2025-04-23 | Category: Mrcog 2

🩺 How to Balance MRCOG Preparation with Clinical Work: A Practical Guide for Busy Doctors

Balancing MRCOG exam preparation while managing full-time clinical duties is one of the biggest challenges faced by O&G trainees and international medical graduates. Between unpredictable shifts, night calls, emergencies, and family commitments, study time can feel like a luxury.

However, with a structured but flexible routine, smart study tools, and sustainable strategies, you can navigate both worlds effectively—and pass the MRCOG with confidence.

📅 Suggested Study Routine for Working Professionals

Here’s a realistic weekly schedule that many successful candidates have used while juggling their hospital or clinic work:

🗓️ Weekdays (Mon–Fri)

⏰ Time commitment: 1–2 hours/day
📌 Best times: Early morning (before work) or late evening (after dinner)

Focus Areas:

• Read 1 Green-top Guideline (GTG) or 1 TOG article
• Review flashcards or summary notes
• Watch 1 short OSCE/lecture video (Part 3 candidates)
• Solve 10–20 SBA/EMQ questions (Part 2)

📆 Weekends (Sat–Sun)

⏰ Time commitment: 4–6 hours total (broken into 2–3 sessions)

Focus Areas:

• Full topic revision (e.g., Maternal Medicine, PPH)
• GTG consolidation
• Practice mock timed questions
• Peer discussion or OSCE role-play practice

🎯 Weekly Study Framework (Sample Plan)

⚡ Tips for Study Efficiency: Work Smarter, Not Longer

🧠 1. Use the Pomodoro Technique

• Study in 25-minute sprints followed by 5-minute breaks
• After 4 cycles, take a 30-minute break
• Helps improve focus, especially after tiring shifts

📱 2. Leverage Digital Tools

• Anki: Use or create spaced-repetition flashcards
• PassMRCOG / Ace Courses: On-the-go question practice
• Audio lectures: Listen during commutes or lunch breaks (e.g., Spotify, YouTube GTG summaries)

🗒️ 3. Keep a Revision Journal

• Write down:
• Key mistakes from mock tests
• Unfamiliar GTG points
• Quick mnemonics or “clinical pearls”
• Review weekly to avoid repeating errors

🧘‍♀️ Mental Health & Burnout Prevention

Preparing for MRCOG is a marathon, not a sprint. Protecting your personal time is just as important as covering syllabus topics.

💡 Self-Care Tips:

• Set boundaries: Block 1–2 "no-study" evenings per week
• Sleep discipline: Aim for 6–8 hours; poor sleep = poor memory
• Involve your support system: Let friends and family know your schedule
• Celebrate small wins: Completing one GTG or scoring better in a mock test is a big deal!

🫂 Bonus: Build a Supportive Study Environment

• Find a study buddy in the same time zone or work pattern
• Join Telegram/WhatsApp peer groups for moral support
• Attend monthly webinars or mock sessions
• Share tips and get advice from seniors who've passed

✅ Final Thought

Preparing for the MRCOG while working full-time is tough—but hundreds of doctors have done it, and so can you. The key is not studying more, but studying effectively and consistently. Stick to a routine that works for you, protect your energy, and focus on progress, not perfection.

📥 Join our Telegram group or sign up at MRCOG PASS EXAMINATIONS for:

• Weekly study planners
• Live GTG discussion sessions
• Peer accountability and mentoring

🗂️ Your success is built one focused day at a time. Let’s get you there.