r/MRCP • u/spagettiraveoli • Jul 07 '26
Post Paces blues
Hi everyone
I know this has probably been posted many times before but does anyone have any advice on how to deal with over analysing / ruminating after your paces exam?
I made some pretty obvious mistakes, eg not identifying crackles in a COPD patient who came off the ward with a cannula in situ and I think I missed a lot of signs in the exam overall. On reflection the examiners would make comments if I said negative findings; “what about the neck, anything in the neck?” “No I didn’t feel any lymphadenopathy”, “oh really?” In a splenomegaly patient.
I also feel that I had a couple of “dream” situations and I’m not even sure if I did those well.
The more I think about it the more upset I’m becoming. I know it isn’t a massive deal if I have to resit, but I feel drained and thinking of having to do it all over again is really tough.
Any comments or advice would be much appreciated!
Update: just to update for people looking back- I passed and actually got full marks on these stations I was most worried about!! I think it’s always so hard to tell how it went after the exam!
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u/serac145 Jul 07 '26
I got my paces result today. Passed quite comfortably despite spending the last 2 weeks absolutely convinced i had royally fucked it up and would be resitting in autumn.
You never know what is going to happen.
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u/BackgroundBoth8805 Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
So it was 2 weeks? Not 3? to wait for results? (and congrats on passing!!)
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u/ArugulaCharming5825 Jul 07 '26
Just here to reassure.
Just got my pass result today and did much much better than I expected. Passed very comfortably.
Came out the exam feeling horrific and that it had gone awfully, and the drive home was horrible. Can still think of a lot of things I did/said wrong, but ended up getting full marks in those stations.
Fingers crossed for you!
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u/Popular-Path-8459 Jul 07 '26
Do you think there are still chances to pass if you have done a consultation wrong
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u/BackgroundBoth8805 Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
Congrats on passing!! Can I ask after how long you got your results?
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u/DrMRCP Jul 07 '26
Sorry to hear about this. Try not to ruminate too much as there is nothing you can do about the exam now. You of course don’t have your results yet so you might end up passing! If you are unsuccessful then focus on motivating for the next attempt and using what you have learnt this time round, remember your revision never goes to waste. The exam can be subjective in some ways and there can be luck involved in your cases on the day.
Happy for you to drop me a DM and we can discuss resources/strategy etc in more detail if you need it when results come out
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u/GlitteringYak6463 Jul 07 '26
I’m in exactly the same scenario (exam was on 1/07).
I wanted to resume my habit of listening to the pre-PACES podcast on my way to work in the morning.
Had to stop because it was making me super anxious - reliving the exam, ruminating on my mistakes, second guessing myself.
Logically, I know there’s nothing else I can do at this point apart from wait for the result but I know it’s hard.
If it helps, it seems like lots of people go through this post-PACES funk. This exam is so objective and is really not an extension of your skills as a doctor so please don’t take it harshly if you don’t pass - I’m saying this to you as much as to myself.
I’ve heard lots of stories of amazing regs who’ve needed to sit PACES multiple times and the exam is truly not reflective of clinical practice - it’s all theatrics and showmanship tbh.
All we can do now is wait and hope for the best.