MRCS-B GUIDELINES
BY
MRCS PAKISTAN TEAM
1. Course Outlines
2. Study Material
3. Duration for Preparation
4. How to Prepare
5. Best time to Apply
6. How to appear
7. How to attempt knowledge portion
8. How to attempt skills portion
1. COURSE OUTLINES
MRCS-B exam consists of two parts
A. Knowledge (8 stations)
B. Skills
Knowledge part of the MRCS-B is further divided into
1. Anatomy (3 Station)
2. Pathology (2 Station)
3. Critical Care (3 Station)
Each Station carries 20 marks. 9 minutes are given at each station to
answer the Qs being asked to you by the examiner. Hence, 160 marks
for Knowledge part. Passing marks vary for each day, as it is according
to the percentiles and not percentage.
Skills part of MRCS-B is also further divided into:
1. History (2 stations)
2. Communication Skills (2 Stations )
3. Examination (3 stations)
4. Procedural Skills (2 Stations )
For further details, we have included the following picture:
2. STUDY MATERIALS
There are lot of books being suggested by different colleagues.
However, we will recommend which is being asked in the exam and that
is designed particularly according to the examination requirements. You
may improvise it according to your own knowledge, capacity,
understanding and time frame.
A. For Knowledge part
1. TOURKEY NOTES
2. Mcminn's Atlas
3. Singh Notes
All other helping material will be uploaded time by time in the following
group:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/L7JidNJQJOgBKMeyF91IZb
B. For SKILLS PART
1. History from Bazeed Notes
2. Communication Skills from Bazeed Notes as well as from
Doctors Notes ( Shared in the group)
3. Examination from Bazeed Notes and Geeky Medics
4. Procedural Skills from Geeky Medics, YouTube Videos and
Tourkey Notes
3. DURATION FOR PREPARATION
Different candidates prepare in different time period. It all depends your
previous core knowledge, level of training and skills and the competency
you have achieved. All surgeons have high IQ and they are good enough
to pick the things early. However atleast 2 months are required for a
mature attempt so that you may not waste your precious time and
money. Atleast 6 hour a day.
Group study of 3-4 people is found most successful in the
examination settings.
4. HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE EXAM
Preparation for the MRCS-B exam is not as difficult as it was
considered, rather it is a tricky one. You have to be consistent, and also
understand what the examiner wants from you. THINGS MUST BE
ON FINGERTIPS. A group of 3-4 people is preferred for discussion
and specially for skills portion. Because you have to be master of all
these skills. GEEKY MEDICS VIDEOS along with BAZEED AND
TOURKEY NOTES are all required along with some experts in the
field. Towards the end, it is you who must be master of those particular
skills and Answer the Qs being asked. Hence
PPRACTCE……… PRACTICE…………. PRACTICE
For both knowledge and skills.
5. BEST TIME TO APPLY FOR THE EXAMINATION
Best time to Apply for MRCS-B examination is as early as possible after
MRCS-A result with a minimum gap of two months. Because, this is the
time when you are already prepared for the KNOWLEDGE Part of the
exam and now you have to master the SKILLS PART of the
examination which can be easily done with some good partner and
supervision.
NOTE: MRCS PAKISTAN TEAM will give a schedule for EXAM
PREPARATION AND WILL GUIDE YOU IN DETAILS VIA
LECTURES.
6. HOW TO APPEAR IN THE EXAM
MRCS-B examination is a well organized examination. You need not to
carry anything along with you to appear in the examination. They will
provide you with each and everything in the examination room. At
reception, you will be given examination card and will be guided about
the procedure. Everything will be quick and smooth. And you have to
catch the running train in the exam, so prepare yourself for that.
KNOWLEDGE OF ALL SURGEONS APPEARING IN THE EXAM
IS MORE OR LESS SAME, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS WITH
REFLEXES.
7. HOW TO ATTEMPT KNOWLEDGE PART
This is the most important part and we all are preparing ourselves for
this day. As you already know, REFLEXES will work here. Exam will
be like a running machine. Until everything is on your fingertips, the
examiner will override you. Here it is game of nerves. You are not
supposed to pour out everything you know. Just be calm, focus on the
Qs and then answer.
KEY TIPS:
For every station, there are 10 minutes. 1 minute outside the room and 9
minutes inside the room. Qs will be pasted on the wall outside the room.
For example:
Station 1. It is an anatomy station. Mr. Harry is a 19 year old man
who underwent an RTA and got his right hand injured. Inside the
room you are provided with hand anatomy station. Please answer
the Qs being asked by the examiner.
Inside the room, you will be provided different pics of the hand
anatomy. Almost all of these will be covered from MCMINN’s and
Tourkey Notes. Examiner will ask you bundle of Qs. And you have to
answer them QUICKLY and ONE LINER.
What if I don’t know the answer to a Qs?
You can skip that Qs and say simply: can I please come to this Qs at the
end? The examiner won’t eat you 😍
Similarly, you have to attempt all 8 stations of the knowledge portion.
The candidate who will miss 1st minute of reading the Qs, will suffer
inside the room.
The 1st key minute to read the Qs must not be wasted by thinking: Ohh!
It is an easy Qs to digest. I know all of the answers already.
Read the Qs carefully. Sometimes the Qs is long. Read each and every
word with great care and not to miss the key given in Qs. If you have
some time left, revise that whole station in your mind. Because, you will
be asked absolutely same knowledge, you have been practicing for the
last 8 weeks.
8. HOW TO ATTEMPT SKILLS PART
Skills part is considered to be more difficult of the two. But, our
previous experience and also the observation of previous exams is
different for Pakistani candidates. Pakistanis pass it easily, perhaps as
they are taught with English materials.
The key to pass the exam is same:
Read the Qs carefully outside the station and then revise all the
steps in your mind accordingly.
The stations will be essentially same as you will be taught. Hence,
just consider it as rehearsal of your previous practice.
History and examination station will be consisted of 6 minutes
history/ examination, 0.5 minutes to summarize the history/
examination and 2.5 minutes to answer the Qs.
Procedural Skills are usually judged along with the knowledge
part. Hence, you will be provided 9 minutes to perform the
particular skills.
Communication skills consists of two parts
A. Communication with the patient: You will be provided
with the patient chart. There will be a preparatory station of
same 10 minutes before the Communication with the patient.
Read the Qs as well as the chart carefully. In the
Communication room ( next 10 minutes ) you will be
provided same chart and the will be a simulator to be
counselled.
B. Communication with the colleague: Again, you will be
provided with the patient chart and 10 minutes preparatory
station. Read the chart carefully, make your notes and then in
the next 10 minutes you have to make a call to your
consultant.
THERE WILL BE LOT OF Qs IN YOUR MIND AFTER
READING THESE GUIDELINES. FOR THOSE Qs, MRCS
PAKISTAN TEAM will conduct a webinar shortly. Moreover, you
may post your Qs in the group.
