Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA)
Ophthalmology ST1The Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) is a computer-based assessment. It assesses essential competences in the person specification through clinical scenarios.
All applicants will be invited to attend the MSRA.
Attendance at this assessment is mandatory for applicants to Ophthalmology and candidates who fail to attend the assessment will be withdrawn from the selection process. Scores from previous years or rounds cannot be carried forward.
The assessment will be available be undertaken at Pearson Vue Centres.
Invitations to book the assessment will be sent early in December and will be messaged through Oriel.
A text message will also be sent so we recommend that you do not opt out of receiving text messages when you register.
Other specialties will also be using the MSRA within their selection processes and candidates applying to a combination of the specialties will only be required to sit the assessment once.
There will be places for all candidates to sit the assessment, but some centres may have limited availability, with spaces being reserved on a first come first served basis so it is important for you to book your slot as soon as possible.
For detailed information about the MSRA process and content, go to the Taking the MSRA hub.
MSRA scoring guidance
The score for both the Clinical Problem Solving (CPS) paper and the Professional Dilemma (SJT) paper is published within Oriel on each applicants dashboard.
Below is an explanation of the score and banding achieved within the assessment.
No further feedback relating to this assessment or scores are available.
| Standardised score range |
Approx percentage scoring in this range |
Score band |
Score meaning |
| Below 170 | 4% | 1 | Poor level of performance |
| 171-185 | 4% | ||
| 186-210 | 11% | 2 | Below average performance |
| 211-230 | 14% | ||
| 231-250 | 17% | 3 | Good level of performance |
| 251-270 | 22% | ||
| 271-290 | 19% | ||
| 291-310 | 8% | 4 | Very good average performance |
| Above 310 | 1% |
| Standardised score range |
Approx percentage scoring in this range |
Score band |
Score meaning |
| Below 170 | 8% | 1 | Poor level of performance |
| 171-185 | 9% | ||
| 186-210 | 26% | 2 | Below average performance |
| 211-230 | 27% | ||
| 231-250 | 18% | 3 | Good level of performance |
| 251-270 | 8% | ||
| 271-290 | 3% | ||
| 291-310 | 1% | 4 | Very good average performance |
| Above 310 | 0% |
Page last reviewed: 27 August 2026
Next review due: 27 August 2028