Applying for the Part 1 exam is a 2-stage process: eligibility and booking. You must first have your eligibility application processed and approved, before you can book your exam place online.

Applications and bookings are only open for a certain period of time. Please check the Part 1 exam calendar and fees page of RCOG for opening and closing dates.

If you don’t already have an account with the RCOG website, first please register with the RCOG website.

The College offers a range of resources that will help you prepare for the Part 1 MRCOG.

Register with the RCOG

We encourage all candidates to register with the College to gain access to a range of benefitsthat will help you prepare for the exam.

Books

The Part 1 Committee has also put together a recommended reading list for candidates preparing for the Part 1 MRCOG exam.

eLearning

StratOG, the College’s eLearning platform, contains a single best answer (SBA) resource that provides invaluable practice in tackling SBAs for the Part 1 MRCOG.

TOG

The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist contains high-quality peer-reviewed articles on obstetrics and gynaecology that aim to inform your clinical practice. Using TOG questions will help you assess your knowledge and improve your learning experience as you prepare for your exams.

Green-top Guidelines

Our Green-top Guidelines are a practical resource for all exam candidates. The Part 1 MRCOG Committee, which is responsible for setting the exam questions, uses the Green-top Guidelines as a reference point when writing the papers, so revising the guidelines will help you understand what the exam questions require of you.

The Green-top Guidelines are free on our website or you can buy the RCOG Guidelines app for iOS or Android.

Courses

For details of Part 1 MRCOG revision courses, please see the RCOG courses and events listings.

• QUESTION：What if I need a visa to get to the exam venue?

  ANSWER：The College cannot advise you on this matter. Please contact the relevant consulate for information about any visa requirements before applying for the exam. If you need a letter from the Examination Department confirming your attendance at the exam, please inform us when applying for the exam, and ensure that you apply in good time.

• QUESTION：Can I postpone/withdraw/transfer my exam?

  ANSWER：The regulations state that candidates who withdraw their application for a particular exam after the closing date, or who fail to appear, shall forfeit the exam fee. This means the College can’t refund your entry fee after an exam’s closing date and your candidature for the exam will remain. If you fail to attend the exam, your entry will not be counted as an attempt. In certain prescribed circumstances, the College does consider refunding the entry fee. If you wish to apply for this, please do so in writing (hard copy, not email or fax) to the Part 1 MRCOG Secretary at the RCOG, enclosing documentary evidence to support your circumstances. Applications for refunds must be submitted within 1 month of the exam.

• QUESTION：How is data about my exam dealt with?

  ANSWER：Once you have successfully completed your exam, the details of your award from the College, including date, are regarded as ‘public’ information. For candidates in the UK specialty training programme, results will be made available to LETBs/deaneries as well as the GMC. They may also be released to bona fide third-party enquirers (for example, other educational bodies or prospective employers). No information is supplied via the telephone. If you‘re registered or anticipate being registered with the General Medical Council (GMC), your personal data, including data about your exam results, will be passed to the GMC for quality assurance and for research purposes, and to facilitate the award of Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).

• QUESTION：I've passed an O&G exam in another country which I believe is equivalent to Part 1 MRCOG. Can I get

  ANSWER：The exemption scheme closed in 2006. The Part 1 syllabus and examination structure has changed markedly since then and the content is now mapped, alongside the Part 2 and Part 3 examinations, according to a 'blueprint' of the UK curriculum. This means that the Part 1 examination no longer resembles the examinations in other countries and candidates must pass all three 0&G examinations to demonstrate knowledge in all parts of the MRCOG curriculum.

• QUESTION：How many times can I attempt the Part 1 MRCOG?

  ANSWER：Candidates intending to be entered on to the UK Specialist Register, now or in the future, are permitted no more than 6 attempts at the Part 1 MRCOG. There is no limit on attempts for candidates not in wishing to enter the UK Specialist Register. Candidates wishing to apply for the Part 1 MRCOG who have failed on 6 or more previous occasions need to provide supporting documentation from their Head of School outlining the exceptional reasons for permitting a further attempt at the exam.

• QUESTION：Is there a time limit between passing the Part 1 MRCOG and passing the Part 2 MRCOG?

  ANSWER：No, but the College does require you to have attempted the Part 2 at least once within 7 years of passing the Part 1. You do not have to pass the Part 2 within 7 years, but if you do not even attempt it you will have to pass the Part 1 again. For more information, read the regulations on exam currency and number of attempts.

• QUESTION：What courses do you recommend to help prepare for the exam?

  ANSWER：The only courses the RCOG can wholeheartedly recommend are those run by the College itself. Visit the College’s courses and events pages for more details. For online learning we strongly recommend StratOG, the College’s eLearning platform. This structured training resource is continuously updated, uses innovative tools and includes interactive assessments with instant, detailed feedback. StratOG is available free of charge to members of the RCOG Trainees’ Register. Other exam candidates can pay to access this useful resource.

• QUESTION：Can I obtain a certificate for passing the Part 1 MRCOG?

  ANSWER：No. As the MRCOG is a three-part exam, certificates are only issued on completion of Part 3. Please retain your Part 1 pass letter as this is the only certification you’ll receive. Please don’t use ‘Part 1 MRCOG’ on letterheads, business cards, nameplates etc.