Mark allocation at a glance
| Topic | Paper | Questions | % of paper | VANTAGE status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Surgical Anatomy | Paper 1 | 75 | 41.7% | ✓ 100 questions live |
| Applied Surgical Physiology | Paper 1 | 45 | 25.0% | Q2 2026 |
| Applied Surgical Pathology | Paper 1 | 37 | 20.6% | Q2 2026 |
| Pharmacology | Paper 1 | 8 | 4.4% | Planned |
| Microbiology | Paper 1 | 7 | 3.9% | Planned |
| Imaging | Paper 1 | 5 | 2.8% | Planned |
| Data interpretation & audit | Paper 1 | 3 | 1.7% | Planned |
| Common surgical conditions | Paper 2 | 45 | 37.5% | Planned |
| Perioperative management | Paper 2 | 35 | 29.2% | Planned |
| Trauma (inc. multiply injured) | Paper 2 | 30 | 25.0% | Planned |
| Surgical care of children | Paper 2 | 7 | 5.8% | Planned |
| Medico-legal aspects | Paper 2 | 3 | 2.5% | Planned |
| TOTAL | Both papers | 300 | 100% |
Paper 1 — Applied Basic Sciences
180
marks (60% of total)
Applied Surgical Anatomy
✓ Live now
75 marks
41.7% of Paper 1
The single highest-yield topic in the MRCS Part A. Regional anatomy, embryology, surface anatomy, and imaging anatomy across the whole body — with labelled anatomical diagrams for key concepts.
Abdomen (20q) — inguinal canal, groin, biliary, peritoneum, SMA/IMA territories
Head & Neck (10q) — thyroid, parathyroid, salivary glands, neck triangles, airway
Thorax (9q) — intercostal space, mediastinum, diaphragm, lung segments
Upper Limb & Breast (9q) — brachial plexus, peripheral nerve injuries, breast lymphatics
Lower Limb (9q) — femoral triangle, popliteal fossa, compartments, sciatic nerve
Brain & Spine (8q) — Circle of Willis, EDH vs SDH, spinal cord syndromes, raised ICP
Pelvis, Embryology, Surface & Imaging Anatomy
Applied Surgical Physiology
Q2 2026
45 marks
25% of Paper 1
General physiological principles plus cardiovascular, respiratory, GI, urinary, endocrine, and neurological systems — each with 5 questions in the exam.
General physiological principles (15q)
CVS physiology — cardiac cycle, preload, afterload, Frank-Starling (5q)
Respiratory physiology — V/Q ratio, spirometry, control of breathing (5q)
GI physiology — gut motility, absorption, liver function (5q)
Urinary physiology — GFR, tubular function, acid-base (5q)
Endocrine + Neurological physiology (5q each)
Applied Surgical Pathology
Q2 2026
37 marks
20.6% of Paper 1
General pathological principles plus organ system pathology — inflammation, neoplasia, wound healing, immunology, haematology, and more. Best learned from questions (Pastest/Raftery approach).
General pathological principles (9q) — inflammation, repair, neoplasia
Surgical immunology, haematology, clinical chemistry (2q each)
Organ system pathology — 10 systems at 2q each
Skin cancer, breast, endocrine (2q each)
Pharmacology
Planned
8 marks
4.4% of Paper 1
Anaesthetic agents, analgesics, antibiotics, anticoagulants, and drug interactions relevant to surgical practice. Same obscure facts repeat — learn from question banks only.
Microbiology
Planned
7 marks
3.9% of Paper 1
Surgical site infections, sepsis, sterilisation and antiseptics, antimicrobial resistance, specific organisms relevant to surgical complications.
Imaging & Data Interpretation
Planned
8 marks
4.4% of Paper 1
Plain film interpretation, CT anatomy, ultrasound — the 5 easy marks most candidates under-prepare for. Plus 3 marks of data interpretation and audit methodology.
Paper 2 — Principles of Surgery in General
120
marks (40% of total)
Common Congenital & Acquired Surgical Conditions
Planned
45 marks
37.5% of Paper 2
GI disease (7q), orthopaedics (7q), vascular (4q), cardiovascular & pulmonary (4q), genitourinary (4q), skin/head & neck (4q), endocrine (4q), breast (3q), lymphoreticular, cancer therapy, acute emergencies, neurology.
Perioperative Management
Planned
35 marks
29.2% of Paper 2
Preoperative assessment (7q), postoperative care (8q), metabolic & endocrine disorders (5q), intraoperative care (5q), haemostasis & blood products (3q), DVT & embolism (3q), nutrition (2q).
Trauma — Including Multiply Injured Patient
Planned
30 marks
25% of Paper 2
ATLS principles, organ-specific trauma (10q), fractures & dislocations (8q), general trauma (4q), wounds & soft tissue (4q), shock (2q), burns (2q). Based on current ATLS/NICE guidelines.
Surgical Care of Children
Planned
7 marks
5.8% of Paper 2
Paediatric surgical conditions — neonatal surgical emergencies, congenital anomalies, childhood hernias, Wilms' tumour, neuroblastoma. Often the least-revised section.
Medico-Legal Aspects
Planned
3 marks
2.5% of Paper 2
Consent, capacity, negligence, duty of care, confidentiality, death certification. Small in mark allocation but specific in content — learned quickly from question banks.
Applied Surgical Anatomy — 100 questions available now
All 100 anatomy questions are live, covering every region of the body in the MRCS Part A syllabus. Each question includes a clinical stem, five SBA options, short and deep explanations, a teaching point pitched at Foundation / Registrar / Consultant level, and anatomical diagrams for key concepts. 92 of 100 questions are flagged as confirmed exam recalls.
Open Anatomy Question Bank →