MSRA Practice Test PDF (Free Printable 2026)
🏆 Get ready for your MSRA certification. Practice questions with step-by-step answer explanations and instant scoring.
MSRA Practice Test PDF – Free Printable Exam Prep
Preparing for the MSRA exam? A printable MSRA practice test PDF lets you review questions, test your knowledge offline, and build the exam readiness that timed, screen-based testing demands. Whether you are studying at home, commuting, or revisiting weak areas on paper, a printed practice test remains one of the most effective preparation formats available. This page provides a free PDF download and a structured study guide for the MSRA examination. Practice with the free MSRA Exam (Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment) practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (7 questions with answer explanations).
The MSRA assessment tests candidates on the core competencies required for certification or qualification in the field. A strong preparation strategy combines repeated practice testing with targeted review of areas where accuracy falls below 70%. Use this PDF alongside the online MSRA practice tests on this site for the most complete preparation experience — paper for review and annotation, online for timed simulation with instant scoring.
What the MSRA Exam Covers
Candidates are tested across the primary knowledge domains that define competency in the MSRA field. Each domain contributes a weighted percentage of the total scored questions. High-weight domains deserve proportionally more preparation time. The exam format is typically multiple-choice, and understanding the question structure — identifying the best answer rather than the first correct-sounding one — is as important as content knowledge.
Common high-priority areas include foundational theory, applied practice, regulations or standards governing the field, and scenario-based reasoning that tests judgment under realistic conditions. Review official exam content outlines from the certifying body to confirm current domain weights before your examination date, as content outlines are updated periodically.
How to Use This Practice Test PDF
Print the PDF, set a timer proportional to the number of questions, and complete each section without reference materials to simulate real exam conditions. After grading, categorize every incorrect answer by domain to build a targeted error log. Prioritize re-study in your weakest domains, then take an additional timed practice session to confirm improvement. Repeat the cycle until accuracy is consistently above 75% across all domains.
Free MSRA Exam (Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment) Study Tools
Interactive MSRA Exam (Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment) resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
- Basic MSRA Practice 1 — 7 questions with answer explanations
- MSRA Exam (Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment) flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
- MSRA Exam (Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment) study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
- MSRA Exam (Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment) cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review
MSRA: upcoming dates and official changes
- Oct 22, 2026: Applications for 2027 Round 1 specialty training, which lead to an MSRA invitation, open on Oriel at 10am on 22 October 2026. (NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection)
- Nov 19, 2026: Oriel applications for 2027 Round 1 recruitment, which are needed to be invited to the MSRA, close at 4pm on 19 November 2026. (NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection)
- Jan 5, 2027 – Jan 20, 2027: The first MSRA sitting for 2027 Round 1 specialty recruitment runs from 5 to 20 January 2027 and is open to applicants for all specialties. (NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection)
- Feb 10, 2027 – Feb 18, 2027: The second MSRA sitting for 2027 Round 1 runs from 10 to 18 February 2027 and is reserved for applicants to Core Psychiatry and/or General Practice only. (NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection)
- Mar 17, 2027: MSRA results for 2027 Round 1 GP recruitment are expected from 17 March 2027 and are published in the applicant's Oriel account. (NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection)
Facts verified Oct 21, 2026 against NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
- The MSRA Clinical Problem Solving paper has 86 items, about half Extended Matching Questions and half Single Best Answer. (NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection)
- The MSRA Professional Dilemmas paper has 50 situational judgement questions, down from 58 before 2020. (NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection)
- The MSRA lasts 170 minutes in total: a 95-minute Professional Dilemmas paper and a 75-minute Clinical Problem Solving paper. (NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection)
- For GP applicants, MSRA scores are normalised around a mean of 250 (SD 40), and a band 1 in either paper means the applicant is unsuccessful. (NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection)
- Applicants who have sat the MSRA before may be able to resit, depending on application numbers, and must say when they reapply whether they want to transfer an earlier successful score. (NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection)
- The MSRA is a computer-based assessment taken at Pearson Professional Examinations test centres worldwide, and remote OnVUE testing is offered only as a reasonable adjustment for extenuating circumstances. (NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection)
- Only applicants who apply on Oriel to a specialty that uses the MSRA, such as GP, Core Psychiatry, Core Surgical Training, ACCS Emergency Medicine or Clinical Radiology, and who are found eligible are invited to sit it. (NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection)
- MSRA results for 2027 Round 1 GP recruitment are expected from 17 March 2027 and are published in the applicant's Oriel account. (NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection)
- Oriel applications for 2027 Round 1 recruitment, which are needed to be invited to the MSRA, close at 4pm on 19 November 2026. (NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection)
Facts verified Oct 21, 2026 against NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
MSRA Exam at a Glance
| Item | Detail | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (Clinical Problem Solving (CPS)) | 86 items | NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection |
| Number of questions (Professional Dilemmas (PD)) | 50 questions | NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection |
| Time limit | 170 minutes (PD 95 min + CPS 75 min) | NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection |
| Passing score (General Practice ST1) | No fixed pass mark; band 1 in either paper = unsuccessful | NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection |
| Retake policy | Resit possible depending on application numbers; opt in/out of score transfer at reapplication | NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection |
| Delivery | Computer-based at Pearson Professional Examinations test centres worldwide; OnVUE remote only for extenuating circumstances | NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection |
| Eligibility | By invitation after applying on Oriel to an MSRA-using specialty | NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection |
| Score release | From 17 March 2027 (GP timeline) | NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection |
| Registration deadline | 19 November 2026, 4pm (Oriel applications close) | NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection |
| Registration opens | 22 October 2026, 10am (Oriel applications) | NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection |
| Testing window (February 2027 sitting (Core Psychiatry / General Practice only)) | 10–18 February 2027 | NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection |
| Testing window (January 2027 sitting (all specialties)) | 5–20 January 2027 | NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection |
Facts verified Oct 21, 2026 against NHS England Medical and Dental Recruitment and Selection. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
Did You Know? Passing the MSRA exam on your first attempt saves both time and money. Start with diagnostic practice tests to identify weak areas.
