Most Repeated MCCQE Part 1 MCQs by Subject

Pediatrics and Psychiatry are the two largest question blocks in HighYield's MCCQE Part 1 bank, with Medicine and Surgery close behind — together these four make up most of the exam's clinical-vignette content. Below is a sample set from each.

Pediatrics

1. The most common congenital heart defect overall is:

• A) Tetralogy of Fallot
• B) Ventricular septal defect ✅
• C) Atrial septal defect
• D) Patent ductus arteriosus

2. A 3-week-old infant with non-bilious projectile vomiting and a palpable "olive" mass in the epigastrium most likely has:

• A) Intussusception
• B) Pyloric stenosis ✅
• C) Duodenal atresia
• D) Malrotation with volvulus

Psychiatry

3. The feature that distinguishes Bipolar I from Bipolar II disorder is:

• A) Presence of depressive episodes
• B) A full manic episode, rather than only hypomania ✅
• C) Presence of psychotic features
• D) Age of onset

4. Altered mental status, autonomic instability, and neuromuscular findings such as clonus together suggest:

• A) Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
• B) Serotonin syndrome ✅
• C) Malignant hyperthermia
• D) Delirium tremens

Medicine

5. The most common cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding is:

• A) Esophageal varices
• B) Peptic ulcer disease ✅
• C) Mallory-Weiss tear
• D) Gastric malignancy

6. The most common ECG finding in acute pulmonary embolism is:

• A) S1Q3T3 pattern
• B) Sinus tachycardia ✅
• C) Atrial fibrillation
• D) ST elevation

Surgery

7. Right upper quadrant pain with inspiratory arrest on palpation (Murphy's sign) is classic for:

• A) Acute pancreatitis
• B) Acute cholecystitis ✅
• C) Choledocholithiasis
• D) Acute appendicitis

8. Fournier's gangrene is a surgical emergency involving necrotizing fasciitis of the:

• A) Lower limb
• B) Perineum and genitalia ✅
• C) Abdominal wall
• D) Neck

Why These Four Deserve Priority Revision

Because Pediatrics and Psychiatry together outweigh several other subjects combined on MCCQE Part 1, treating them as "soft" sections relative to Medicine and Surgery is a common and costly mistake in how candidates allocate revision time.

HighYield's MCCQE Part 1 question bank covers all four of these subjects alongside Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Infectious Disease and Population Health, with every question explained. For the full syllabus and pass-rate picture, see our MCCQE Part 1 Syllabus Guide. Your first 20 questions are free.