To sit the Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) Assessment

What to expect when taking the Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) assessment, and the steps necessary to participate.

To apply for the MCQ you must:

• be registered with the GP National Recruitment Office (NRO)
• have been approved by the educational lead
• registered to sit the MCQ, where required

At this stage, you can also register with the e-Learning for Healthcare (ELfH), Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), and Fourteen Fish Portfolio (14FP) websites, and start to access the necessary e-Learning modules.

To take the MCQ, you must attend an approved test centre, which are located in a number of UK and worldwide sites.

In addition, there is an option for an Observation Placement if you are in the UK prior to sitting the MCQ.

For further information, please visit the MCQ Assessment page.

MCQ band outcomes

There are two parts to the MCQ: the Professional Dilemma’s (PD) paper, a situational judgement test, and the Clinical Problem Solving (CPS) paper. In the PD paper only a pass is required in order to proceed.

The CPS paper will give one of five possible outcomes.

Band 5

Band 5 outcomes will be able to enter the short one-month placement Programme. Final approval by the NHSE Medical Director is subject to completion of a satisfactory “Short End of Placement report”.

Band 4

Band 4 will be able to enter a 3-month placement Programme. Final approval by the NHSE Medical Director is subject to completion of a satisfactory “Full End of Placement report”.

Band 3

Band 3 outcomes will normally be expected to complete a placement of up to 6 months. Final approval by the NHSE Medical Director is subject to completion of a satisfactory “Full End of Placement report”

Bands 1 and 2

Bands 1 and 2 need to arrange a telephone appointment to review the outcome and to consider their Learning Needs and how this can be achieved. They will need to re-sit and pass the MCQ (max 4 attempts allowed) before they can progress further with the programme.

• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) Assessment for IIP and RtP

  Successfully complete the MCQ as part of becoming an independent GP in the UK