Most MRCP and MRCS Part 1 candidates would be advised to invest in a Sainsbury's shopping trolley if they decide to venture to their local university bookshop in pursuit of a relevant MCQs textbook. The shelves of these stores creak from the burden of the wide selection of texts. The unfortunate MCEM / MRCS A&E candidate will be left with growing anxiety and the knowledge that there are very few suitable MCQs textbooks. “Get Through” aims to bridge this gap and help you prepare for your exams.
The book covers a wide range of topics, from paediatrics to toxicology, and the book's strength lies in its relevance to day to day practice. The various questions address many clinical scenarios we come across on run-of-the-mill, shop-floor work. The book's stated main focus is revision for Part 1 examinations, however the MCEM part 1 syllabus is heavily based in the realms of anatomy, patho-physiology, microbiology, biochemistry, etc., with only 5 out of a possible 50 questions relating to clinical medicine. The book does try to address this imbalance with a chapter on anatomy, however MCEM candidates will probably find limited relevance to the content of their Part 1 exam.
The book is ideally suited to candidates preparing for 2nd Part exams or MRCS A&E MCQ, where there is a greater emphasis on clinical topics. It certainly would be a useful revision tool to highlight areas for further study. One area of concern that may confuse and will certainly frustrate candidates is the number of incorrect answers in the book. Hopefully this is a problem that will be addressed on further prints.