🇮🇪Royal College of Physicians of Ireland — MRCPI

MRCPI Part 1
Question Bank

Practice for the MRCPI Part 1 examination — 100 single-best-answer questions in one three-hour paper, with adaptive AI question selection, spaced repetition and per-distractor rationales on every question.

A growing, referenced question bank — HSE, NCEC and European guidance, Irish clinical context

🇮🇪 Irish Clinical Context·🎯 RCPI Curriculum Aligned·🤖 AI-Powered·📚 Referenced Answers
100
Single-Best-Answer MCQs
3 hrs
One Paper
75%+
Direct Clinical Care
3×/yr
Sittings Per Year
🛡️ Cancel Anytime·📱 Works on Any Device·🔒 No Credit Card Required·🆕 New Questions Added Daily

📚 Every answer anchored to named guidelines — see something off? Write us and we answer with the reference.

What Is MRCPI Part 1?

MRCPI Part 1 is the entry written examination of the MRCPI in General Medicine, administered by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI). It assesses knowledge of general internal medicine and the sciences underlying evidence-based practice, following the RCPI curriculum for Basic Specialist Training in General Internal Medicine.

The exam is a single paper of 100 single-best-answer questions over three hours, delivered by remote invigilation. Each question has five options and one correct answer, all questions carry equal weight, and there is no negative marking. At least 75% of questions concern the direct clinical care of inpatients and outpatients; the remainder cover the basic and clinical sciences.

MRCPI is taken by doctors training in Ireland and by international medical graduates seeking a recognised postgraduate qualification in internal medicine. Candidates normally become eligible from six months after graduation, and the exam runs three times a year.

Eligibility rules, fees, attempt limits and the exam calendar are published by RCPI — always confirm current details at rcpi.ie before applying.

MRCPI Part 1 Exam Format

100 single-best-answer questions in one 3-hour remotely invigilated paper.

Exam Structure

  • Total Questions: 100 single best answer (SBA)
  • Time: 3 hours, single paper
  • Question Type: Five options, one correct answer, equal weighting
  • Clinical Content: At least 75% direct clinical care of inpatients and outpatients
  • Sciences: Remaining questions cover basic and clinical sciences, EBM and statistics
  • Delivery: Online with remote invigilation
  • Negative Marking: None
  • Frequency: Typically three sittings per year

Registration & Eligibility

Who applies: Doctors with a primary medical qualification pursuing the MRCPI in General Medicine — trainees in Ireland and international medical graduates alike.

Experience: Candidates normally become eligible from six months after graduation. RCPI applies attempt limits, so plan your sittings.

Registration Steps:

  1. Create an RCPI account
  2. Check eligibility and the exam calendar
  3. Apply and pay within the application window
  4. Sit the paper online under remote invigilation

Source: rcpi.ie. Verify details before registering.

MRCPI Part 1 Content Breakdown

RCPI publishes the clinical-versus-science split rather than a per-specialty percentage — questions achieve a balanced spread across the medical specialties per the RCPI BST General Internal Medicine curriculum. AiMedQs coverage follows that curriculum.

75%+
Direct Clinical Care

Diagnosis, investigation and management of inpatients and outpatients across cardiology, respiratory medicine, gastroenterology and hepatology, endocrinology, neurology, renal medicine, infectious diseases, rheumatology, haematology and geriatric medicine — with Irish emphases such as cystic fibrosis, hereditary haemochromatosis, coeliac disease and alcohol-related liver disease

~25%
Basic & Clinical Sciences

Anatomy, bacteriology, biochemistry, ethics, genetics, immunology, metabolism, physiology, evidence-based medicine and statistics — the sciences underpinning evidence-based medical practice

The MRCPI in General Medicine Pathway

Part 1 is the entry point. The full MRCPI in General Medicine runs:

1

Part 1 — Written

  • 100 single-best-answer questions, one paper
  • General medicine plus underpinning sciences
  • Eligible from 6 months after graduation
2

Part 2 — Written

  • Single-best-answer paper, longer image-rich vignettes
  • Management-level general medicine
  • Requires a Part 1 pass
3

Part 2 — Clinical

  • Long and short cases at the bedside
  • Completes the MRCPI in General Medicine
  • Supports BST/HST progression in Ireland

For the most current pathway requirements, visit rcpi.ie.

How AiMedQs Helps You
Pass MRCPI Part 1

An intelligent study platform built for the RCPI single-best-answer written examination.

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RCPI Curriculum-Aligned

Questions follow the BST General Internal Medicine curriculum and the published 75/25 clinical-versus-science split, with a balanced spread across the medical specialties.

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Irish Clinical Context

Stems written from the Irish hospital perspective — HSE-funded settings, Irish referral pathways, SI units and rINN drug names throughout.

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Adaptive AI Question Selection

Our engine identifies your weakest areas and prioritises questions there, so your study time goes where the marks are.

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HSE, NCEC & European Guidance

Management answers track HSE National Clinical Programmes, NCEC National Clinical Guidelines and European society guidance (ESC, EASL, ERS) — the anchors Irish practice actually uses.

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Referenced Answers

Every answer is anchored to a named guideline or standard reference. See something off? Write us and we answer with the reference.

