MRCP Part 2 Study Plan: 12 Weeks to the Written Exam
Published Oct 9, 2026 · Updated Oct 10, 2026
This MRCP Part 2 study plan covers the 12 weeks before the Written exam and spends your time the way the Federation’s blueprint spends its 200 questions.
How should you plan 12 weeks for MRCP Part 2?
Start from the blueprint. Five specialties have 20 questions each: cardiology; endocrinology, diabetes and metabolic medicine; gastroenterology and hepatology; renal medicine; and respiratory medicine. Together they are half of the 200 questions. Infectious diseases and neurology have 16 each, clinical pharmacology and therapeutics 12, and dermatology, geriatric medicine, haematology and rheumatology 10 each. Oncology has 6, medical ophthalmology and palliative medicine 4 each, and psychiatry 2. The Federation says actual numbers may vary by up to 2%.
Pick your diet first
Applications for 2026/3 closed on 22 September 2026. The next diet is 2027/1: applications 8–15 December 2026, exam 24 February 2027, results by 9 April 2027. Twelve weeks before 24 February is 2 December 2026, so the application window falls in your first two weeks. After that come 2027/2 (exam 7 July 2027, applications 20–27 April) and 2027/3 (exam 24 November 2027, applications 7–14 September). The fee for each is £520 in the UK or £696 internationally. More in MRCP Part 2 exam dates and fees.
Weeks 1–5: the five 20-question specialties
Give one week each to cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, renal medicine and respiratory medicine. Work through topic-filtered questions, then review every question you got wrong. Apply in week 1 or 2, during the application window.
Weeks 6–8: infectious diseases, neurology and pharmacology
Spend a week on infectious diseases and a week on neurology (16 questions each), then a week on clinical pharmacology and therapeutics (12), which also cuts across every other specialty.
Weeks 9–10: the 10-question specialties and the rest
Cover dermatology, geriatric medicine, haematology and rheumatology in week 9. In week 10, cover oncology, medical ophthalmology, palliative medicine and psychiatry, and go back to your weakest of the big five.
Weeks 11–12: full papers
Sit full 100-question papers in 3 hours, as on the day, ideally two in one day at least once. Mark them, then spend the rest of each day on the topics you lost marks in. Try the Federation’s free practice test in this phase to get used to the format. There is no negative marking, so practise answering every question.
For practice questions, start with MRCP Part 2 sample questions with answers, then use the TopQbank MRCP Part 2 question bank, reviewed by licensed doctors. How results are scored is covered in the MRCP Part 2 pass mark.
Study takeaway: half the exam comes from five specialties at 20 questions each, so give them the first five weeks, apply in the one-week window, and finish with full 3-hour, 100-question papers under exam timing.