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Specialty Certificate Examination in Palliative Medicine — Information & Free Practice

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About Specialty Certificate Examination in Palliative Medicine

Specialty Certificate Examination in Palliative Medicine · GB

Key exam facts

Provider
Developed and delivered by the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians through MRCP(UK), with the specialist society; Surpass administers the computer-based test at test centres.
Format
Computer-based at a test centre; two papers of best-of-five multiple-choice questions. One mark per correct answer; no negative marking.
Exam questions
Total questions: 200.
Time limit
3 hours of answering time per paper; 6 hours across two papers. This is answering time, not check-in or break time.
Passing score
Equated passing score 420, following the June 2025 standards review, applying to future examinations until reviewed by the SCE Palliative Medicine Examination Board. This is a scaled score, not a fixed percentage; the raw percentage needed can vary by sitting.
Exam fee
UK test centres: GBP £700; international test centres: GBP £875. Transferring from a UK to an international location incurs the £175 difference. The €800 ESEGH/ESENeph rate is for different examinations.

Topics covered

  • Care of the dying patient (10%)

  • Management of concurrent clinical problems unrelated to progressive illness (10%)

  • Legal issues (7.5%)

  • Management of emergencies (10%)

  • Palliation of life-limiting disease (10%)

    • Principles of neurodegenerative illness management
    • Principles of cancer management
    • Principles of cardiovascular disease management
    • Principles of respiratory illness management
    • Principles of frailty and multi-morbidity management
    • Other e.g. HIV/progressive autoimmune/inflammatory conditions
    • Conditions affecting teenage & young adults

  • Other symptoms/clinical problems secondary to life-limiting disease (24%)

    • Gastrointestinal
    • Skin
    • Respiratory
    • Genitourinary
    • Metabolic
    • Neurological
    • Psychiatric
    • Other (e.g. treatment-induced)

  • Pain (7.5%)

  • Pharmacology and therapeutics (17.5%)

  • Practical procedures (2.5%)

  • Rehabilitation (1%)

How to prepare

Work through the topics, read the explanation after each answer, and revisit the areas where you miss questions. Use the official outline and reference materials below to guide your study.

These independent practice questions are not actual exam items and do not guarantee a passing result.

Frequently asked questions

What is the exam format?

Computer-based at a test centre; two papers of best-of-five multiple-choice questions. One mark per correct answer; no negative marking.

How many questions are on the exam?

Total questions: 200.

How long is the exam?

3 hours of answering time per paper; 6 hours across two papers. This is answering time, not check-in or break time.

What is the passing score?

Equated passing score 420, following the June 2025 standards review, applying to future examinations until reviewed by the SCE Palliative Medicine Examination Board. This is a scaled score, not a fixed percentage; the raw percentage needed can vary by sitting.

How much does the exam cost?

UK test centres: GBP £700; international test centres: GBP £875. Transferring from a UK to an international location incurs the £175 difference. The €800 ESEGH/ESENeph rate is for different examinations.

Official sources and references

Confirm current exam arrangements with the exam provider.