Mrcog part 1 pass rate headlines can frighten fresh candidates, but data gives power. This article explains how rates change, why scaling matters, and which study habits lift scores. You will see numbers from recent sightings, clear reasons behind them, and a plan that turns insight into progress for you.
Five‑Year MRCOG Part 1 Pass Rate Curve
College reports list yearly percentages for every sitting, allowing clear trend lines. The numbers below come from official summaries between 2019 and early 2024, covering both remote and centre tests. Understanding this curve helps you judge the field and set a suitable personal target.
- 2019: 46 %
- 2020: 62 %
- 2021: 68 %
- 2022: 54 %
- 2023: 57 %
- Early 2024: 60 %
Rates rose sharply when lockdown moved the exam online and timings were generous. Once halls reopened, scores dipped but then stabilised as candidates adjusted to stricter clocks. The five‑year average sits near fifty‑eight percent, giving a realistic benchmark for planning revision hours.
Regional data shows small gaps. UK candidates average sixty‑two percent, while overseas centres post fifty‑five. Access to mock papers, language comfort, and clinical workload explain much of this gap. Planning extra question practice can close the distance wherever you sit.
What Mrcog Part 1 Results Really Show
When mrcog part 1 results arrive, you read a scaled figure between zero and one hundred. The raw total of correct answers is hidden. Scaling removes yearly changes in question difficulty, letting the college keep standards steady even when the paper feels easier or harder.
Your distance above or below the final pass line matters, not the percentage. Two candidates may answer the same number correctly in different sittings yet receive distinct scaled marks. This explains why historical statements about “fifty percent is enough” can mislead modern learners.
Scaling and the Pass Mark for MRCOG Part 1
An Angoff panel reviews every new question and predicts how many fully prepared trainees will answer it. The sum sets the pass mark for mrcog part 1. The board then rounds to the closest whole scale point, often landing between fifty‑seven and sixty‑one.
During 2020 online sittings, extra reading time pushed the Angoff rated difficulty lower, so the scaled pass bar fell by nearly two points. Candidates who compare raw mock scores across years should remember such hidden shifts before judging progress accurately.
Factors Shaping Your Score
Many elements push the final success figure up or down. Review data points before you design your plan, so you target issues you can control and accept those you cannot while ignoring myths spread on social media.
- Total timed practice questions completed
- Size of reviewed question bank
- Feedback speed after each mock
- Work rota in final month
- Quality of sleep during exam week
- Confidence with statistics stems
College surveys link completion of two thousand practice items with a five‑point scale rise. A night shift rota in the last fortnight predicts a three‑point drop. Both facts show how daily habits, not background brilliance, shape the outcome you record.
Proven Ways to Improve Your Score
Data‑Driven Study Plan
Log every session in a spreadsheet. Aim for three hundred and fifty questions weekly. If accuracy sits below sixty‑five percent, add a daily review instead of new questions. Once you reach seventy‑five percent, swap one block for full timed papers to strengthen speed.
Exam Day Technique
Divide the clock into blocks. Answer twenty questions every seventeen minutes. Flag any stem that needs a second glance, but still pick the best option. In the final twenty‑five minutes, return to flags. This simple routine preserves calm and lifts the average scaled score.
Mental and Physical Preparation
Sleep at least seven hours for three nights before the test. Eat slow‑release carbohydrates at breakfast, and bring water without labels. Short walks during the midday break refresh blood flow and sharpen recall. Small health steps protect working memory better than last‑minute cram.
Continuous Feedback Loop
Pair with a study partner and exchange mock scores twice weekly. Discuss why wrong answers felt right, and agree on one corrective action each time. Regular spoken analysis doubles retention compared with silent review alone, according to recent training audits from three teaching hospitals.
Use of Official Sample Papers
The college releases two sample papers yearly. Sit them under exam timing two weeks before the real test. Mark them, convert the raw score to the published scale, and adjust your final revision plan. This exercise aligns your expectations with the true standard.
Final Thoughts
Pass rates look like cold statistics, yet each figure hides hard work and smart decisions. Study the trends, respect the scale, and act on the proven methods above. With planned practice and calm pacing, you can move your name from the data table to the successful candidate list next time around.
