MRCPsych Paper A
MRCPsych Paper A question bank
Practise single best answer (SBA) questions and extended matching items (EMIs) based on topics recalled from recent MRCPsych sittings and on the 2027 Paper A syllabus, so you revise what the exam actually tests. Every answer comes with a worked explanation of the reasoning, and your progress is tracked so you can see where to focus next.
- 2,097practice questions
- 1,389 / 708SBAs / EMI items
- 3full mock papers
- 42027 syllabus domains
What the 2027 Paper A syllabus covers
From January 2027, Paper A has 4 domains. The College gives each one an approximate share of the paper, shown here with the number of practice questions we have for it.
Psychology and human development
Learning theory, memory and perception, social psychology, personality, motivation and ethics, and development across the lifespan: attachment, cognitive, moral and psychosocial development.
Neuroscience
Neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neurochemistry, sleep, genetics, neuropathology, neuroimaging and the neurobiology of treatments.
Clinical psychopharmacology
Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, mechanisms of action, adverse effects, interactions and landmark trials.
Classification and assessment in psychiatry
Descriptive psychopathology, ICD-11 and DSM-5-TR classification, rating scales, neuropsychological tests and clinical examination.
Try a sample question
Which serious adverse effect led to warnings for Z-drugs such as zolpidem and zopiclone?
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: A. Complex sleep behaviours, such as sleep-driving, with amnesia
Z-drugs such as zolpidem and zopiclone can cause complex sleep behaviours, including sleep-walking, sleep-driving, cooking or eating while not fully awake, usually with no memory of the event. These have caused serious injuries and deaths, leading regulators to strengthen warnings. The drug should be stopped if complex sleep behaviour occurs, and patients should be warned not to combine it with alcohol or other sedatives, which increase the risk.
Hyperprolactinaemia causing galactorrhoea, amenorrhoea and sexual dysfunction is typical of D2-blocking antipsychotics, not Z-drugs, which act at GABA-A receptors. Hypertensive crisis after tyramine-rich foods such as cheese is the classic MAOI interaction. Agranulocytosis requiring regular blood count checks is associated with clozapine (and less often carbamazepine and mirtazapine). Ebstein's anomaly after first-trimester exposure is the classic, though now thought to be small, risk linked to lithium.
Z-drugs share the dependence, falls and next-day impairment risks of benzodiazepines, so NICE advises short courses only.
Learning point: Z-drugs can cause complex sleep behaviours such as sleep-driving with amnesia; stop the drug if this occurs.
Try all five free Paper A questions, with no account needed.
What you get
- Worked explanations for every question, including why each wrong option is wrong, with learning points to remember.
- Full 150-question mock papers, with a 3-hour timer you can pause or an untimed option, and a score for each domain.
- Progress tracking: your strengths and weak areas by domain, an accuracy trend and an exam readiness score.
- Picture questions, such as EEGs, sleep hypnograms, family pedigrees and drug concentration curves.
- Anki-style flashcards you can make from any question.
- Exam tools: cross out options, highlight text and use an on-screen calculator.
- Works on phone, tablet and computer, and can be added to your home screen like an app.
Prices
- 3 months£35
- 6 months£55
- 12 months£99
A one-off payment for Paper A, including VAT. It doesn't renew automatically. Paid securely through Stripe.
About the exam
Paper A covers the scientific and theoretical basis of psychiatry. It is a 3-hour exam of 150 items, each worth one mark: 100 single best answer questions and 50 extended matching items, sat on computer through Pearson VUE.
The College can change the exam format and syllabus, so check the latest details on the Royal College of Psychiatrists' website before you book.
Common questions
Do I need an account to try it?
No. You can answer five free Paper A questions on the home page without one. A free account adds progress tracking and more sample questions; a subscription unlocks the full Paper A bank and its mock papers.
Which syllabus does it follow?
Written papers sat from January 2027 follow the Royal College of Psychiatrists' 2027 syllabus, and earlier sittings follow the 2021 syllabus. Most content is shared. Questions are organised by the 2027 domains, and topics the new syllabus no longer names stay in the bank.
Does the subscription renew automatically?
No. Each plan is a one-off payment for 3, 6 or 12 months. When it ends, your account and progress history stay, and the full bank locks until you choose another plan. If you extend early, the new period starts when the current one ends.
Can I subscribe to Paper B as well?
Yes. Each paper has its own subscription, so you can buy either or both, for whatever length of time suits you.
Can I claim the cost back?
Sometimes. Some regions let trainees use their study budget for a question bank if it's approved before buying. Rules differ by region, so check with your deanery or local education team first; our Exam news page has a guide.
Revising for Paper B? See the MRCPsych Paper B question bank.