Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG) Examination Guide

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) awards Membership of the College (MRCOG) through a three-part examination pathway. Part 1 covers basic and applied sciences relevant to obstetrics and gynaecology; Part 2 assesses application of knowledge in clinical scenarios; Part 3 assesses clinical knowledge, skills, attitudes and competencies.

Passing all three parts is required, and RCOG regulations also specify membership requirements relating to training, medical registration, conduct and formal admission.

Part 3 assesses five domains: patient safety; communication with patients and their relatives; communication with colleagues; information gathering; and applied clinical knowledge. Tasks use simulated patient or colleague interactions and structured discussions with a clinical examiner. A trained clinical examiner is present for every task, and a lay examiner participates in four. The circuit may also include linked tasks or a writing task.

The RCOG syllabus document dated April 2024, version 1.02, identifies 15 core Knowledge Areas and sets out part-specific knowledge requirements:

1. Clinical skills
2. Teaching and research
3. Core surgical skills
4. Postoperative care
5. Antenatal care
6. Maternal medicine
7. Management of labour
8. Management of delivery
9. Postpartum problems
10. Gynaecological problems
11. Subfertility
12. Sexual and reproductive health
13. Early pregnancy care
14. Gynaecological oncology
15. Urogynaecology and pelvic floor problems

The stage-specific emphasis progresses from scientific foundations and investigation interpretation in Part 1, to application in clinical scenarios in Part 2, and clinical performance in Part 3. The 15 syllabus Knowledge Areas and Part 3’s 14 tasks are separate frameworks, not a one-to-one count or marks distribution.

Part 1: First-time candidates must submit an eligibility application. The RCOG says candidates who have previously sat an MRCOG examination, or whose Part 1 eligibility was approved for an earlier sitting, do not normally need to apply for eligibility again. Part 1 may be attempted before entry to UK specialty training. GMC-registered and non-GMC candidates have different document requirements; non-GMC applicants should check the current list for medical registration, identity and primary medical degree evidence, including certification and translation rules.

Part 2: Candidates must have sat and passed Part 1 and meet the applicable currency and attempt rules. A new expression of interest is required for each sitting; it provides an opportunity to book an available place, not a guaranteed place.

Part 3: Candidates must have passed Part 2 and have approved Assessment of Training (AoT) before applying. AoT can be submitted after passing Part 1. The RCOG describes two main routes:

• Recognized UK specialty-training route: The candidate must be in intermediate training at ST3 level or above when applying for AoT.
• Other-candidate route: The candidate must document at least four years of full-time-equivalent post-registration obstetrics and gynaecology training in the UK or overseas. This must include at least two years in the specialty during the four years before the initial AoT application, and at least six consecutive months in one post. Training must be complete when applying.

Currency and attempts depend on the intended route. For candidates seeking entry to the UK Specialist Register via CCT, the regulations generally require an attempt at Part 2 within seven years of a Part 1 pass after March 2013; eligible training circumstances can extend that period pro rata, up to 10 years. A Part 1 pass in or before March 2013 has a 10-year period. The regulations specify up to six attempts at Part 1 and Part 2 and four at Part 3 for this route, with stated provisions concerning further attempts.

For candidates not seeking entry to the UK Specialist Register, the regulations specify a 10-year Part 1-to-Part 2 window and a seven-year pro-rata Part 2-to-Part 3 window, with no overall attempt limit; after four unsuccessful Part 3 attempts, Part 2 must be retaken and passed before another Part 3 attempt. The Part 3 FAQ also says candidates must attempt Part 3 at least once within seven years after passing Part 2. Check the current regulations and confirm how they apply to your pathway.

1. Use the syllabus as a checklist. Organize study by the 15 Knowledge Areas, then separate the requirements for each exam part. This helps distinguish foundational science from scenario-based application and clinical performance.

2. Rehearse Part 1 in its actual paper format. Complete timed 100-question SBA blocks of 150 minutes. Review errors by underlying topic and reasoning, including science, symptoms and investigation interpretation.

3. Practice both Part 2 question types. Use timed SBA and EMQ sets, and rehearse full three-hour papers. Since EMQs contribute 60% of the marks, practice the RCOG’s suggested 70-minute SBA and 110-minute EMQ allocation.

4. Prepare for Part 3 as a performance assessment. Practice 12-minute tasks, including the two-minute reading period. Rotate between simulated patient or colleague interactions and structured discussion. Review performance across all five domains, not only clinical knowledge; written questions do not reproduce this clinical circuit.

5. Build feedback into practice. Track written-paper errors by question type and syllabus area. For Part 3, seek feedback on communication, information gathering, patient safety, applied knowledge and completing the task within its time.

6. Plan administration alongside revision. Check your eligibility, AoT status, attempt history, applicable currency rules and current booking instructions before selecting a sitting.

• Overseas training: The AoT route for candidates outside a recognized UK specialty-training programme accepts qualifying post-registration training in the UK or overseas. Applicants must provide the documentation required by the RCOG.
• Applications and locations: Eligibility, expressions of interest, booking windows, venues and availability differ by exam part and sitting. Use the current RCOG application and booking pages for the relevant part; do not assume an available place at a particular center.
• Fee banding: RCOG booking information states that fee banding is based on the exam center, not the candidate’s country of residence. Check the current page for applicable details.
• Membership and specialist status are distinct: Passing the MRCOG examination and admission to College membership do not themselves confer UK specialist or consultant status; the regulations state that further supervised training is required.