Core Revision
Short answer: the RCOG fee of £578 at a UK test centre, or £482 in the Republic of Ireland, is the biggest single cost. The RCOG lists no reduced rate for a resit. On top come revision materials, travel to a Saturday exam and the study time itself. Checked against rcog.org.uk on 16 October 2026.
The costs at a glance
| Exam fee at a UK centre | £578 including VAT |
|---|---|
| Exam fee in the Republic of Ireland | £482 |
| Each resit | The same fee again; no separate resit rate is listed |
| RCOG online account | Free |
| Late withdrawal or no-show | Fee forfeited |
| RCOG revision resource | £64.80 for six months’ access |
The exam fee
The RCOG lists the DRCOG fee as £578 including VAT at UK centres and £482 in the Republic of Ireland. The band depends on the centre where you sit, not where you live. The fee is payable in pounds sterling at the time of application. Check the figure on the RCOG’s key dates and fees page when you book.
Creating the RCOG online account you need is free. The expression of interest page mentions no fee for the form itself.
A resit costs the same again
The RCOG’s fee table has one DRCOG fee and no reduced rate for a second attempt. Each attempt needs a new expression of interest and a new booking, with the fee paid at each application. One fail and a resit at a UK centre comes to £1,156 in exam fees alone. You can make up to five attempts.
When you lose the fee
The RCOG’s rules are strict, so read them before you book.
- Late withdrawal or no-show. The regulations say candidates who withdraw after the closing date or fail to appear forfeit the fee.
- Arriving late. Entry may be refused if you arrive more than 15 minutes after your appointment time. Candidates refused entry for lateness forfeit the fee.
- The wrong ID. You must show identification with your name and photograph before you start. If you have not followed the ID instructions, the RCOG says it cannot refund the fee.
We found no option on the RCOG pages to transfer a booking to a later sitting. The one route we found is the extenuating circumstances policy, for unavoidable events such as serious illness. If a claim is approved at least 72 hours before the exam, your appointment is cancelled and a refund from Pearson VUE is started. If it is approved later, there is no refund but you get a voucher for the next sitting at no extra charge.
If the centre lets you down, the RCOG’s Pearson VUE policy gives a 50% refund for a validated delay of over 120 minutes. It gives a full refund if a technical problem stops you finishing.
Sitting the DRCOG? Try ten questions free.
The DRCOG Question Bank has 850 questions across the seven RCOG modules, with topic drills, a timed mock and a twelve-chapter revision guide. It is £49.99 for 12 months. Try ten questions first, free and with no sign-up.
Revision resources from the RCOG
The RCOG sells its own DRCOG revision resource through its e-learning site. When we checked, six months’ access cost £64.80. It has 140 single-best-answer questions covering all seven modules, with answers, feedback and learning content. There is also a mini mock of 25 questions drawn at random.
The RCOG also refers to an official revision course. Its DRCOG pages gave no dates or price when we checked, so ask the RCOG if you are interested.
The costs people forget
A Saturday. Both 2027 sittings are on Saturdays: 3 April and 2 October. Most GPs will not lose a clinical session, but it is still a weekend gone. If you have young children, add childcare to the list.
Travel. There are 137 Pearson VUE centres across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Space at any one centre on a given date is not guaranteed. Book late and the nearest free seat may be a long way off. That means fuel, parking or a train fare. A long trip may mean a hotel the night before.
Study time. For most people this is the real cost: weeks of evenings, perhaps with a few sessions dropped near the end. Whether study leave or a study budget can cover any of it depends on your post. Ask your educational supervisor or practice before you pay.
Revision materials. Prices vary a great deal. In our view one good question bank used properly beats three used half-heartedly. It costs less too.
Keeping the bill down
The cheapest DRCOG is the one you pass first time. In our view that means picking a sitting you can prepare for properly, not the first one available. Put the expression of interest deadline in your diary: for April 2027 it is Wednesday 16 December 2026. Book early in the window for the best choice of centre. Check the ID rules the week before.
How this fits the platform
Our DRCOG access is £49.99 for 12 months as a one-off payment with no auto-renewal. Bought before the April 2027 exam, it covers October 2027 as well. It includes the question bank of 850 single-best-answer questions across the seven RCOG modules and a timed mock of 120 questions in three hours. You also get the twelve-chapter revision guide, from contraception to the menopause. The Core Tools, the Core 10 and the Core Calendar come with it. Start at the DRCOG hub or try ten questions free first.
Quick answers
How much does the DRCOG exam cost?
The RCOG lists the fee as £578 including VAT at UK test centres and £482 in the Republic of Ireland. Revision materials and travel are extra.
Does a DRCOG resit cost the full fee?
The RCOG lists no separate resit fee. Each attempt is a new booking, so plan on paying the same fee again.
Can I get a refund if I withdraw from the DRCOG?
Not if you withdraw after the closing date or fail to appear: the regulations say you forfeit the fee. An approved extenuating circumstances claim can lead to a refund or a voucher for the next sitting.
Is the DRCOG cheaper in the Republic of Ireland?
Yes. The fee is £482 at centres in the Republic of Ireland against £578 at UK centres. The band follows the centre where you sit, not where you live.
Core Revision is independent and not affiliated with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
