Free Practice Questions for MRCPCH/DCH Foundation of Practice

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Exam pass rate: Not published as a fixed pass rate in the official RCPCH pages reviewed on 2026-06-05.

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Key Facts: MRCPCH/DCH Foundation of Practice Exam

Questions

Time

Delivery

2026 fee

Pass mark

Use this free MRCPCH FOP question bank for timed, original SBA practice aligned with RCPCH Foundation of Practice logistics and broad early paediatric training knowledge.

Sample MRCPCH/DCH Foundation of Practice Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the MRCPCH/DCH Foundation of Practice exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A candidate asks how many questions are in the current RCPCH Foundation of Practice theory examination. Which answer matches the official structure?

A.100 best-of-five single best answer questions

B.60 extended matching questions plus 40 data-interpretation questions

C.120 true-false questions in two papers

D.10 clinical OSCE stations with written follow-up tasks

Explanation: RCPCH describes FOP as a 100-question best-of-five single best answer theory examination.

2A trainee is planning timed FOP practice. What total examination time should they use for a full mock?

A.90 minutes

B.2 hours 30 minutes

C.3 hours

D.2 hours

Explanation: The official FOP duration is 2 hours, so a 100-question mock should be practised at about 72 seconds per question.

3Which statement best describes the role of FOP in RCPCH qualifications?

A.It is a workplace-based assessment signed off by an educational supervisor.

B.It is a subspecialty exit examination for consultant paediatricians.

C.It is a theory paper used in both the MRCPCH and DCH pathways.

D.It is only the final clinical examination for MRCPCH.

Explanation: RCPCH lists FOP as one of the MRCPCH theory exams and as the theory requirement for the Diploma of Child Health pathway.

4A candidate asks how FOP is delivered. Which answer is most accurate?

A.It is a bedside clinical examination using real patients only.

B.It is a computer-based theory exam, usually sat in a test centre, with remote invigilation only for eligible candidates.

C.It is an oral viva conducted by local consultants.

D.It is a handwritten essay paper posted to RCPCH.

Explanation: RCPCH theory exams are computer-based. Remote invigilation is restricted to candidates meeting published eligibility criteria.

5Which candidate is most likely to meet RCPCH criteria for remote invigilation?

A.A candidate with no available test centre in their country and confirmation from RCPCH.

B.A candidate who prefers to avoid travel although a nearby test centre is open.

C.A candidate who missed the application deadline for the test centre sitting.

D.A candidate who wants extra reading time without an approved adjustment.

Explanation: Remote invigilation is not a convenience option for everyone; RCPCH restricts it to stated circumstances such as no local centre, long travel distance or approved adjustments.

6RCPCH says FOP pass marks use Modified Angoff standard setting. What does this mean for candidates?

A.The top fixed percentage of candidates pass at each sitting.

B.The pass mark must always be exactly 50 percent.

C.The pass mark is negotiated after candidates receive their marks.

D.The pass mark is criterion referenced against an absolute standard of expected competence.

Explanation: Modified Angoff is a criterion-referenced process; candidates are judged against a defined standard rather than ranked against each other.

7A UK-based candidate checks the official 2026 fee for sitting FOP as a single theory exam. Which fee is listed by RCPCH?

A.GBP 455

B.GBP 1,000

C.GBP 365

D.GBP 120

Explanation: RCPCH lists the 2026 UK fee for FOP or TAS single as GBP 365. The international single fee is GBP 455.

8An international candidate checks the official 2026 fee for FOP as a single exam. Which figure should they expect from the RCPCH fee table?

A.GBP 750

B.GBP 455

C.GBP 365

D.GBP 200

Explanation: The RCPCH 2026 fee table lists FOP or TAS single as GBP 455 for international candidates.

9How frequently does RCPCH normally schedule FOP diets in a year?

A.Three diets per year

B.Monthly throughout the year

C.One annual diet only

D.Every two years

Explanation: RCPCH theory dates list three FOP diets, commonly labelled .1, .2 and .3 within the year.

10A candidate finds the official RCPCH FOP sample paper. What is the safest way to use it for study?

A.Memorise the questions because they are guaranteed to appear unchanged.

B.Publish the sample questions with minor wording changes as a commercial question bank.

C.Ignore the explanations because official sample papers do not reflect current style.

D.Use it to understand question style and reasoning, without copying questions into public materials.

Explanation: Official sample papers are useful for style and reasoning, but practice banks should use original questions and respect copyright.

