FCPS Part 1 Passing Criteria: How Your Result Is Actually Calculated

A lot of candidates assume FCPS Part 1 is scored like a school test — count the correct answers, take a percentage, pass or fail against a fixed cutoff. It isn't quite that simple. This guide explains how CPSP actually arrives at your result, in plain terms.

FCPS Part 1 Is Entirely MCQ-Based

There is no essay or clinical component at the Part 1 stage — every mark comes from multiple-choice questions covering the basic sciences relevant to your declared specialty. There is no negative marking, so every question is worth attempting.

Why Your Raw Score Isn't the Whole Story

CPSP puts each exam paper through statistical item analysis before finalising results. In practice, this means not every question necessarily carries identical weight in the final scoring the way it would in a simple school test — poorly performing or statistically unreliable items can be handled differently during this analysis. The upshot for candidates: focus on genuinely understanding each topic rather than trying to reverse-engineer which questions "must" be worth more, since that isn't something you can predict or control on exam day.

What You Can Actually Control

• Attempt every question. With no negative marking, an educated guess (or even a blind one on a question you've completely eliminated two options from) can only help, never hurt.
• Breadth over narrow depth. Since the paper draws from six basic science subjects, a broad, even level of preparation across all of them tends to outperform being excellent in two subjects and weak in the rest.
• Practice under real exam conditions before your test date, so pacing and question-reading speed aren't costing you marks separately from your actual knowledge.

Passing Marks

CPSP does not publish a single universal fixed percentage that applies unchanged to every session and specialty — the qualifying standard is determined through the examination's own statistical process for that specific sitting. Always confirm the current pass mark and any specialty-specific detail through your official CPSP result notification and the CPSP website rather than relying on an old or unofficial figure. For a deeper walkthrough, see our audio explainer on FCPS Part 1 passing criteria.

If You Don't Pass

A single FCPS Part 1 attempt not meeting the qualifying standard is common and not a reflection of your ability to eventually pass — many successful FCPS holders did not pass on their first attempt. Review your preparation approach (breadth of coverage, volume of practice, time management on the day) rather than assuming the exam itself was unfairly difficult, and use your next attempt's preparation window to specifically target the basic science subjects where your practice accuracy was weakest.

Prepare With Full-Syllabus Coverage

Since breadth across all six basic science subjects matters more than narrow depth in a small number of them, HighYield's FCPS Part 1 QBanks — Basic Sciences, Surgery, Medicine, Gynae & Obs, Dentistry and Anaesthesia — track your accuracy subject by subject, so you can see at a glance whether your preparation is genuinely even or quietly weak in one or two areas. Your first 20 questions in any bank are free, no card required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there negative marking in FCPS Part 1?

No. Attempt every question — an unanswered question and a wrong answer cost you the same amount: the mark you could have possibly gained.

What is the pass mark for FCPS Part 1?

CPSP determines the qualifying standard through the exam's own statistical analysis for that sitting rather than publishing one fixed number that applies to every session indefinitely. Confirm the current standard through your official CPSP notification.

Does the same pass mark apply to every specialty?

Always check your specific specialty and session's official notification rather than assuming a figure quoted for a different specialty or an older session still applies.