Table 2.
Demographics of candidates taking MRCP(UK) and MRCGP exams
| Variable | UK graduates | PLAB graduates | Significance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | No of graduates | Value | No of graduates | |||
| Mean (SD) age at qualification (years) | 24.9 (2.2) | 24 640 | 24.9 (2.0) | 9798 | NS | |
| MRCP(UK) candidates | ||||||
| Mean (SD) age at 1st attempt of exam (years): | ||||||
| PLAB Part 1 | N/A | — | 28.7 (4.3) | 9812 | - | |
| PLAB Part 2 | N/A | — | 29.4 (4.4) | 9344 | - | |
| MRCP(UK) Part 1 | 26.9 (2.4) | 18 532 | 30.3 (4.5) | 7823 | P<0.001 | |
| MRCP(UK) Part 2 | 27.7 (2.3) | 14 094 | 31.5 (4.2) | 5133 | P<0.001 | |
| MRCP(UK) PACES | 28.4 (2.3) | 14 409 | 32.6 (4.1) | 4388 | P<0.001 | |
| Mean (SD) interval between 1st attempts of exams (weeks): | ||||||
| MRCP(UK) Part 1 and Part 2 | 50.0 (32.2) | 12 091 | 101.3 (75.0) | 3947 | P<0.001 | |
| MRCP(UK) Part 2 and PACES | 39.4 (23.5) | 12 051 | 66.7 (49.7) | 4138 | P<0.001 | |
| % female | 56.3 | 24 634 | 32.0 | 9802 | P<0.001 | |
| % non-white ethnicity* | 41.1 | 24 641 | 96.3 | 9804 | P<0.001 | |
| % UK nationals | N/A | — | 7.8 | 9589 | — | |
| MRCGP candidates | ||||||
| Mean (SD) age at 1st attempt of exam (years): | ||||||
| PLAB Part 1 | N/A | — | 28.3 (4.4) | 3067 | - | |
| PLAB Part 2 | N/A | — | 29.1 (4.5) | 3067 | - | |
| AKT | 30.5 (4.7) | 10 044 | 34.4 (4.6) | 3067 | P<0.001 | |
| CSA | 30.9 (4.2) | 4481 | 36.1 (4.5) | 1478 | P<0.001 | |
| % non-white ethnicity*: | ||||||
| AKT database | 32.3 | 12 152 | 94.2 | 3160 | P<0.001 | |
| CSA database | 33.1 | 5924 | 94.4 | 1381 | P<0.001 | |
| % female: | ||||||
| AKT database | 61.3% | 10 048 | 44.8% | 3067 | P<0.001 | |
| CSA database | 62.5% | 4481 | 43.7% | 1478 | p<0.001 | |
| % UK nationals | N/A | N/A | 12.0% | 3233 | — | |
*Self reported ethnicity from college databases, hence variation in numbers.