Most Repeated FCPS Part 1 Pathology MCQs: High-Yield Subjects

Which FCPS Part 1 Pathology subjects recur most, based on the distribution of a 3,800-question Pathology bank, and what to revise inside each.

Every FCPS Part 1 Pathology candidate has the same problem: the syllabus is enormous and the time is not. The distribution of a large question bank is a better guide to where marks sit than guesswork. HighYield's Pathology bank has 3,800+ MCQs, and this is how they fall.

Subject Distribution

Subject	Approx. questions
Anatomy & Histology	590
Haematopathology	360
Pharmacology	330
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	320
Microbiology & Parasitology	320
Physiology	320
Neoplasia	165
Immunopathology & Transplantation	145
Genetic & Paediatric Pathology	125
Endocrine, GIT/hepatobiliary, cardiovascular pathology	about 350 combined
Cell injury, inflammation, haemodynamics, environmental pathology	about 350 combined
Nervous, renal, respiratory, breast/female genital, musculoskeletal pathology	about 335 combined

The surprise for most candidates is how much of a "Pathology" bank is basic science. Recall-style questions for this exam lean heavily on anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and biochemistry alongside the pathology itself.

High-Yield Concepts Within Each Block

Haematopathology: the anaemia work-up (microcytic, macrocytic, haemolytic), thalassaemia and sickle cell disease, G6PD deficiency, the bleeding disorders (haemophilia, von Willebrand disease, ITP, DIC), leukaemia translocations and lymphoma subtypes.
Neoplasia: oncogenes and tumour suppressors, tumour markers, carcinogens, grading versus staging, and paraneoplastic syndromes.
Immunopathology: the four hypersensitivity types, transplant rejection patterns, immunodeficiencies and autoantibodies.
Cell injury and inflammation: necrosis versus apoptosis, types of necrosis, acute inflammatory mediators and wound healing.
Systemic pathology: myocardial infarction, rheumatic fever, hepatitis and cirrhosis, thyroid and adrenal disease, glomerular syndromes.
Microbiology: staining and culture, key toxins, malaria and other parasites, hepatitis serology.

Practice pages for the largest blocks are free to try: Haematopathology, Neoplasia, Immunopathology & Transplantation and Microbiology & Parasitology.

Practise With Explanations

HighYield's FCPS Part 1 Pathology QBank has 3,800+ MCQs across general and systemic pathology, haematology, microbiology and immunology, plus the shared basic sciences (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology and forensic medicine). Every question has a written explanation, four full-length mock tests mirror the two-paper layout, and subject analytics show which area needs another pass. Your first 20 questions are free, no card required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is FCPS Part 1 Pathology mostly pathology?

Less than candidates expect. Paper 1 is the shared basic sciences, and even in the specialty paper, haematology, microbiology and immunology overlap heavily with pathology.

Which subject should I start with?

Start with haematopathology and neoplasia, since they are both large and conceptually connected, then move to immunopathology and systemic pathology.