Planning MRCP(UK) Part 1 in 2026? Dates, Fees, and Cut-offs You Must Know 

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Introduction

For Indian MBBS graduates and practicing physicians planning UK training or global credentialing, MRCP(UK) Part 1 is the essential first step. Seats fill fast and the application window is short, so smart planning is critical: select your 2026 sitting, apply on opening day, and align your preparation to the format and pass-mark system. This guide gives you the confirmed 2026 calendar, explains how the cut-off really works, and shares a no-nonsense 8-week plan built for busy Indian doctors balancing wards, OPD, and on-call.

MRCP(UK) Part 1 in 2026: key dates, fees, and result timelines

(Applications usually open and close at 08:00 UK time. That’s typically 13:30 IST during standard time set alarms accordingly.

January 2026 sitting

• Apply: 04–11 November 2025

• Exam: 28 January 2026

• Fees: £672

• Reasonable-adjustment request deadline: 18 November 2025

Results by: 13 March 2026

May 2026 sitting

• Apply: 10–17 March 2026

• Exam: 21 May 2026

• Fees: £672

• Reasonable-adjustment request deadline: 24 March 2026

• Results by: 03 July 2026

September 2026 sitting

• Apply: 14–21 July 2026

• Exam: 23 September 2026

• Fees: £672

• Reasonable-adjustment request deadline: 28 July 2026

• Results by: 06 November 2026

India tip: Many Indian cities host authorized test centers. Popular locations fill in early, so submit your application as soon as the window opens.

Eligibility for Indian candidates (quick check)

• Minimum experience: At least 12 months of postgraduate medical training by the exam date.

• Account: Create or log in to My MRCP(UK), update your profile, and keep your name as per passport.

• Centre choice: Select an Indian test center when booking (or UK online/remote option if you’re based in the UK at the time).

• Documents: Keep passport, GMC/State Medical Council details (as applicable), and any adjustment documentation ready.

Exam format (what you’ll face on the day)

• Delivery: Computer-based testing at authorized centres worldwide; remote online options are available for UK-based candidates.

• Structure: Two papers on the same day, 3 hours each, 100 single-best-answer (SBA) questions.

• Syllabus coverage: Broad internal medicine domains cardiology, respiratory, gastroenterology/hepatology, endocrinology/diabetes, nephrology, neurology, rheumatology, infectious diseases, haematology, oncology, geriatrics, ophthalmology, dermatology, stats/ethics, and clinical sciences.

Cut-offs and pass marks: the plain-English version

• Your raw marks are converted to a scaled score to adjust for varying MRCP question difficulty across different exam sessions.

• The pass standard is around 540 on the scaled score. On some recent papers, that aligned to roughly the mid-60s percentage of scored questions, but the exact raw mark can vary.

• Don’t aim for a fixed %. Aim to produce consistent, exam-style performance that pushes you comfortably above a scaled 540.

Which 2026 sitting should an Indian doctor choose?

• Need a quick start to your MRCP journey:
  Pick January (28 Jan) results by mid-March help you plan Part 2 Written and PACES timelines for late 2026 or early 2027.

• Balancing a heavy residency/registrar rota:
  If Jan clashes with postings or exams (e.g., DNB/MD schedules), choose May for a longer runway, with September as your contingency.

• Visa/travel not required:
  Choose an Indian center; it removes travel friction and cost. If you’re working in the UK during your prep, the UK remote option can be convenient (ensure your tech setup meets proctoring rules).

An 8-week, India-friendly study plan

(Scale up to 10–12 weeks if your base is rusty or your rota is intense.)

Weeks 8–7: Map the mountain

• Take a 200-question diagnostic mock to benchmark.

• Identify your bottom 3 specialties (e.g., endocrine, renal, neuro).

• Plan a weekly split: 60% weak areas, 40% maintenance.

• Build a quick-reference formula sheet (ABG, acid–base, anion gap, sodium disorders, arrhythmia algorithms, anticoagulation/ACS, thyroid/adrenal rules).

