The Top 7 MRCP PACES Courses

Choosing a PACES course can be as tough as the exam itself. Prices range from under £200 to over £1,500. Formats vary from a single intensive day to a four-day block in London. And since the exam moved to the PACES23 format in 2023, not every course has updated its content to match.

This guide covers the 7 best PACES courses available to UK candidates in 2026, compared across format, real-patient exposure, feedback quality, communication station coverage and price. 

You should note that exam fees rose from the 2025/03 diet onwards: UK candidates now pay £716 per sitting, and international candidates pay £1,311. That makes choosing the right preparation course (and spending wisely on it) more consequential than before.

What PACES tests and what a good course should replicate

PACES, the Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills, is the clinical component of MRCP(UK) Part 2. Since 2023, the updated format (sometimes known as PACES23) runs 5 stations in a carousel, each lasting 20 minutes. The stations comprise 2 Consultation Encounters, 1 Communication Encounter, and 2 Clinical Examination Encounters covering cardiovascular, respiratory, abdominal, and neurological examinations. For more information, see our guide to the MRCP paces exam.

The distinction between a useful PACES preparation course and a general clinical skills refresher can come down to simulation accuracy. Does the course put you in front of real or realistically simulated patients under timed conditions? Does feedback come against the actual marksheet criteria, the same ones an examiner will use on your sitting day? Are the consultation and communication encounters practised with the same rigour as the physical examination stations?

Those are the questions that count, and they're the ones we've used to assess each course below.

How to choose a PACES course

No single course fits every candidate. A first-time sitter with study leave available has different priorities from an IMG resitting after a borderline fail on the consultation or communication stations.

Six criteria are worth comparing. 

1. Format and timing: does the course structure match PACES's 20-minute station format, and how much time does it require? This gives you an idea of whether it means one day, a weekend, or four days away from work.

2. Real-patient exposure: how many patients will you actively examine and will every candidate get hands-on time?

3. Feedback model: is feedback 1-to-1 against real marksheet criteria, or a general group debrief?

4. Communication and consultation coverage: are these stations central to the course or treated as an add-on?

5. Location and study leave cost: London options are plentiful, but travel and accommodation add to the real price for anyone outside the capital.

6. Cost transparency: several providers don't publish prices publicly, so ask before you book.

The Top 7 PACES Courses 

Below, we explore the top 7 PACES courses currently on offer in the UK. Course fees, durations and locations are correct at the time of writing, but may be subject to change, so be sure to check before booking.

1. Pastest: In-Person Course and Communication Skills Course, Manchester

Format and location

Pastest offer two complementary PACES courses that can be booked independently or together. Both courses are designed and led by experienced clinicians.

• The in-person course: a full day course at Salford Royal Hospital, Manchester, designed to give candidates a true exam-day experience.

• The Communication Skills Course: a focused 6-hour PACES online course designed to strengthen your communication skills for PACES Station 4. 

For candidates based in the North West or Midlands, the Pastest in-person course is a practical option without the travel and accommodation costs of a London course. The Communication Skills course is run via Zoom, so it’s accessible regardless of where you’re based. 

What's included

The CPD-accredited in-person PACES course is a focused, high-impact session covering all 5 PACES stations. Attendees examine real patients and practise under strict PACES exam conditions, giving them the closest possible experience to the real exam. Individual, structured feedback is provided throughout. 

The Communication Skills Course covers Station 4 specifically, providing examiner-led teaching and hands-on scenario practice with realistic Communication Skills and Ethics cases. Attendees can practise speaking in small groups and receive immediate feedback from PACES experts.

Booked together, the Pastest PACES courses round out full-station coverage: the in-person course handles the clinical examination stations under exam conditions, the comms course handles the encounters that cost many candidates marks. 

Who it suits

Candidates who want to cover all 5 PACES stations with expert-led guidance and feedback. The two-course combination gives you timed real-patient examination across the clinical stations and dedicated 1-to-1 work on communication, ethics and structured reasoning. 

You’ll get a 30% discount on the price of the communication skills course if you book both courses together. However, either course also works as a standalone: the in-person day for candidates whose communication stations are already strong and are looking for exam-like practice, the comms course for those who can't travel or would benefit from boosting their confidence and clarity in discussions.

2. PassPACES: 4-Day and 2-Day Courses, London

Format and location

PassPACES runs from Novotel London West. They offer a 4-day comprehensive course or a 2-day intensive weekend, directed by Dr Rupa Bessant, a Consultant Rheumatologist and editor of The Pocketbook for PACES.