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Per-Distractor Rationales

Understand not just why the correct answer is right, but why every other option is wrong. Each distractor gets its own explanation on every question.

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Spaced Repetition

Missed questions return at scientifically optimised intervals, so high-yield concepts hold until exam day.

Why Irish-Specific Preparation Matters

MRCPI is not MRCP(UK) with a different crest. It assesses medicine as practised in Ireland, and generic international question banks miss these critical differences:

HSE National Clinical Programmes

Management answers track HSE NCP pathways — heart failure, COPD, stroke, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and more — and NCEC National Clinical Guidelines such as the national sepsis standard.

Irish Epidemiology

The world's highest cystic fibrosis prevalence, very high HFE C282Y haemochromatosis carrier rates, and high coeliac and IBD prevalence make these conditions disproportionately examinable.

European Guideline Default

Where no Irish national guidance exists, Irish practice commonly defaults to European societies — ESC for cardiology, EASL for liver, ERS for respiratory — rather than UK NICE.

Irish Formulary & Conventions

Prescribing reflects the Irish Medicines Formulary and MIMS Ireland with rINN drug names and SI units — and service questions assume the Irish public hospital system.

AiMedQs questions are written for the Irish context — HSE and NCEC-anchored, epidemiologically Irish, with named references — so your preparation matches what you will actually meet on exam day.

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MRCPI Part 1 Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MRCPI Part 1 examination?

MRCPI Part 1 is the entry written examination of the MRCPI in General Medicine, run by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI). It assesses knowledge of general internal medicine and the sciences underpinning evidence-based practice, at the level expected of a doctor in early postgraduate training.

What is the format of MRCPI Part 1?

The exam is a single paper of 100 single-best-answer questions taken over three hours. Each question has five options with one correct answer, all questions carry equal weight, and there is no negative marking. RCPI delivers the exam by remote invigilation, so candidates sit it online from a suitable quiet location.

What does MRCPI Part 1 cover?

RCPI states that at least 75% of questions concern the direct clinical care of inpatients and outpatients, with the remainder drawn from the basic and clinical sciences — anatomy, bacteriology, biochemistry, ethics, genetics, immunology, metabolism, physiology, evidence-based medicine and statistics. Rather than a per-specialty percentage, the College describes a balanced spread across the medical specialties, following the RCPI curriculum for Basic Specialist Training in General Internal Medicine.

When can I sit MRCPI Part 1, and how often does it run?

The examination is typically held three times a year. Candidates normally become eligible from six months after graduation, and RCPI limits the number of attempts permitted within a set period. Confirm the current calendar, eligibility rules and fees at rcpi.ie before applying.

How is MRCPI Part 1 different from MRCP(UK) Part 1?

The two exams cover closely related general-medicine content, but MRCPI is anchored to Irish practice: HSE National Clinical Programmes and NCEC National Clinical Guidelines frame management answers, European society guidance (ESC, EASL, ERS) is often the default where Irish national guidance does not exist, and the case mix reflects Irish epidemiology. The format also differs — MRCPI Part 1 is one 100-question paper, while MRCP(UK) Part 1 is two 100-question papers.

Why does Irish epidemiology matter for MRCPI?

Ireland has the world's highest prevalence of cystic fibrosis, one of the highest carrier frequencies of hereditary haemochromatosis (HFE C282Y), and high rates of coeliac disease and inflammatory bowel disease. These conditions — along with alcohol-related liver disease and the HSE's chronic disease programmes — are natural MRCPI territory in a way generic international banks do not reflect.

Which guidelines should I learn for MRCPI Part 1?

Management answers track, in rough order of priority: HSE National Clinical Programme pathways, NCEC National Clinical Guidelines (for example sepsis and VTE prevention), RCPI guidance, and European society guidelines such as ESC, EASL and ERS — with NICE filling gaps where no Irish or European equivalent exists. Prescribing questions use rINN drug names and SI units throughout.

How does AiMedQs help with MRCPI Part 1 preparation?

AiMedQs provides a growing, referenced MRCPI Part 1 question bank in the exam's single-best-answer format, with adaptive AI question selection that targets your weakest areas, spaced repetition, per-distractor rationales on every question, and performance analytics. Every answer is anchored to a named guideline — if you think a keyed answer is wrong, write to us and we answer with the reference.

How many questions does AiMedQs have for MRCPI Part 1?

The MRCPI Part 1 bank is new and growing, with referenced questions added continually. Dedicated MRCPI practice material is scarce, so we focus on carefully sourced, Irish-anchored questions rather than inflating the count — every question carries a named reference and per-distractor explanations.

What comes after passing MRCPI Part 1?

Candidates proceed to MRCPI Part 2, which has two components: the Part 2 Written examination and the Part 2 Clinical examination. Completing all components earns the MRCPI in General Medicine, which supports progression through Basic and Higher Specialist Training in Ireland and is recognised by many international regulators.

🇮🇪 Your MRCPI journey
starts with Part 1.

Irish-context practice questions with named-guideline references and full rationales. AI-powered. Start studying today.

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AiMedQs is an exam preparation tool and does not guarantee exam results. Content is for educational purposes only. AiMedQs is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI). For official exam information, visit rcpi.ie.