Comparison

BMJ OnExam vs MCQS

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BMJ OnExam

Prepare for medical exams with a comprehensive revision platform. Access thousands of high-quality questions, detailed explanations, and personalized feedback to identify strengths and weaknesses. Achieve exam success efficiently.

Highlights
  • Thousands of revision questions
  • Content based on exam blueprints
  • Detailed explanations linked to guidelines
  • Personalized feedback and performance metrics
  • Identify strengths and weaknesses
  • Peer performance comparison
Features
Read full description

BMJ OnExam is your first step towards exam success. Our efficient revision platform supports you in creating good revision habits. We are experts in medical exam preparation and create resources based on medical exam blueprints and curriculums. High-Quality Revision Questions With thousands of questions across 37 exams, we have something for every doctor in training right from the start of your career. From medical students, core and specialist trainees, GPs and those becoming a consultant, we will have a resource to help you achieve exam success. Written by experts in their fields who know the specifications of every exam we cover, you can be sure that our questions cover the content you need to know to pass the exam. They are written at the correct level of difficulty and cover the exam curriculum in the right breadth and depth. Each question is peer reviewed and our question banks are regularly updated and link to the latest medical guidelines. Detailed Explanations Comprehensive explanations for every question using information from our world-leading clinical support tool BMJ BestPractice. Explanations will ensure that each question cements your knowledge and helps with recall and understanding. Personalised feedback and support Easily identify your strengths and weaknesses so you can focus your revision where you need it most. Reporting metrics will compare your performance against your peers and indicates your chances of passing your exam.

About

MCQS

Prepare for a wide range of exams with multiple-choice questions and detailed explanations. Offers both free basic access and a premium subscription for unlimited questions, audio, animated, and video content.

Highlights
  • Multiple choice questions for various exams
  • Instant feedback and explanations
  • Adaptive difficulty matching user knowledge
  • Spaced repetition algorithm
  • Premium subscription for advanced content
  • Audio, animated, and video explanations
Features
Read full description

Provides Multiple Choice Questions (MCQS) for many exams. Includes questions for Medical exams such as the USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2, MRCP Part 1, PLAB, FRCR part 1 Image Viewing and FRCR Rapid Reporting exam, FRCR Physics, FRCR part 2a. Also includes questions for Software Certs, such as the Java SE 7 Programmer, Microsoft Exam 70-480: Programming in HTML5 with Javascript and CSS3, Zend Certified PHP Engineer and Linux Professional Institute exams including the Linux Essentials exam. We have now introduced questions at Junior and Secondary levels, such as the Irish Junior and Leaving Certificate, as well as the UK Ordinary and Advanced level exams in Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Easy one-step log-in using Apple or Google log-ins or your own username. Free Features: - Access to basic questions in the topic of your choice - Instant feedback on each question - Questions get harder as you get better so you are always challenged - Accurate estimation of your exam level and chance of success - Basic explanations for each question Premium Features (Monthly Subscription): - Unlimited access to our complete question bank - Audio explanations for complex topics - Animated explanations for better understanding - Video content for selected questions - Advanced spaced repetition algorithm - Targeted questions that address your weaknesses Every question has a relevant explanation that will teach you what you need to know to answer that question correctly the next time round. As you progress, the question difficulty will match your knowledge. MCQS matches your abilities, so you will find tougher questions as you improve. Our algorithm also makes use of spaced repetition to make sure you retain what you've learned. This application is subject to the standard Apple EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

BMJ OnExam4 screens
MCQS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: BMJ OnExam at 4.4 against MCQS's 4.0. BMJ OnExam also leads on ratings volume (26 vs 5). MCQS's advantage is review sentiment (50% vs 42%) and iOS requirement (13.4 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. BMJ OnExam sells 21 one-off in-app purchases and MCQS sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $8.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BMJ OnExam holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BMJ OnExam has 26 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 42% of BMJ OnExam's written reviews are positive against 50% of MCQS's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

BMJ OnExam ships an update monthly, MCQS every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
BMJ OnExam versus MCQS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBMJ OnExamMCQS
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (26 ratings) — better4.0 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews41.7% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings26 — better5
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB29 MB
Age rating17+12+
DeveloperBMJ Groupmartin schranz

Customer experience

BMJ OnExam

All ratings26 ratings
Positive84.6%
Neutral7.7%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews115 reviews
Positive41.7%
Neutral13.9%
Negative44.3%

MCQS

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

21 purchases

BMJ OnExam

One-time21
  • NMC Part 1 (4 Months)$9.99
  • PLAB (4 Months)$9.99
  • NMC Part 1 - CBT 4 Months$9.99
Show 18 more
  • Med Std Years 1 to 3 12 Months$14.00
  • MRCGP (AKT) 1 Month$34.99
  • MRCP Part 1 1 Month$39.99
  • Final FRCA 1 month$39.99
  • GP ST Stage 2 (3 Months)$54.99
  • Final FRCA 3 months$59.99
  • MRCGP (AKT) (3 Months)$69.99
  • MRCP Part 1 (3 Months)$79.99
  • FRCA Primary (3 Months)$79.99
  • GP ST Stage 2 (6 Months)$84.99
  • MRCS Part A 1 and 2 (3 Months)$94.99
  • FRCA Primary (6 Months)$99.99
  • MRCP Part 1 (6 Months)$109.99
  • MRCGP (AKT) (6 Months)$109.99
  • MRCS Part A 1 and 2 (6 Months)$119.99
  • FRCS General Surgery 8 Months$119.99
  • FRCS General Surgery 11 Months$149.99
  • SCE Endo/Diabetes (12 Months)$199.99
1 purchases

MCQS

Subscriptions1
  • Unlimited access$8.991 Month

Questions

Is BMJ OnExam free?
BMJ OnExam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MCQS free?
MCQS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, BMJ OnExam or MCQS?
BMJ OnExam is rated higher. BMJ OnExam averages 4.4 out of 5 from 26 ratings, while MCQS averages 4.0 from 5 ratings.
Do BMJ OnExam or MCQS have ads?
Neither BMJ OnExam nor MCQS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BMJ OnExam or MCQS?
BMJ OnExam ships an update monthly, and MCQS every 2 weeks. Most recently, BMJ OnExam was updated on September 23, 2026 and MCQS on September 2, 2026.

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