The examination, currently organised on an intercollegiate basis, is required to enter higher surgical training (ST 3+) in one of the Royal colleges.
The MRCS qualification consists of a multi-part examination including both theory and practical assessments.
Part B is a 4-hour practical examination which assesses elements of day-to-day surgical practice through 17 stations of 9 minutes each (with additional resting and preparation stations) on anatomy, pathology, critical care, clinical procedures and patient evaluation (history taking, clinical examination and communication skills).
A large and varied collection of commercial revision resources are available which can improve a candidate's chances of success.
These resources include courses, books, online question banks and mobile applications.