MRCPsych Paper B exam at a glance
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MRCPsych Paper B key facts & eligibility
| Conducting body | Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) |
|---|---|
| Official website | rcpsych.ac.uk ↗ |
| Mode | MRCPsych Paper B — the second written paper on the path to Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych), the standard UK postgraduate qualification for psychiatrists in training. It is a computer-based written exam. |
| Frequency | Held in scheduled sittings each year. |
| Scoring & marking | The exam has about 150 questions for 150 marks in 3 hours — roughly two-thirds Single Best Answer and one-third Extended Matching Items — with about one-third on critical review/appraisal (research methods and statistics) and two-thirds on clinical topics such as psychopharmacology and applied clinical psychiatry. Both written papers (A and B) must be passed before sitting the CASC clinical exam. |
| Language | English. |
Who is eligible for MRCPsych Paper B?
Doctors in psychiatry training who meet the RCPsych requirements (typically after a period of post-foundation psychiatry experience).
Last verified July 2026 against RCPsych — exams. Always confirm current details on the official website before you register.
MRCPsych Paper B section breakdown
The MRCPsych Paper B mock test on Wrexa Edge replicates the real exam's section structure — same names, same question count per section, same time limits. No inter-section breaks — the timer runs continuously.
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MRCPsych Paper B (55 Q)
Marking scheme
+1 per correct. Try your score.
Strategy: MRCPsych Paper B has no negative marking. Attempt every question — blank answers cost you potential marks but cannot pull your score down.
Scale: MRCPsych Paper B (pass 700/1000).
How MRCPsych Paper B is conducted
- Mode
- Test format
- Backtracking
- Mark for review
MRCPsych Paper B time strategy
With 55 questions in 180 minutes, you have about 196 seconds per question on average. Successful candidates aim for the following pacing on each section:
- MRCPsych Paper B (55 Q)
Wrexa Edge's analytics show your actual time-per-question after every mock so you can spot which sections you're losing time on.
MRCPsych Paper B topics covered
Across the 50 Wrexa Edge variants of MRCPsych Paper B, the following topics appear most often (sample distribution from one variant):
MRCPsych Paper B (55 Q)
- Paper B — Critical Appraisal · 18
- Paper B — Old Age · 6
- Paper B — Mental Health Law · 6
- Paper B — Substance Misuse · 5
- Paper B — Psychotherapy · 5
- Paper B — Liaison & Perinatal · 4
- Paper B — Forensic · 3
- Paper B — General Adult · 3
MRCPsych Paper B difficulty calibration
Advanced tier. Advanced-level: high-stakes exam with rigorous content depth. Expect 4-8 months of structured prep.
MRCPsych Paper B · MCQ. United Kingdom examination. · Official language: English.
Verified content — Wrexa Edge's MRCPsych Paper B bank has been deeply curated with real exam-aligned content (estimated 100% syllabus coverage).
How Wrexa Edge prepares you for MRCPsych Paper B
- Real test-day interface
- 50 distinct variants
- Detailed analytics
- Spaced repetition (Notebook)
- Optional proctoring
- Free to start
Expert take: what MRCPsych Paper B really tests
MRCPsych Paper B, from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, is the second written paper on the path to Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists — the standard UK postgraduate psychiatry qualification. It has about 150 questions for 150 marks in 3 hours (roughly two-thirds Single Best Answer and one-third Extended Matching Items), with about a third on critical review/appraisal (research methods and statistics) and two-thirds on clinical topics. Both written papers must be passed before the CASC clinical exam.
Preparation tips
- Build the critical-appraisal and statistics skills — a distinct third of the paper.
- Practise both SBA and EMI question formats.
- Cover psychopharmacology and applied clinical psychiatry thoroughly.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Neglecting critical appraisal, which many candidates find hardest.
- Assuming ~200 questions — it is about 150 in 3 hours.
MRCPsych Paper B study plan
A phase-by-phase roadmap from your first concept to test-ready. Stretch or compress each phase to fit the time you have before your attempt.
- ~150 questions for 150 marks in 3 hours
- ~2/3 Single Best Answer + ~1/3 Extended Matching Items
- ~1/3 critical appraisal, 2/3 clinical
- Critical review — research methods and statistics
- Psychopharmacology
- Applied clinical psychiatry and therapies
- SBA and EMI practice
- Critical-appraisal papers
- Both written papers gate the CASC clinical exam
Where MRCPsych Paper B can take you
A strong MRCPsych Paper B result opens up these careers and higher-study paths:
- Toward MRCPsych
- UK psychiatry training
Best books & official prep for MRCPsych Paper B
- MRCPsych Paper B revision guides & question banks — Various
- Critical-appraisal practice — Various
Official practice: Prepare from the RCPsych syllabus and Paper B question banks on rcpsych.ac.uk; build both critical-appraisal and clinical knowledge.
Previous-year papers: RCPsych publishes sample questions and the exam blueprint.
Sample MRCPsych Paper B practice questions
5 questions taken from the MRCPsych Paper B mock tests on Wrexa Edge. Try each one, then reveal the answer.
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Q1. A patient on heroin takes a first dose of buprenorphine while still intoxicated and becomes acutely unwell with withdrawal. Why?
