Preparing for MRCPsych Paper B with Parsa Amin
I passed paper B using an online exam in October and thought I’d just share what I did while it’s still fresh in my brain so it can help a few. I had an extremely comfortable pass & this is what I did. 1. SPMM Qbank - as I meant to do this exam in March 2020 (Thanks COVID19)- I ended up doing the Qbank average 4 - 5 times. (I didn’t study between March 2020-May2020). I technically did 4 months before this exam knowledge from previous revision pre-March 2020. I used google/ NICE guidelines to read up on only topics I didn’t understand. Focus on EMI’s on SPMM the month before the exam - if you are scoring well, it shows you know your stuff. SPMM 13 timed mocks (they updated it to simulate a real exam, worth the price) - did only once- timed like in the exam situation, I sat them using the area I sat the actual exam. Cambridge Critical Appraisal course - I also did it twice as I was meant to take an exam in March. SPMM statistics videos - they are so good. I also did the SPMM paper B crash course in Feb 2020 - could have potentially skipped this. I did mrcpsychmentor only once - I really didn’t like it, so I avoided it I made my own flashcards with high yield materials only.
Logistics:
Please get an Ethernet cable for the exam - way too many people had terrible experiences because of the poor internet. The last thing you need.
- Do a systems-test and ensure your workstations are neat.
- Get a good laptop and ensure no firewall is blocking your connections.
- Keep your home free from kids and noisemakers for the exam.
- I have two kids ages 4 and 5 and a husband who is in the surgical specialty (always on call). Hence, I am time deficient.
- I studied for a minimum of 30 minutes every morning before work, mostly around 1 hour.
I tried to meet with my zoom group for 1 hour in the evenings 2-3 times per week. It was good for specialization and practice when tired. We used to meet at around 9pm. I made this group motivate myself and my friends to study amidst a very depressing pandemic. I am part-time 80% - so I used to do 3-5 hours on my off days to get some solid hours in. I didn’t study on ANY weekends until exactly 3 weeks before the exam (even then I did only 4 hours maximum on weekends). But I was very regimental about the above routine - which is 30mins-1hour before work, whilst my brain is sharp. It really adds up. I took study leave before the exam, and that’s when it really all came together.
What I did not do
- SPMM notes or notes of any sort
- TrOn
- Multiple banks
Well done to everyone that passed and to those that didn’t ... It’s just an exam that says nothing about you as a doctor or psychiatrist. I wish you all the best for those that are taking this in November. I found this paper a LOT easier to study for than Paper A, which was plain bizarre. However, it was extremely challenging because of the mental toll of the pandemic & work pressures.
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