Weeks 6–5: Systems blocks + spaced repetition

• Two systems per week (e.g., Cardio + Renal; then Resp + GI).

• Daily target: 75–100 timed SBAs; review immediately.

• Use spaced repetition (Anki/flashcards) for high-yield facts and “if-this-then-that” clinical rules (SIADH vs CSW, DKA vs HHS, RTA types, TB drug toxicities).

• End each week with a mini-mock (50Q/90 mins) to sharpen pacing.

Weeks 4–3: Integrate and simulate

• Three full 100-Q timed papers/week on alternate days.

• Build an error log with columns: Topic • Reason missed (knowledge/misread/trick) • Fix • One-line rule.

• Tackle India-relevant patterns: rheumatic valve disease sequelae, TB presentations, endemic infections, electrolyte disturbances in high-volume emergency settings.

Week 2: Dress rehearsals

• Two full-day simulations (Paper 1 + break + Paper 2).

• Finalize center logistics: location, ID, reporting time, allowed items.

• If you’ve prepped in the UK, do a proctored tech check for the online option (webcam, bandwidth, quiet room, power backup).

Week 1: Taper and protect

• Light review of the error log and formula sheet.

• Sleep banking (target 7–8 hours for 4–5 nights).

• Set your guess strategy (never leave blanks; eliminate obvious distractors fast).

• Meal plan for steady energy; avoid new foods the day before.

High-yield content focus for Part 1

• Cardiology: ACS and antiplatelet/anticoagulation pathways, heart failure meds (initiation vs decompensation), murmurs, tachy/brady algorithms.

• Respiratory: ABG interpretation, PE risk/management, asthma vs COPD acute care, TB patterns on CXR, bronchiectasis basics.

• Endocrinology: Thyroid storm vs myxoedema coma, DKA/HHS protocols, adrenal crisis, hyponatraemia frameworks, pituitary apoplexy flags.

• Renal: AKI work-up, RTA classification, glomerulonephritis clues, electrolyte rules (K+, Na+, Ca2+).

• Gastro/Hepato: Variceal bleed steps, pancreatitis scoring, hepatitis serology logic, IBD vs IBS contrasts.

• Neuro: Stroke/TIA imaging and thrombolysis windows, seizure meds and interactions, GBS vs myasthenia patterns.

• ID: Empiric antibiotics by source and severity, tropical diseases, differentials (where relevant), sepsis bundles.

• Stats/Ethics: Sensitivity/specificity, NNT/ARR/OR, consent/capacity basics.

Exam-day tactics

• Pacing: 180 minutes per paper → ~1.8 minutes/question. If you’re stuck for 90 seconds, mark it, move on, and return later.

• Flag & sweep: First pass collects sure shots. Second pass work flagged items.

• Algorithmic reading: For ABG, ECG, endocrine stems run the same 3-step algorithm every time to avoid tunnel vision.

• Elimination first: Often 2–3 options are clearly wrong; get to a 50–50, then decide.

• Logistics: Reach the centre early, carry acceptable ID, and follow instructions exactly no surprises.

FAQs

Conclusion

For Indian doctors, the winning approach to MRCP(UK) Part 1 in 2026 is straightforward: pick your sitting now, apply on day one, and train exactly to the MRCP exam you’ll face two 3-hour SBA papers, centre-based delivery, and a scaled 540 pass standard. Build a repeatable routine: daily timed questions, rigorous post-review, and two full simulations before the exam. On the day, pace yourself, use elimination aggressively, and trust your algorithms. Texila’s structured MRCP(UK) training program, with expert-led sessions and mock assessments, will help you stay exam-ready and confident from day one. Do this, and you’ll put yourself in the strongest position to clear Part 1 and fast-track the rest of your MRCP(UK) journey.

*Please refer to the official MRCP(UK) website for the actual exam dates and fees.