Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) Delivery – 2025 Round 1

Last month we outlined our plans to manage the 2025 MSRA sittings in light of the predicted increase in applications to the specialties that use the Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA).

We confirmed that additional capacity had been secured to make sure that all applicants would be able to sit the MSRA and that a second testing window in February would be needed.

Core Psychiatry and General Practice use the MSRA as their sole selection method and will have their test sittings in the later window as this will not cause any delays to the published recruitment timelines.

Following the closure of the application window for Round 1, applicants have now been allocated a test sitting window, based on the specialties that they had applied to. 

Applicants who applied to Core Psychiatry and/or General Practice only have been allocated the February testing window, all other applicants will be invited to attend in January (2 to13). 

Allocated testing windows cannot be changed, even if applicants choose to withdraw applications to try and make themselves eligible for the later testing window (17 to 28 February).  

We fully appreciate that applicants who have been allocated to the January window may feel that they will have less time to prepare than those sitting in February.  The decision to have the two windows had to be made to make sure demand could be met and to ensure everyone who needs to sit the MSRA can do so.  There are 16 versions of the MSRA paper so we are confident that sitting the MSRA later will not offer any advantage.

There will be options to sit the MSRA in a test centre in the UK or overseas, or online delivery for those unable to attend a test centre.

Further information about how to book the MSRA, and confirmation of the window applicants have been allocated will be sent to eligible applicants in due course.