Are MRCP notes enough to pass?
- Crack Medicine
- Sep 23
- 3 min read
TL;DR
Relying on concise notes alone is rarely enough to pass MRCP Part 1. Notes are powerful for revision and quick recall, but they cannot replace the depth of textbooks, guidelines, and practice questions. The strongest strategy is a blend: build understanding from core resources, then use notes for spaced repetition. So, to answer are MRCP notes enough to pass—no, not on their own, but yes as part of a wider plan.
Why this matters
Every MRCP candidate hits the same wall: textbooks are too heavy to reread, while notes feel dangerously thin. The exam is designed to test both breadth and application. Notes sharpen recall, but without context they risk superficial learning. Crack Medicine recommends a layered approach—understand first, then distil into MRCP Part 1 notes for efficient cycling.
Notes vs textbooks: when to use each
Textbooks (e.g., Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine, Kumar & Clark): Use in early prep to clarify mechanisms, clinical reasoning, and complex cases.
Notes: Best for high-yield recall in the final 8–10 weeks. They act as a compact revision tool and are indispensable for last-minute cycles.
Guidelines (e.g., NICE, BTS, ESC): These update more rapidly than textbooks. Use them for hypertension, asthma, diabetes, and heart failure—areas the exam often probes.
Think of textbooks as the “why”, guidelines as the “what’s current”, and notes as the “what to memorise”.
15 must-memorise facts for MRCP Part 1
Rheumatic fever is the most common cause of mitral stenosis.
SIADH causes hyponatraemia with low plasma osmolality and inappropriately high urine osmolality.
First-line acute treatment of cluster headache: high-flow oxygen.
Anti-M antibody is a cause of haemolytic disease of the newborn.
Addison’s disease triad: hyperpigmentation, hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia.
Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: MRI showing dissemination in time and space.
Crohn’s disease: skip lesions, transmural inflammation, granulomas.
Warfarin prolongs PT/INR, not APTT.
Kartagener’s syndrome: situs inversus + bronchiectasis + sinusitis.
Beta-blockers are contraindicated in asthma.
Glasgow criteria are used for acute pancreatitis severity within 48h.
Minimal change disease is the most common nephrotic syndrome in children.
Thyrotoxicosis crisis = thyroid storm.
Lithium toxicity risk increases with thiazide diuretics.
Temporal arteritis requires urgent steroids to prevent blindness.
Keep these as flashcards or in a “red-flag facts” list to drill weekly.
Spaced-repetition plan
Week | Focus area | Notes strategy |
1–2 | Cardio + Respiratory systems | Write/update notes; anchor to guidelines |
3–4 | Neuro, Renal, Endocrine | Condense into flashcards |
5 | Timed mock tests + weak areas | Rapid note cycling (daily 2–3h) |
6 | Exam simulation | Only notes + error log review |
Rule of 3: Review each fact on Day 1, Day 7, and Day 21 to lock it in memory.
Practical mini-cases
Case 1: Acid–base confusion You miss an MCQ on respiratory alkalosis. Reading a textbook chapter takes an hour; instead, write a one-page “step-by-step ABG” note. Next revision: 3 minutes.
Case 2: Antibody mix-ups You confuse p-ANCA and c-ANCA. Solution: make a two-column flashcard. Test yourself daily until the distinction sticks.
Notes transform errors into learning assets.
Common pitfalls
Using only downloaded PDFs without deeper reading.
Collecting hundreds of pages of notes with no review cycle.
Ignoring QBanks until the final fortnight.
Memorising rare syndromes at the expense of bread-and-butter medicine.
Failing to update notes with current NICE guideline changes.
FAQs
Can I pass MRCP Part 1 using only notes?
Unlikely. Notes help recall but lack the context and application tested in the exam.
Should I make my own notes?
Yes. Borrowing notes is fine for breadth, but rewriting in your own words strengthens memory.
How many revision cycles are enough?
At least 3–4 complete note reviews in the final two months.
Do guidelines appear in Part 1?
Yes. Expect questions aligned with NICE, particularly in cardiology, diabetes, and respiratory medicine.
How do QBanks link with notes?
Every wrong QBank answer should become a short note. This way, your notes become a personalised “error log”.
Ready to start?
Notes are vital but incomplete. If you are asking are MRCP notes enough to pass, the safe answer is no—but they are indispensable in your toolkit.
Read our MRCP Part 1 overview to see the full exam structure.
Sharpen recall with Free MRCP MCQs and use your notes as feedback loops.
Finally, start a mock test to test your notes under exam pressure.
For deeper strategies, see our sibling blog: Study plan for MRCP Part 1.
Sources
MRCP(UK) official exam format
Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine (Elsevier)
NICE Clinical Guidelines
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