About the MRCPCH/DCH Foundation of Practice Exam

The MRCPCH/DCH Foundation of Practice examination is the RCPCH theory paper that tests foundational paediatric knowledge, understanding and clinical decision making. It covers broad paediatric syllabus areas including development, growth, adolescent health, behavioural medicine, emergency medicine, infection, respiratory, gastroenterology, cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, neonatology, ethics, law and safeguarding.

Exam sponsor: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Foundation of Practice is one of the three MRCPCH theory examinations and is also the theory paper used in the Diploma of Child Health pathway. RCPCH describes it as a computer-based exam assessing knowledge, understanding and clinical decision making at the standard of someone entering core specialist paediatric training. Since the 2024.3 diet, FOP uses 100 best-of-five single best answer questions, each worth one mark.

Time Limit

2 hours. RCPCH lists UK and Republic of Ireland FOP timing as 09:30 to 11:30; timing for other countries is confirmed in the candidate admission document.

Passing Score

Criterion-referenced pass mark set using Modified Angoff methodology; RCPCH states candidates are judged against an absolute standard rather than relative to other candidates.

Exam / Certification Fees

2026 fee: GBP 365 for FOP or TAS single - UK; GBP 455 for FOP or TAS single - international. RCPCH states the fee is the same for test centre and online invigilation.

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: Not published as a fixed pass rate in the official RCPCH pages reviewed on 2026-06-05.. RCPCH publishes that more than 3,000 candidates attempt FOP each year. The pass mark can vary because the standard-setting process accounts for exam difficulty. This describes exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep users or results from using our resources. Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

Format

Computer-Based 100-SBA Theory Exam

FOP is a 2-hour computer-based RCPCH theory exam with 100 best-of-five single best answer questions. It can be taken in a test centre, and eligible candidates may use remote invigilation where RCPCH criteria are met.

Passing

Modified Angoff Standard Setting

RCPCH uses Modified Angoff criterion-referenced standard setting for theory pass marks. The pass mark is therefore not a fixed percentage published for every future sitting.

Practice scope

Foundation-Level Paediatrics Coverage

The 100 practice questions cover exam logistics, child development, community and public health, acute presentations, infection, systems paediatrics, ethics, law, safeguarding and communication at Foundation of Practice level.

Preparing for the MRCPCH/DCH Foundation of Practice Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Criterion-referenced pass mark set using Modified Angoff methodology; RCPCH states candidates are judged against an absolute standard rather than relative to other candidates.
Assessment: Foundation of Practice is one of the three MRCPCH theory examinations and is also the theory paper used in the Diploma of Child Health pathway. RCPCH describes it as a computer-based exam assessing knowledge, understanding and clinical decision making at the standard of someone entering core specialist paediatric training. Since the 2024.3 diet, FOP uses 100 best-of-five single best answer questions, each worth one mark.
Time limit: 2 hours. RCPCH lists UK and Republic of Ireland FOP timing as 09:30 to 11:30; timing for other countries is confirmed in the candidate admission document.
Exam / certification fees: 2026 fee: GBP 365 for FOP or TAS single - UK; GBP 455 for FOP or TAS single - international. RCPCH states the fee is the same for test centre and online invigilation. Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

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MRCPCH/DCH Foundation of Practice: Suggested Study Strategy

1Practise timed sets at a pace of about 72 seconds per question, matching 100 questions over 2 hours.

2Use RCPCH's current theory syllabus as the organising map, especially development, emergency medicine, infection, respiratory, ethics, law and safeguarding.

3Review official sample-paper explanations for reasoning style, but do not rely on memorising sample questions.

4Keep answers at FOP level: early recognition, safe first-line management, escalation, communication and avoiding harm.

5Revise UK-approved drug names and SI units because RCPCH states these are used in theory exams.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is FOP part of MRCPCH or DCH?

Both. RCPCH states that the MRCPCH membership exam requires FOP, TAS, AKP and MRCPCH Clinical, while the Diploma of Child Health requires FOP plus DCH Clinical.

How many questions are on MRCPCH Foundation of Practice?

RCPCH states that FOP has 100 best-of-five single best answer questions.

How long is the FOP exam?

FOP lasts 2 hours. In the UK and Republic of Ireland, RCPCH lists the exam as 09:30 to 11:30.

Can I sit FOP online?

Most candidates sit in a test centre. RCPCH allows remote invigilation only for candidates meeting its published criteria, such as no local test centre, residence more than 200 miles from a centre, or an approved reasonable adjustment.

What is the FOP pass mark?

RCPCH does not publish a fixed universal percentage. Theory pass marks are criterion referenced using Modified Angoff methodology.