MRCEM Primary information



The MRCEM primary is the first exam doctors will sit on their way to obtaining membership to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (MRCEM) and ultimately fellowship to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (FRCEM). The first sitting of the MRCEM primary began back in December 2021. The RCEM has a history of changing exam names. In 2018 the RCEM replaced the MRCEM part A with the FRCEM primary to create a single suite of examinations culminating in the award of Fellowship of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (FRCEM). In 2021 the RCEM reverted back to the MRCEM/FRCEM system and the FRCEM primary examination was rebranded and replaced by the MRCEM primary.


MRCEM Primary FAQ's


When is the next sitting of the MRCEM Primary?

Exam date Application deadline Results date
21 May 2024 28 Feb 2024 3 July 2024
29 Oct 2024 31 July 2024 TBC

How much does the MRCEM Primary cost?

The MRCEM primary costs £369 to sit in the UK.

What is the pass rate for the MRCEM Primary?

Based on results of the previous FRCEM/MRCEM primary examinations the pass rate is typically around 50%

What is the format of the MRCEM Primary?

The MRCEM primary is a 3 hour long paper that contains 180 best of five (single best answer) questions. The number of questions on each topic is shown below

Topic Number of questions
Anatomy 60
Physiology 60
Pharmacology 27
Microbiology 18
Pathology 9
Evidence based medicine 6

Where can i get more information on the MRCEM Primary?

The RCEM has lots of useful information on the MRCEM primary. Links to their resources are shown in the footer along with other vaulable revision tools.