Guide to the Essays for the Part II Exam

The following is a collection of essay plans that I prepared for my part II exam. They vary in extent and quality, but hopefully you might get an idea about structuring essays to suit your own style.

Below are also links to previous essay questions (taken from the Royal College booklet). There is also a link to the answers given to examiners by the Royal College for the Spring 1999 exam. These are useful to gain an insight into how your essay is going to be marked.

MRCPsych Part II Examination Past Essay Papers

Autumn 1995

Spring 1996

Autumn 1996

Spring 1997

Autumn 1997

Spring 1998

Autumn 1998

Spring 1999 (including marking sheet)

Autumn 2001

Spring 2002

Autumn 2002

Spring 2003

Autumn 2003

Spring 2004

Autumn 2004

Spring 2005

Autumn 2005

Spring 2006

Essay plans

• Discuss the evidence for the effectiveness of Assertive Community Treatment.
  
  
• Medication is the best way to treat schizophrenia. Discuss this statement.
  
  
• Discuss how psychiatry has evolved with the NHS in the last 50 years.
  
  
• Discuss how you would assess, and come to a decision about therapy for a patient who presents with OCD.
  
  
• Discuss how the needs of the elderly learning disabled can be met.
  
  
• How might risk be effectively managed in a psychiatric setting?
  
  
• Those with antisocial personality disorder are not mentally ill. Discuss this statement.
  
  
• What is your understanding of the term "clinical governance", and how does it affect psychiatrists and their patients?
  
  
• How would you manage a 5-year-old child who presented to you with a history of inattention and hyperactivity?
  
  
• What is your understanding of Body Dysmorphic Disorder?