- Buprenorphine is a full agonist that adds to the heroin already in circulation and causes overdose
- Buprenorphine induces CYP3A4 rapidly
- Buprenorphine is an opioid antagonist only
- Buprenorphine is a high-affinity partial agonist that displaces heroin (precipitated withdrawal)
Show answer
Answer: D — Buprenorphine is a high-affinity partial agonist that displaces heroin (precipitated withdrawal)
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Q2. A test has sensitivity 90% and specificity 80%. What is its negative likelihood ratio?
- 0.125
- 0.2
- 4.5
- 0.9
Show answer
Answer: A — 0.125
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Q3. Memantine’s mechanism of action is?
- Acetylcholinesterase inhibition
- NMDA receptor antagonism
- Dopamine D2 antagonism
- GABA-A agonism
Show answer
Answer: B — NMDA receptor antagonism
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Q4. Which psychological treatments are recommended for PTSD in adults?
- Single-session psychological debriefing for all
- Long-term psychoanalysis first-line
- Trauma-focused CBT and EMDR
- Hypnotherapy alone
Show answer
Answer: C — Trauma-focused CBT and EMDR
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Q5. Which study design is most appropriate for studying the multiple outcomes of a rare exposure?
- Case-control study
- Case series
- Ecological study
- Cohort study
Show answer
Answer: D — Cohort study
Frequently asked questions
- What is the MRCPsych Paper B exam pattern?
- MRCPsych Paper B contains 55 questions across 1 section: MRCPsych Paper B (55 Q). Total duration is 180 minutes (about 196 seconds per question).
- Does MRCPsych Paper B have negative marking?
- No — MRCPsych Paper B has no negative marking. Each correct answer is worth 1 mark, so attempt every question.
- How is MRCPsych Paper B scored?
- Scaled score range: 100 to 1000. MRCPsych Paper B (pass 700/1000).
- How can I practise MRCPsych Paper B online for free?
- Wrexa Edge gives you a free full-length MRCPsych Paper B mock test — with instant scoring, detailed explanations and analytics — plus 49 more with a one-time $1.99 unlock that never expires. Start practising in under a minute, no card required.
- What is the difficulty level of MRCPsych Paper B?
- MRCPsych Paper B is rated Advanced difficulty on Wrexa Edge. Advanced-level: high-stakes exam with rigorous content depth. Expect 4-8 months of structured prep. MRCPsych Paper B · MCQ. United Kingdom examination. · Official language: English.
- How long is the MRCPsych Paper B exam?
- MRCPsych Paper B runs for 180 minutes total. On Wrexa Edge the timer is enforced exactly as on the real exam — including no inter-section breaks.
- What topics are covered in MRCPsych Paper B?
- MRCPsych Paper B is split into: MRCPsych Paper B (55 Q). Each section is timed and weighted separately. MRCPsych Paper B · MCQ. United Kingdom examination. · Official language: English.
- What tools or aids are allowed during MRCPsych Paper B?
- No special tools are required. Note: real exam is proctored — Wrexa Edge mirrors this with a webcam-based proctoring flow you can enable.
- Is the MRCPsych Paper B test adaptive?
- No — MRCPsych Paper B is a fixed-form (linear) test. Every candidate sees the same number of questions per section.
- How many MRCPsych Paper B mock tests does Wrexa Edge offer?
- Wrexa Edge generates 50 distinct MRCPsych Paper B variants — each with different question content, not just shuffled options — the first one free for everyone and 49 more with a one-time $1.99 unlock. That's 2750 unique practice questions in the real test-day interface.
- Is there a free MRCPsych Paper B test series 2026?
- Yes. The Wrexa Edge MRCPsych Paper B test series for 2026 gives you a free full-length mock test (50 in total) plus subject-wise and topic-wise tests — instant scoring and detailed analysis, no card required.
- Are MRCPsych Paper B previous year question–style papers included?
- Every MRCPsych Paper B mock is modelled on the official exam pattern and the style of previous years' papers — the same 55-question structure, sections and marking — so your practice mirrors the real paper you'll sit.
- Which is the best free MRCPsych Paper B mock test online?
- Wrexa Edge's MRCPsych Paper B mock test replicates the real exam interface, timing and marking scheme, with instant score, section-wise analysis and 50 fresh variants — a strong free choice for 2026 preparation.
- Can I take the MRCPsych Paper B mock test on mobile?
- Yes. MRCPsych Paper B mock tests run in any browser on mobile, tablet or desktop — no app or download needed. Start on your phone and your progress and analytics sync when you sign in.
- What is the MRCPsych Paper B syllabus?
- The MRCPsych Paper B syllabus maps to its 1 section: MRCPsych Paper B (55 Q). Wrexa Edge's mock tests cover the complete syllabus topic by topic — see the topics-covered breakdown above — so you practise every area at real exam difficulty.
- What is the eligibility for MRCPsych Paper B?
- Doctors in psychiatry training who meet the RCPsych requirements (typically after a period of post-foundation psychiatry experience). Wrexa Edge focuses on realistic MRCPsych Paper B practice: a free full-length mock in the exact exam pattern, ready whenever you are.
- When is the MRCPsych Paper B exam and how should I prepare?
- Official MRCPsych Paper B exam dates are announced by the conducting body for each cycle — check the latest notification for the current schedule. To be ready, follow a phased study plan and take full-length timed mocks; Wrexa Edge gives you a free MRCPsych Paper B mock with instant scoring so you can track your readiness week by week.
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