MRCPsych Paper A: Human Development | Questions & Revision
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MRCPsych Paper A · Revision

Human Development

Human development is one of the 14 areas assessed in MRCPsych Paper A. Here is what the exam tests, the high-yield subtopics, and worked example questions referenced to Gross / New Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry.

What Paper A tests in Human Development

Paper A is a written paper of about 150 questions (single-best-answer MCQs and extended matching items) sat over three hours, blueprinted against the RCPsych syllabus. Questions from this domain typically cover:

  • Frameworks for Development
  • Research Methodology in Development
  • Attachment Theory (Bowlby)
  • Family Relationships & Parenting
  • Temperament & Personality Development
  • Cognitive Development (Piaget)
  • Language Development
  • Social Competence & Peer Relationships
  • Moral Development (Kohlberg)
  • Emotional Regulation
  • Sexual Development
  • Adolescence
In our question bank
72 questions in this section (EMIs counted per stem), each with a full explanation and a reference to the recommended text (Gross / New Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry). Balanced answer keys, MCQs and EMIs.

Worked example

This is a real question from the Human Development section, the kind you will see in Paper A:

The concept of gene-environment correlation refers to:

  1. The statistical adjustment for environmental confounds in genetic studies
  2. The process by which genetic factors influence the likelihood of exposure to certain environments
  3. The interaction between specific genes and specific environmental risk factors
  4. The finding that genes and environment contribute equally to all traits
  5. The correlation between genetic mutations and environmental toxins
Answer: B. Gene-environment correlation (rGE) refers to the non-random association between genetic endowment and environmental exposure. Three types are described: passive (parents provide both genes and environment), evocative (the child's genetically influenced characteristics elicit environmental responses), and active (the child selects environments compatible with their genetic predispositions).

How to revise this section for Paper A

Work in short, active blocks: attempt questions first, read the explanation whether right or wrong, and log the subtopics you miss. Our weakness tracker flags any subtopic where you score below 60% so you can target revision rather than re-reading everything. Anchor your reading to the recommended text (Gross / New Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry) so your facts match the exam blueprint.

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See the full MRCPsych Paper A guide or browse all 14 revision sections.

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