MCCQE1 Study Plan: A 12-Week Schedule for International Medical Graduates
Educational Content
A week-by-week 12-week MCCQE1 study plan with daily question targets, review habits, timed practice and a final-fortnight routine you can adapt to your own schedule.
Who this plan is for
This plan suits an international medical graduate (IMG) who has about twelve weeks before the MCCQE, usually still called the MCCQE1 or MCCQE Part 1, and who studies around work, rotations or family. If you have more time, stretch each phase. If you have less, keep the structure and shorten each phase proportionally.
It is a framework, not a promise. Adjust it weekly based on how you actually score.
The three phases
- Weeks 1 to 2: find your baseline. Mixed questions across subjects to see where you stand.
- Weeks 3 to 9: build by subject. Work through subjects in blocks, in study mode, reading every explanation.
- Weeks 10 to 12: simulate the exam. Mixed, timed blocks that match the real exam, plus targeted review of weak areas.
Know the exam you are training for
The MCC describes the exam as 230 multiple-choice questions in two sections of 115, with up to two hours and forty minutes for each section and an optional break between them. That works out to about 83 seconds per question, which is a useful pacing target for your timed practice.
The exam is based on the MCC Examination Objectives. Your preparation should match that: broad coverage, with extra time where your own results show gaps.
Week-by-week
| Weeks | Focus | Daily questions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baseline: mixed questions, study mode | 30 | Do not worry about the score. Note weak subjects. |
| 2 | Baseline continued; set up your error log | 30 to 40 | Start a simple log of what you got wrong and why. |
| 3 to 4 | Largest or weakest subjects first | 40 to 50 | One subject per block; read every explanation. |
| 5 to 6 | Next subjects | 40 to 50 | Re-do missed questions from week 3 to 4 at the end of each week. |
| 7 to 8 | Remaining subjects | 40 to 50 | Add one short mixed set a day to keep older material fresh. |
| 9 | Catch-up and consolidation | 40 | Revisit the weakest three subjects. |
| 10 | Mixed blocks, timed | 60 to 80 | Use timed exam mode. Aim for about 83 seconds a question. |
| 11 | Two long timed sessions | 115 per session | Simulate one full section at a time. Review the next day. |
| 12 | Taper and review | 20 to 40 | Weak areas, error log, rest. No new material in the last two days. |
A daily routine that survives real life
- One focused block (60 to 90 minutes). Phone away, a set number of questions.
- Review immediately. Spend at least as long reviewing as answering. This is where most of the learning happens.
- Log every miss. One line: the topic, why you missed it (knowledge, misread, rushed), and the fix.
- Short catch-up. Ten minutes before bed on yesterday's misses.
If a day collapses, do half. Consistency across weeks beats a perfect week.
Study mode and exam mode
Use study mode (feedback after each question) while you are learning a subject. Switch to timed exam mode (graded at the end) from week 10 so that pacing and stamina become habits before test day.
Reading your results
After each block, look at accuracy by subject, not just the overall score. Two simple rules:
- If a subject is below your overall average, give it more blocks next week.
- If a subject has been strong for three weeks, keep it alive with a few mixed questions rather than dedicated blocks.
The final two weeks
Spend most of your time on weak areas and timed mixed blocks. Keep a little time for strong subjects so they do not fade. The night before, do light review only and sleep. For more on the last fortnight, read our guide to reviewing weak subjects in the final two weeks.
Adapting the plan
- Working full time: halve the daily numbers and double the weeks.
- On a demanding rotation: drop to a maintenance load of about 20 questions a day and keep the habit.
- Retaking the exam: skip the baseline, start from your error log, and begin timed work earlier.
You can build a schedule around your exam date inside IMGQBank, and try the platform free for 14 days with no card to see whether the routine fits.