Study Strategy for the MSRA Exam
Build Your Content Foundation First
Before attempting practice tests, ensure you have reviewed the official study materials for the MSRA exam. Most certifying bodies publish a candidate handbook or content outline that lists exactly what knowledge is tested. Read this document first — it tells you not only what to study but also what to ignore. Allocate study time in proportion to domain weights: spend more time on high-weight domains and less on domains you already know well.
Practice Testing and Error Analysis
Once you have reviewed the content, move to practice testing. Each practice test session should be treated as a diagnostic: the questions you answer incorrectly are more valuable than the ones you answer correctly. Keep an error log organized by domain. After three to four practice tests, patterns in your errors will become clear. These patterns tell you exactly where to concentrate additional study effort.
Final Preparation Week
In the week before the MSRA exam, focus on review rather than new learning. Take one full-length timed practice test to confirm readiness, then spend the remaining days reviewing your error log and reinforcing the concepts behind your most common mistakes. Avoid cramming new material in the final 48 hours — consolidation of existing knowledge is more valuable at that stage than attempting to add new content.
- ✓Download and read the official MSRA candidate handbook or content outline
- ✓Identify exam domains and their approximate percentage weights
- ✓Complete a baseline practice test to establish your starting accuracy by domain
- ✓Build an error log: record every missed question by domain and reason for error
- ✓Study the highest-weight MSRA domain first to maximize score impact
- ✓Take a second timed practice test after two weeks of study to measure improvement
- ✓Review answer explanations for every incorrect response, not just the correct answer
- ✓Simulate exam conditions: no notes, timed, single sitting per practice session
- ✓Confirm exam registration, location, ID requirements, and permitted materials in advance
- ✓Complete a final full-length practice test in the week before your exam date
Free MSRA Practice Tests Online
After completing this PDF, take full online MSRA practice tests at MSRA practice test — instant scoring with explanations for every answer. Use both formats together: this PDF for offline review and annotation, the online tests for timed simulation with immediate feedback. Together they give you the most complete MSRA exam preparation available on a single platform.
Sample MSRA Exam (Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment) Practice Questions
Try these questions from our free MSRA Exam (Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment) practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
In Clinical Problem Solving, a question describes typical symptoms then asks for the most likely diagnosis. What should you do?
- A. Choose the single best fit for the whole presentation
- B. Pick the rarest option
- C. Always select the first option
- D. Choose two answers
Answer: A. Choose the single best fit for the whole presentation
Best-of-five items require the single most likely answer for the full clinical picture.
A junior colleague is clearly overwhelmed and struggling to complete their tasks. What is the most appropriate action?
- A. Offer to help and suggest they speak to a senior if needed
- B. Tell them to manage their own workload
- C. Report them for being too slow
- D. Complete their tasks without telling them
Answer: A. Offer to help and suggest they speak to a senior if needed
Supporting a struggling colleague protects patient safety and team wellbeing while encouraging appropriate escalation.
The Professional Dilemmas paper is designed to assess a candidate's:
- A. Memorised drug doses
- B. Professional judgement and integrity in workplace situations
- C. Surgical technique
- D. Knowledge of medical history
Answer: B. Professional judgement and integrity in workplace situations
The PD paper evaluates situational judgement, professionalism, coping with pressure, and empathy.
A 32-year-old woman presents with palpitations, weight loss, heat intolerance and a fine tremor. Which result would confirm hyperthyroidism?
- A. Low TSH with high free T4
- B. High TSH with low free T4
- C. Normal TSH and T4
- D. Low TSH with low free T4
Answer: A. Low TSH with high free T4
Primary hyperthyroidism is confirmed by a suppressed TSH alongside an elevated free T4.
Take the full MSRA Exam (Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment) practice test
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- medical.hee.nhs.uk — Exam format, registration deadline, score release, test dates, eligibility, passing score, retake policy, time limit, test delivery, exam information · verified Oct 2026