What's included

The 4-day course includes approximately 90–100 patients with examinable clinical signs across all PACES stations. Alongside the patient examination sessions, you complete a full mock examination with individual feedback, receive a pre-course handbook, and attend lectures on exam technique. 

The 2-day format covers a similar structure at a higher pace, with around 50 patients. Communication and consultation encounters are built into the course format.

Who it suits

Candidates who want maximum patient exposure, have study leave available, and are local to London or can travel. The 4-day format provides more sustained preparation than any other single course in this comparison, which can be useful if you feel underprepared across multiple stations.

However, it’s worth noting that at £1,595 for the 4-day course, PassPACES is the most expensive option in this guide. The 2-day weekend price is not much cheaper at £995.

3. Ealing PACES: 2-Day Weekend Course, London

Format and location

Ealing PACES has run continuously since 1993, making it the longest-running PACES course in the UK. It operates as a 2-day weekend course at Ealing Hospital, London. 

What's included

Each day puts you in front of 30+ patients with genuine clinical signs, working through a 7-station carousel that replicates the PACES format. Feedback is 1-to-1 and given against the exam's marking criteria. Communication and consultation encounters are integrated into the main timetable, along with a mock examination.

Who it suits

Candidates who want high-volume, 1-to-1 feedback over a weekend rather than a full week away from work, and can travel to London. It suits both first-time sitters and resits, particularly those who felt their feedback on the day was limited or who want to work through a larger number of patients than a single-day format allows.

4. PACES Ahead: 4-Day Course, West London

Format and location

PACES Ahead runs a 4-day course from the Hilton London Olympia hotel. The course also produces The Pre-PACES Podcast, which candidates can use as free supplementary material before attending.

What's included

Over the 4 days you work through more than 100 real patients with a 1-to-1 candidate-to-patient ratio at the bedside. Consultation and communication encounters are included, as well as lectures on exam technique and station-specific strategy. A full mock examination with individual written feedback is also provided as part of the course.

Who it suits

Candidates who want maximum bedside time and are willing to spend four days in London to get it. The 1-to-1 patient ratio is the standout feature here; in larger courses, candidates sometimes observe rather than examine, particularly in busier stations. PACES Ahead’s structure makes it a strong option for resitters who identified examination technique or confidence as the problem on a previous attempt.

But at £1,595, PACES Ahead sits at the same price point as PassPACES' 4-day course, making it one of the most expensive options. And unlike Pastest, neither offers an online revision platform for continued revision before and after the course.

5. Intelligent PACES: 1-Day Clinical Course and Virtual Comms Day, London

Format and location

Intelligent PACES runs two courses. The first is a clinical skills day at Barts Heart Centre, London. Patient numbers are limited to 15–20 per session, with a maximum of 2 candidates per bedside and 1 instructor per patient throughout. A SOLO format, with no other candidates at the bedside, is also available for those who want completely individual attention.

A separate 1-day virtual Communication Skills course runs online, covering communication scenarios, with two talks and 45 minutes of 1-to-1 practice in pairs. The two days are sold separately and can be booked independently.

What's included

The clinical day covers all physical examination stations under timed, exam-realistic conditions. You examine real patients with clinical signs, and individual feedback is given after each station against the actual marksheet criteria. The virtual comms day addresses Station 4, with structured role-play and guidance from an expert instructor.

Who it suits

Candidates who want an intensive, closely supervised bedside experience with a low candidate-to-patient ratio. The separate comms day is worth adding for anyone who wants to develop their communication skills and has a particularly busy schedule.

The Intelligent PACES courses one-day and online sessions are priced similarly to the Pastest courses. However, it’s worth noting that the Intelligent PACES communication skills day is 5 hours long, whereas the Pastest communication skills course runs for 6 hours.

6. BitePACES: 1-Day to 4-Day Options, Guy's Hospital, London

Format and location

BitePACES runs from Guy's Hospital, London Bridge, and offers a 1-day Intensive (around 16 patients), and a 3-day Comprehensive pathway (up to 30 cases across all stations). 

What's included

Courses run at Guy's Hospital with real patients and timed stations. The 3-day course covers all 5 PACES stations with individual feedback and a full mock exam. The 1-day intensive is designed for candidates who want a focused pressure test closer to their sitting date. Both include post-course access to exclusive webinars and ongoing mentorship, which is not offered by other providers as a standard inclusion.

