The Intercollegiate Committee for Basic Surgical Examinations (ICBSE) and the four Surgical Royal Colleges of the United Kingdom and in Ireland have taken the decision to postpone the January 2022 diet of the MRCS Part A examination in order to reassess the delivery method of the examination. This applies to all candidates sitting the exam in the UK, Ireland and internationally.
This decision has not been taken lightly. The MRCS Part A has been delivered online since September 2020, which has enabled candidates to continue sitting the examination during the restrictions on travel and congregation imposed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. This has been important in helping to minimise the impact of the pandemic on progression for trainees. However, one implication of the remote delivery of the examination has been an increase in the reproduction of question material in the public domain.
ICBSE and the four Colleges are therefore currently looking at how Part A can be delivered in the most effective way and will implement a new delivery approach for all candidates in spring 2022. Candidates registered to sit the January 2022 examination will automatically be moved to this next sitting and further details will be provided as soon as possible.
We appreciate the impact this will have on candidates and planned schedules for sitting the MRCS Part A 2022.
We sincerely apologise for the distress this may cause to candidates. We want to continue to improve the examination for all candidates.