MSRA exam guide
The Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) is the computer-based test used in UK specialty training recruitment to check whether you have the skills your chosen specialty needs. This MSRA exam guide explains the two papers, the question types and the timing, then gives a revision plan for each paper.
Exam facts come from the NHS England Medical Hub MSRA pages, checked on 13 November 2026. Your specialty's recruitment pages and your test invitation have the final word on dates and arrangements.
MSRA exam at a glance
| Professional Dilemmas (PD) | Clinical Problem Solving (CPS) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it tests | Professional judgement in situations a Foundation (F2) doctor meets. It is a situational judgement test. | How you apply clinical knowledge at Foundation level |
| Size | 50 scenarios | 86 items |
| Question types | About half ranking responses, about half choosing the 3 most appropriate actions from at least 8 | About half extended matching, about half single best answer |
| Blueprint | Professional integrity, coping with pressure, empathy and sensitivity | 12 clinical topic areas across investigation, diagnosis, emergency care, prescribing and management |
The whole MSRA lasts 170 minutes. You book it through a Pearson VUE account, and some candidates can sit it remotely with OnVUE. In ranking questions, answers close to the official key still earn marks.
How to revise for Professional Dilemmas
- Learn the principles in the GMC's Good medical practice: patient safety first, honesty, working within your competence and escalating early.
- Practise ranking in full. Decide the best and worst actions first, then order the middle.
- Answer as an F2 doctor in a well-run NHS setting, not from your local habits.
How to revise for Clinical Problem Solving
- Work through the 12 topic areas in turn, using current NICE and BNF guidance.
- Practise extended matching questions as well as single best answers. They need a different reading habit.
- Focus on decisions: which test next, what diagnosis, what to prescribe, what to do first.
An 8-week MSRA plan
- Weeks 1 to 2: a baseline mock, then the topic areas where you scored lowest.
- Weeks 3 to 6: two or three CPS topic areas a week, with PD practice every other day.
- Weeks 7 to 8: full timed mocks of both papers, each reviewed in detail.
How Kung Medics can help
MSRA Pro is our online MSRA question bank for both papers, with 2,250 questions and mock exams in the real format. All questions are original and follow current UK guidance.
Kung Medics is an independent training provider. It is not part of, or endorsed by, NHS England or the organisations that run the MSRA.
Frequently asked questions
What is in the MSRA exam?
Two papers: Professional Dilemmas, a situational judgement test with 50 scenarios, and Clinical Problem Solving, with 86 clinical items, according to the NHS England Medical Hub on 13 November 2026.
How long is the MSRA?
The whole MSRA lasts 170 minutes.
What question types are in Clinical Problem Solving?
About half extended matching questions and about half single best answer questions, across 12 clinical topic areas.
How are MSRA ranking questions marked?
Answers close to the official key still earn marks, so a near miss scores more than a very different order.
Can I sit the MSRA at home?
Some candidates can sit it remotely with Pearson VUE OnVUE. Check your invitation and the Medical Hub for your options.
Is Kung Medics part of NHS England?
No. Kung Medics is an independent training provider and is not part of, or endorsed by, NHS England.