Core Medical Training

There might be some competition when it comes to higher specialist training but is anywhere really competitive for CMT? This table suggests that London and Oxford are the only places in which there might be another doctor chasing the same post. Remember that a number of doctors apply to CMT as a back-up alongside ACCS, Academic Clinical Fellowships, etc. Another group won't satisfy the basic eligibility criteria (e.g. trained overseas and unable to demonstrate foundation competencies, etc). Most regions will be interviewing well under one "true" applicant for each available place.

Well done on passing Part 1 early. Some people struggle getting all three exams done by the end of CMT and it's a common reason for having to extend training. Are you going to crack on with Part 2 Written and PACES?

You probably are a little more likely to fail at each stage with less experience and preparation time but that's only really an issue if you're stretched financially.

I thought it was the exact opposite? That people who take exams later are more likely to fail. I'm sure that's something I've seen @nexttime say before

Fair point! Different people are telling me different things which got me really confused! Guess I will just have to get all the paperwork done and score as much as I can for the application.

Thank you! Yeah, most definitely! I still have a week time to think about taking Part 2 in Nov. And again, some regs told me to go for it and some said I need more time to prepare for part 2. I don't really know what to do. Part of me think that I am being overly ambitious to even consider taking it in Nov but part of me just want to give it my best shot and get it out of the way. As for PACES, I will only attempt it mid CT1 or towards the end of CT1 when I have more clinical experience!

I thought it was the exact opposite? That people who take exams later are more likely to fail. I'm sure that's something I've seen @nexttime say before

You should take part 2 asap - there is lots of overlap with part 1 that you will only forget.

I would also do PACES as soon after part 2 as you can. Again, there is knowledge overlap. The experience bit is limited - PACES is more like a med school osce than actual clinical practice. The downsides of failing are financial only really, so you don't lose much. You are more able to get study leave as a CT though and you can revise with friends easier, so waiting for that is also not crazy. Take part 2 though.



https://www.mrcpuk.org/mrcpuk-examinations/advice-guidance-and-preparation/choosing-right-time-take-your-mrcpuk

The OP's comment was in line with the "received wisdom" about when to attempt the various components of MRCP.

That is, do Parts 1 and 2 ASAP, then wait until you gain more clinical experience before attempting PACES.

"In general, the data suggest that pass rates are highest when candidates:




https://www.mrcpuk.org/mrcpuk-examinations/advice-guidance-and-preparation/choosing-right-time-take-your-mrcpuk

You two are so in sync

Fellow members of team night shift, or just night owls?

You two are so in sync

Fellow members of team night shift, or just night owls?

Working hard i see!

I am currently painting a room in my house. For some reason.

You should take part 2 asap - there is lots of overlap with part 1 that you will only forget.

I would also do PACES as soon after part 2 as you can. Again, there is knowledge overlap. The experience bit is limited - PACES is more like a med school osce than actual clinical practice. The downsides of failing are financial only really, so you don't lose much. You are more able to get study leave as a CT though and you can revise with friends easier, so waiting for that is also not crazy. Take part 2 though.



https://www.mrcpuk.org/mrcpuk-examinations/advice-guidance-and-preparation/choosing-right-time-take-your-mrcpuk

Clinical experience is overrated for PACES. The stations are not really reflected by your average medical take. I can't say this with absolute certainty as I've only ever spent one day working in medical admissions (as an FY1), although that didn't stop me passing PACES. I know others who passed without much more experience of medicine than I had. I don't think doing it early is mandatory by any means and, if anything, would be frowned upon by a lot of seniors. I would get MRCP out of the way asap if I were a medical trainee, though. PACES will make you a much better doctor and you might as well benefit from that throughout CMT rather than just at the end.

I think the idea that CMT is competitive is something of an illusion. Loads of people apply and then never take up the posts. I'm doing CT1 in IMO the most generically desirable location/hospital within my deanery (excluding obvs the fact people have specific reasons for wanting to be in other locations) and was worried about not getting where I wanted. In actual fact, they had to go through round 2 recruitment and only narrowly filled all their posts at the last minute. Against all my expectations I got my top choice of jobs.

Whether that'll be the same this year I'm not sure, but the uptake isn't anywhere near as great as competition ratios suggest - so many people put CMT down as a back-up and then either take an alternative - radiology, paeds, surgery, whatever - or just decide sod it and take an F3 year. If that's re-assuring at all haha. Obviously aim high! But if anything I think they're struggling to recruit. Not sure about London, of course, that does sometimes buck trends.

Out of curiosity..who are the people getting CMT in Oxford? Are they all superstars on paper, or can one get a spot by doing very well in the interview?

I would assume that figure of 1.87:1 is for Thames valley region in general and not Oxford correct?