As I look back on my journey towards passing the MRCS, it is now apparent that it began with a serendipitous decision to enrol in an online distance learning MSc in Surgical Sciences at the University of Edinburgh. My primary aim was to enhance my clinical and basic science knowledge in order to improve my surgical practice. I was unaware, at the time, that this course was designed in collaboration with the Royal College of Surgery, Edinburgh (RCSEd) following the MRCS curriculum, thus preparing its participants for the exam.
Thanks to a scholarship from the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, I could attend the Master’s program at no personal cost. This scholarship is open to candidates from low and lower-middle-income Commonwealth countries (Link:https://www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/postgraduate/e-learning/common-distance-learning).
I planned to take my MRCS part A test a month after completing the MSc year 2 curriculum. In the preceding 2 years of my program, I developed a habit of daily learning while balancing a demanding work schedule. My average daily routine involved waking up at 4:30 am and dedicating at least 2-3 hours to reading. By the end of year 2, I had acquired extensive knowledge of all the content needed to sit the MRCS part A.
My intensive preparation phase for the part A exam took precisely one month. My approach involved completing all the questions from two distinct question banks. These were eMRCS (https://www.emrcs.com/), which cost only GBP 45 for 4 months, and Pastest (https://www.pastest.com/mrcs-part-a/online-revision/), which was relatively costlier at GBP 89. To give myself ample time, I took annual as well as study leave. In preparation, I cut alcohol three months before the exam, improved my diet and supplemented it with Omega 3 fish oil, exercised 4 days a week for 30-40 minutes, and slept an average of 7-8 hours daily. Scientific studies have shown these bundle of habits to improve cognitive performance and memory retention.
My typical daily schedule during the intensive phase involved waking up at 4:30 am, doing a daily reflection on the previous day, and planning for the present. I would then spend the next few hours immersed in the question banks, with brief breaks only for meals or to stretch my legs. During week one, I aimed to complete as many questions as possible and score a pass rate of over 80%. I took the time to review my weakest areas and read more about the topics I struggled with. In week two, my focus shifted to improving my timing, and I did 30-minute exam sprints, gradually increasing to one hour. In week three, I started practicing entire past exam papers, simulating an actual exam as closely as possible, and consistently aiming for a score of over 80%.
In retrospect, my journey to passing the MRCS was a culmination of exhaustive preparation, disciplined habits, and a single-minded focus. It was founded on the power of consistency.