Format for the Part 1 MRCOG Examination

For a full guide to the MRCOG examination, its format and how to pass it, please see The MRCOG: A Guide to the Examination published by the College Press in a third edition in 2008 and available from our bookshop here. This page contains the bulk of the instructions sent to all candidates in hard copy upon registration. Please also refer to that booklet for specific details, information, instructions and rules applying to different sittings. The written examination consists of two question formats: extended matching questions (EMQs), described below true / false multiple choice questions (MCQs) below The marking split and distribution of questions are also outlined below. The examination consists of two written papers. The time allowed to fully complete each paper is two hours (four hours examining time in total). Paper 1: 20 EMQs; 48 5-part MCQs EMQs = 60 marks MCQs = 240 marks Paper 2: 20 EMQs; 48 5-part MCQs EMQs = 60 marks MCQs = 240 marks

The EMQ section Answering the questions: The answer sheet is numbered 1-20 and against each number there are twenty lozenges labelled from A to T. Each question in the question booklet will consist of an option list (lettered to reflect the answer sheet), a lead-in statement (which tells you clearly what to do), and then a list of one to five questions (each numbered, again to match the answer sheet). Indicate your judgment of each particular question by boldly blacking out the letter that corresponds to the single best answer in the option list. Candidates may mark their responses in the question book and then transfer these to the answer sheet. Please be aware that this will take longer, and all transfers must be done fully within the time allowed for the examination. Although the answer sheet will provide 20 possible answers, the option lists for questions may not use all of these. Most option lists will provide 10 to 14 answer options. The option lists will nearly always be in alphabetical or numerical order for ease of reference; if not, they will be in the most appropriate order for quick reference. The most important element of the format is that you must select the single answer that best fits. You may feel that there are several possible answers, but you must choose only the most likely one from the option list. Specimen answer sheet: A portion of a completed answer sheet may look like this:

Marking: Incorrect answers are not penalised. It is in your best interests to ensure for each of the 20 answers, one lozenge is filled in by the end of the examination. If you mark two or more boxes on the same question, no mark will be awarded, even if one of the answers you choose is the correct one. Please ensure that any mistakes are clearly and fully erased. Each correct EMQ answer will be worth the same number of marks as three correct MCQ answers. Time management is candidates responsibility, but we recommend spending approximately 24 minutes on the EMQs and 96 minutes on the MCQs.

Examples of the EMQ format Below are four multi-part examples of EMQs, the first being a non-clinical example. Note: Where answers have been provided to these example questions they have been removed from the bank of live questions that can be set (although the same option lists may remain with different tested scenarios). As a contribution to self-directed learning we have included example EMQs without answers. Answers have not been included because we would like to encourage candidates to seek out information themselves and thus learn actively in the process. These remain in the bank and may reappear in the examinations. Again, the same option lists may also recur with different tested scenarios.

Example 1
A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. Arid Damp Dehydrated Desiccate Dry Rainy Sodden Soggy Sweet Waterless Wet

Instructions: For each French word below, choose the single most accurate English translation from the above list. Each option may be used once, more than once or not at all. Question 1: mouille Question 2. sec Correct response: Question 1: K Question 2: E This example demonstrates a number of features - distractors that are easy to dismiss if you have the knowledge (i.e. exact antonyms of the words), distractors that are much closer (i.e. for question 1 - dessicate or arid) but are not the single most accurate translation and tricky distractors (for question 2, those whose French is mostly from wine bottles might be tempted by Sweet, but it is not an accurate translation).

Example 2 Options A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. Calcitonin Cortisol Glucagon Growth hormone Insulin Estradiol 17-beta Oxytocin Parathyroid hormone Prolactin Thyroxine

Instructions: For each action described below, choose the single most likely causative hormone from the above list of options. Each option may be used once, more than once, or not at all. Question 3: Stimulates deposition of cartilage at the ends of bones Question 4: Raises blood glucose levels through the breakdown of fat and protein Question 5: Antagonises the effect of parathyroid hormone to minimise bone density loss Question 6: Stimulates the release of milk from the breast Question 7: Stimulates the urinary secretion of calcium Correct Responses: Question 3: D Question 4: B

Example 3 Options Maternal Disease Type Risk of Transplacental

Infection A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T Babesiosis Babesiosis Coccidioidomycosis Coccidioidomycosis Malaria Malaria Malaria Malaria Q fever Q fever Schistosomiasis Schistosomiasis Syphilis Syphilis Syphilis Syphilis Tuberculosis Tuberculosis Tuberculosis Tuberculosis Protozoan Protozoan Fungus Fungus Bacterium Protozoan Protozoan Virus Rickettsia Virus Helminth Protozoan Protozoan Spirochete Spirochete Virus Bacterium Bacterium Fungus Protozoan No Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes No No

Instructions: The options above refer to different maternal diseases, which are caused by microorganisms, the type of organism and whether or not there is a risk of transplacental infection. Select the single correct profile for each of the micro-organisms in the items below. Each option may be used once, more than once or not at all. Question 13: Treponema pallidum Question 14: Mycobacterium tuberculosis Question 15: Plasmodium falciparum Correct Response: Question 13: O

The MCQ section Answering the questions: The answer sheet is numbered 21 to 68 and each question number has five components, lettered A to E. Against each letter there are two lozenges labelled T (= True) and F (= False). Indicate your judgment of each particular question by boldly blacking out either the T or F lozenge. Candidates may mark their responses in the question book and then transfer these to the answer sheet. Please be aware that this will take longer and all transfers must be done fully within the time allowed for the examination. Specimen questions and answers: The pudendal nerve A. derives its fibres from the second, third and fourth sacral segments B. runs between the pyriformis and coccygeus muscles before leaving the pelvis C. has the pudendal artery on its medial side as it lies of the ischial spine D. gives off the inferior haemorrhoidal (rectal) nerve in the pudendal canal D. innervates the clitoris Answers A, B, D and E are True, answer C is False. Your answer sheet relating to these questions would look like this when correctly filled in:

T means TRUE; F means FALSE Marking: Each answer correctly answered (i.e. a true statement indicated as T or a false statement indicated as F) is awarded one mark (+1). For each incorrect answer no mark (0) is awarded. All questions must be answered T or F. If both lozenges or neither lozenge is marked no mark (0) is awarded. Please ensure that any mistakes are clearly and fully erased. Incorrect answers are not penalised. It is in your best interests to ensure for each of the answers, one lozenge is filled in by the end of the examination.

Division of marks

The following pie charts show the distribution of questions in the examination, although this will naturally vary slightly from sitting to sitting: