MRCPsych Education & Training 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the minimum duration of the core psychiatry training (CT1-CT3) required before a trainee can sit the MRCPsych Paper A?
- 6 months
- 12 months (Correct answer)
- 18 months
- 24 months
Correct answer: 12 months
Trainees must have completed at least 12 months of core psychiatry training before they are eligible to sit MRCPsych Paper A.
Question 2: Which body is primarily responsible for setting the curriculum for psychiatry specialty training in the UK?
- General Medical Council (GMC)
- Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) (Correct answer)
- Health Education England (HEE)
- British Medical Association (BMA)
Correct answer: Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych)
The Royal College of Psychiatrists is responsible for developing and maintaining the curriculum for psychiatry specialty training in the UK.
Question 3: In the context of MRCPsych training, what does the WPBA acronym stand for?
- Written Performance-Based Assessment
- Workplace-Based Assessment (Correct answer)
- Work Progress Benchmark Appraisal
- Written Professional Behavior Assessment
Correct answer: Workplace-Based Assessment
WPBA stands for Workplace-Based Assessment, which includes tools like mini-ACE, ACE, and CBD used to assess clinical competence in training.
Question 4: How many attempts are trainees allowed to sit each MRCPsych written paper (Paper A or Paper B) before requiring a special dispensation?
- 2 attempts
- 3 attempts
- 4 attempts
- 5 attempts (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 5 attempts
Trainees are allowed up to 5 attempts at each MRCPsych written paper before needing special dispensation from the College.
Question 5: Which assessment tool used in MRCPsych training specifically evaluates a trainee's ability to assess and manage an acute psychiatric emergency?
- Case-Based Discussion (CBD)
- Mini Assessed Clinical Encounter (mini-ACE)
- Acute Care Assessment Tool (ACAT) (Correct answer)
- Direct Observation of Procedural Skills (DOPS)
Correct answer: Acute Care Assessment Tool (ACAT)
The Acute Care Assessment Tool (ACAT) is designed to assess a trainee's competence in managing acute psychiatric emergencies in core training.
Question 6: In the MRCPsych CASC exam, how many stations are typically included in each circuit?
- 8 stations
- 12 stations
- 16 stations (Correct answer)
- 20 stations
Correct answer: 16 stations
The CASC exam consists of 16 stations arranged in two circuits of 8 stations each, allowing assessment across a broad range of clinical scenarios.
Question 7: What is the purpose of the Educational Supervisor's Structured Report (ESSR) in psychiatry training?
- To formally document patient complaints about the trainee
- To provide a summative assessment of a trainee's overall progress at the end of a placement (Correct answer)
- To record mandatory teaching attendance only
- To report critical incidents involving the trainee
Correct answer: To provide a summative assessment of a trainee's overall progress at the end of a placement
The ESSR provides a summative assessment of the trainee's overall competence and progress at the end of each training placement.
MRCPsych Education & Training 2
What is the minimum duration of the core psychiatry training (CT1-CT3) required before a trainee can sit the MRCPsych Paper A?