Who it suits

Candidates who want format flexibility and the option to match course length to budget and study leave. The 1-day intensive suits those who are well prepared and want a final dress rehearsal. The 3-day suits candidates who want sustained patient exposure alongside dedicated communication station practice.

Something to be aware of is that BitePACES is the newest course in this comparison guide, having launched in 2023. Their track record is shorter than most other providers, including Pastest, who have been offering PACES courses for 20+ years.

7. PACES4U: 2-Day Weekend Course, Manchester

Format and location

PACES4U runs at Manchester Royal Infirmary, one of two courses in this guide based in Manchester, alongside Pastest's in-person course at Salford Royal. For candidates based in the North West or Midlands, both offer a practical alternative to travelling to London for four days. The 2-day weekend course is limited to 20–21 candidates per cohort, making it one of the smaller-group options in this comparison. 

What's included

Over the two-day in-person course, you work through a case bank of 70–80 cases with real patients, specialist consultant-led teaching across all PACES stations, including communication skills stations. One-to-one assessments and feedback are included with each station. 

Who it suits

Candidates based in the North West who want a strong 2-day course with genuine patient exposure, small-group teaching, and built-in communication skills practice, without the travel costs and study leave required by a London 4-day course. 

An early-bird discount applies when booking at least 2 months ahead of the course date. However, the cost is still fairly high for a 2-day course; learners may find better value in a highly focused and more established 1-day intensive course, such as Pastest.

Why choose Pastest for your PACES preparation?

Pastest has over 50 years of medical exam preparation experience, and all course content is designed, written and led by practising clinicians. If you want focused, affordable preparation that covers the full exam, Pastest’s two offerings—the in-person course at Salford Royal and the online Communication Skills course, are among the best PACES courses available.

Taken together, the two courses thoroughly cover every PACES station with dedicated, expert-led practice. Book both together and enjoy a discount of 30% off the comms course.

Pastest also offers an online PACES revision platform containing over 130 patient examination videos and a comprehensive question bank—an ideal self-paced study tool to complement the in-person and Zoom courses. Get started now or contact us to learn more!

Frequently asked questions about PACES courses

How far in advance of my exam should I do a PACES Course?

Most candidates get the most from a course booked four to eight weeks before their sitting date. This is close enough for the feedback to be fresh and actionable, but far enough ahead that there's time to work on identified weaknesses before the exam.

If you're planning to combine a course with ongoing online revision, start the online preparation earlier: two to three months out gives you enough time to work through a full video case bank, identify which stations need most attention, and arrive at the in-person course with a clear sense of what you're trying to fix. Avoid booking a course in the final week before your sitting unless it's a short rehearsal format specifically designed for that purpose.

Are PACES courses worth the cost given the exam fee?

PACES fees increased from the 2025/03 diet: UK candidates now pay £716 per sitting, and international candidates pay £1,311. A borderline fail and a resit costs more in exam fees alone than several of the courses in this guide. From that angle, the question is less whether a course is worth it, and more which format gives you the best return for your specific preparation gap. 

A targeted online subscription at under £200 can cover a genuine knowledge deficit across all stations. A single-day course at £400–£500 adds real-patient practice under exam conditions. A multi-day course at £900–£1,595 adds volume. Combining formats (online preparation followed by an in-person day) gives both, and still costs less than a resit for most UK candidates.

Do I still need ward-based practice if I do a course?

Yes. PACES tests clinical examination skills that develop through repeated real-patient contact, not just course attendance. A preparation course gives you feedback on your technique and experience of performing under exam conditions, but it can't replicate the breadth of findings you'll encounter with consistent ward practice over weeks and months. 

The most effective PACES preparation combines regular ward-based examination, structured online revision to consolidate your knowledge of signs and findings, and a course in the run-up to your sitting for exam-condition practice and feedback. The course is the final component, not a substitute for the others.

What else can I use alongside a course to prepare for PACES?

The Pastest MRCP PACES online platform is the most comprehensive self-study resource available for PACES. You get access to 135 gold-standard video cases, spot diagnosis flashcards, expert marksheets, and more. Use it in the weeks before your course to build familiarity with clinical findings across all stations. A free 48-hour trial is available. Separately, the Pastest PACES Strategy Guide, written by Dr Matthew Lee, gives a structured framework for organising your preparation and getting the most from your course attendance.