful? Yes, when used correctly. Recalls help identify repeatedly examined concepts and patterns, but they should be paired with understanding and question practice rather than memorised blindly. Should I read Oxford textbooks for Paper A? Reference books can be useful for difficult concepts, but reading every recommended book cover-to-cover is not necessary for most candidates. A syllabus-mapped primary resource combined with active question practice is generally more manageable. Which is the best MRCPsych Paper A course? For candidates looking for a single preparation system combining concise syllabus coverage, simple explanations, embedded past-paper questions, a large question bank, recent recalls, EMIs, mocks and final revision material, EduBros MRCPsych Paper A Made Easy is designed specifically for that purpose. One Course Instead of Five Separate Resources. One common Paper A preparation pattern looks like this: one source for notes, another for questions, another for recalls, another for high-yield revision, another for mocks, and several WhatsApp files saved somewhere on the phone. By examination week, the candidate has accumulated more material than they can revise. We prefer a simpler system. Study the concept. Attempt the past question. Understand the explanation. Practise the variations. Complete the mock. Revise the high-yield table. Move forward. That is the entire philosophy behind our MRCPsych Paper A course. Preparing for November 2026: The Final Current-Syllabus Paper A. For candidates already registered for 12 November 2026, there is an additional reason to take preparation seriously. This is the final Paper A examination scheduled before the January 2027 syllabus change. You currently have access to years of information generated under the existing syllabus: established syllabus boundaries established topic weightings years of previous questions recent recalls repeated examination themes mature question banks established revision material Candidates entering the first examinations of a revised syllabus will eventually build the same historical knowledge, but naturally it takes examination diets for a new recall history to accumulate. If you are already registered for November, use the advantage you have. Do not spend the remaining preparation period collecting resources. Choose a system. Finish it. Revise it. Practise repeatedly. And enter the examination having already seen as many relevant question patterns as possible. Start Your MRCPsych Paper A Preparation With EduBros. The EduBros MRCPsych Paper A Course is built for candidates who want preparation to be complete without becoming unnecessarily complicated. You get one structured system containing: • complete Paper A notes • simple English explanations • mini-topic learning • clinical examples where helpful • examiner-focus points • embedded past-paper questions • 3,500+ past-paper & recalls • 8,000+ total practice pool • MCQs & EMIs • detailed explanations • dedicated past-paper sections • recent recall analysis • multiple mock examinations • high-yield tables • final revision summaries • topic-wise practice • repeated practice access • preparation guidance • direct concept clarification • continuous course updates The objective is not to give you the biggest pile of material. It is to give you the right material, at the right depth, in a form you can actually complete and revise before the exam. If you are preparing for Paper A, start with a clear plan and keep your preparation focused. Explore the MRCPsych Course MRCPsych Paper A Made Easy by EduBros — Complete syllabus. Past papers. Recalls. Question bank. Mock exams. Final revision. One preparation system.