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The MRCPsych Paper A exam is almost here. With the July 9, 2026 date fast looming, this is the time to consolidate, not cram. The final days before any postgraduate medical exam can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re juggling clinical duties alongside revision. This guide is designed to help you use these last few days wisely, avoid common pitfalls, and walk into the exam hall confident and prepared.

Last-Minute Revision Tips

Focus on high-yield topics. At this stage, don’t start anything new. Revisit core areas like psychopharmacology, behavioural science and socio-cultural psychiatry, human development, and descriptive psychopathology. These carry consistent weightage every sitting, and a strong grip on them gives you the best returns for your remaining time.

Revise from summaries, not textbooks. Full chapters take too long to go through at this stage and can leave you feeling more anxious than prepared. Use your notes, flashcards, or short revision videos to go over concepts quickly. Condensed content helps you retain more in less time, which is exactly what you need right now.

Practise MCQs daily. Attempt timed question sets every day till the exam. This keeps your exam temperament sharp, builds speed, and helps you spot recurring patterns in how questions are framed. Reviewing your incorrect answers is just as important as attempting new questions — understand why an option was wrong, not just what the right answer was.

Revisit your weak areas one more time. Everyone has topics they find harder to retain. Use these last days to go over them once more, focusing only on the key concepts rather than trying to master every detail.

Stay off exam forums and group chats close to the date. Last-minute discussions about “important topics” or “expected questions” often create unnecessary panic. Trust your preparation and avoid information that adds noise rather than value.

And finally, this has nothing to do with revision, but couldn’t be said enough. Sleep well, especially the night before. A tired brain forgets faster than it learns. Prioritise rest over one more revision round — your recall on exam day depends more on a well-rested mind than a rushed final read-through.

Final Checklist Before Exam Day

• Confirm your exam slot, centre details, and reporting time well in advance
• Keep your ID proof and confirmation email ready and easily accessible
• Check exam-day guidelines from the Royal College, including permitted items, dress code, and reporting time
• Charge your devices if it’s a computer-based test, and check your login credentials in advance
• Plan your travel to reach the centre with sufficient buffer time, accounting for traffic or delays
• Pack a water bottle and light snacks if allowed at the centre
• Carry a spare pen, watch, and any other permitted stationery
• Avoid heavy meals right before the exam, as they can affect alertness

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Overloading on new topics. Trying to cover untouched areas at the last moment usually backfires. It eats into revision time for topics you already know well and adds unnecessary stress. Stick to revision, not fresh learning.
• Ignoring time management during the exam. Paper A is time-pressured, and every question carries equal marks. Don’t spend too long on one difficult question — mark it, move on, and return to it later if time permits.
• Second-guessing answers repeatedly. Your first instinct is usually right, especially when it’s based on solid preparation. Excessive changing of answers often leads to more mistakes, not fewer.
• Skipping sleep for last-minute study. This is the most common and most costly mistake candidates make. Exhaustion affects recall, concentration, and decision-making far more than an extra hour of revision helps.
• Not reading questions carefully. Many mistakes happen not due to lack of knowledge, but due to misreading the question stem or missing key words like “most likely” or “least appropriate.” Slow down and read twice if needed.
• Neglecting logistics on exam day. Rushing to the centre, forgetting your ID, or last-minute technical issues can shake your confidence before you’ve even started. Sort out the practical details a day in advance so your mind is free to focus only on the exam.

Final Word

Finally, StudyMEDIC’s Free MRCPsych Revision Marathon series is now available on StudyMEDIC Learning Space YouTube channel, for anyone looking for comprehensive resources on Paper A. You can use it to identify where you fall behind, and make necessary adjustments in the final days remaining for the exam. 

So, you’ve put in the work over the past weeks and months. The last few days are about staying calm, staying consistent, and trusting your preparation. Revise smart, rest well, keep your logistics sorted, and walk in with confidence.

All the best for your MRCPsych Paper A exam!

Team StudyMEDIC