Pastest is valuable when you use it as a theme detector: the recurring patterns and classic traps. Your job is to turn those patterns into fast decision prompts, not a giant notebook of explanations.
The MRCP edge: recognising the pattern early
Many MRCP questions are decided by a small number of key discriminators (a trigger sign, a threshold, a contraindication, a must-not-miss diagnosis). Training your early recognition is the highest return activity.
The Bottom Line
- Use question blocks to reveal recurring themes, then extract discriminators.
- Write prompts that force the discriminator (“what single clue changes the answer?”).
- Retest discriminators weekly until automatic.
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Step 1 — Run a themed block (timed)
Pick a specialty (cardio/resp/neuro) for 25–40 questions. Time pressure is useful: it forces you to practise recognition rather than explanation reading.
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Step 2 — For each miss, ask: what was the discriminator?
Was it a single clue? A specific investigation? A red-flag? A contraindication? The discriminator becomes your prompt.
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Step 3 — Build ‘discriminator prompts’
Examples: “In this presentation, what finding makes it X not Y?”, “Which test distinguishes A from B?”, “Which contraindication flips treatment?”.
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Step 4 — Create a weekly discriminator drill
Once per week, run through all discriminator prompts. Delete the ones that are now instant. Keep the list lean.
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Step 5 — Add one ‘anti-trap’ prompt
Write one prompt that blocks your personal trap (e.g., confusing similar conditions, misreading an ECG, mixing threshold values). This is disproportionally high yield.
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Practice
Test your knowledge
Apply this concept immediately with a high-yield question block from the iatroX Q-Bank.
SourcePastest — Official site
Open Link SourcePastest — MRCP Part 1
Open Link SourceRoediger & Karpicke (2006): Testing effect (PubMed)
Open Link