Our letter to the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges regarding the MRCP(UK) exam issue

On Tuesday 4 March we wrote to the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. This follows the announcement from the Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK (the Federation) that it has made a marking error with diet 3 of the September 2023 MRCP part 2 written examination.

The mistake has been devastating for the doctors impacted and all of those affected must have the tailored support they need.

In the letter, we set out the actions we now expect the Federation to take. We also ask the Academy how it intends to work with all medical royal colleges and faculties to make sure an error like this doesn’t happen again.

We also set out our role in setting the standards for the design and development of postgraduate curricula and assessment. And we explain how they help us to make sure that doctors have the appropriate skills and training to deliver high-quality care.

We now need assurance from the Academy, the Federation and from the wider college community. Action must be taken by those accountable to make sure candidates are not put in this position again.

In a statement about the issue, Professor Colin Melville, Medical Director and Director of Education and Standards at the GMC, said:

‘Doctors who have been provided with the wrong exam result following a marking error by the Federation of the Royal College of Physicians of the UK are, understandably, extremely distressed. The effect of this mistake on them is devastating and will have taken a significant emotional, mental, and financial toll.

‘We have asked the Federation to provide a full report that explains what led to the marking error and the immediate improvements it will make to ensure this does not happen again. We have asked for regular updates from the Federation against their proposed actions, including how they are involving the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) in this work.

‘It is vital those affected have the tailored support they need for as long as it takes to resolve the issue. And we will work closely with all those involved – the Federation, AoMRC, the four UK statutory education bodies, employers, postgraduate deans, and responsible officers - to make sure this happens.

‘When mistakes are made, we can be asked to change the way pass or fail decisions are made to reduce the impact on candidates.  It is neither appropriate or fair to other doctors that have passed or previously failed the exam, to change the outcome because of administrative errors. Doctors must have confidence that royal colleges can administer exams competently, and the public must have confidence that decisions made about assessment of doctors maintain patient safety.

‘We have a statutory duty to approve the assessments designed and developed by royal colleges, but this is reliant on them maintaining the required standards. It is their responsibility, as the awarding bodies, to deliver assessments and quality manage their processes. Adhering to our standards provides confidence for patients and the public that doctors have the appropriate skills and training to deliver the high-quality patient care they rightly deserve.’