How To Pass The MRCGP AKT Exam?

📝 What is the AKT exam❓

📝 Technical aspects of AKT

📝 When can you take the AKT exam❓ 

📝 How can you prepare for the AKT exam❓ 

📝 What resources are available for the AKT exam❓

📝 What I can expect the day of AKT exam❓

📝 What to bring to the AKT exam❓

📝 Test security

📝 Non disclosure agreement 

📝 Summary

What is the AKT exam❓

The Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) is one part of the three components of the MRCGP qualification that is necessary to complete the GP training 🏨 in the UK 🌍. 

The AKT is an assessment of the knowledge base that supports independent general practice in the UK 🌍 within the conditions of the National Health Service 🏨. 

The exam 📝 aims to test your application of knowledge and it is not just a test of how much you know. 

All the questions❓ asked relate to important issues in the context of UK 🌍 general practice 🏨 and trainees competence in applying knowledge in problem solving at a high level for independent practice rather than the recollection of facts. 

Technical aspects of the AKT Exam

The AKT exam 📝 is offered 3-4 times a year at 150 Pearson VUE professional testing centres across the UK 🌍. 

It is a computer 💻 based test which lasts three hours and ten minutes. It comprises of 200 questions❓, of which 80% of question❓ items will be on clinical medicine, 10% on primary care organisational issues (including administrative, ethical, regulatory and statutory frameworks) and 10% on evidence interpretation (including the critical appraisal skills needed to interpret research data). 

The majority of the questions❓ are single best answer and extended matching questions❓ but the test also includes short answer questions❓ where you type the answer into a box, picture based questions❓, video questions❓ and algorithm questions❓. 

The exam 📝 consists of 200 questions❓, giving you approximately 57 seconds to answer each question❓ and this is timed by an on screen timer. 

When can you take the AKT exam❓

For the AKT exam 📝, there is no defined right or wrong time to take the exam 📝. 

The earlier, the better, as passing AKT in ST2 can make your ST3 year less stressful. 

These days more people tend to sit the AKT exam 📝 earlier and may attempt it at the first opportunity in ST2. If one is able to pass at this attempt it is preferable, however many still struggle when taking the exam 📝 too early. This can be due to one or a combination of reasons such as; attempting the first time as a trial, underestimating the exam 📝 and what is needed during preparation, current job restrictions that do not allow enough preparatory time, lack of GP experience 🏨, using only one resource for preparation (e.g. only question❓ banks or only reading).  

Trainees can have a maximum of 4 allowed attempts for the examination 📝. 

How can you prepare for the AKT exam❓

To prepare for the AKT exam 📝, it is advisable not to rely on only one resource. 

The most common resources when preparing for the AKT are guidelines based and question❓ bank based. 

It is best to combine both as practising with only the question❓ banks cannot cover every aspect of the exam 📝 and also revision with guidelines and books will not give you a sense of the question❓ structuring. This is why they should be used simultaneously in preparation. 

It is also essential to read the latest RCGP guidance as examiners are always adjusting or tweaking the exam 📝 questions❓. 

You should also try to speak ? to a lot of people who have already successfully passed the exam 📝 to take their feedback and experiences into account when preparing, as they can highlight key areas of difficulty for more focus. 

It is crucial that you make a schedule on how you will cover the areas of the exam 📝 and make sure you stick to it. 

Whilst working on real consultations with patients, you also can use this medium to highlight areas in which you need to improve on. 

You should also look into attending an AKT preparatory course while using the question❓ banks and books, as using just the question❓ banks repeatedly can make you used to a certain types of questions❓, so it is best to have multiple types of resources.  

You should also acquaint yourself with some of the key references such as;

📝 RCGP Curriculum.

📝 NICE CKS guidelines.

📝 Oxford Handbook of General Practice.

📝 BNF and Paediatric BNF.

What resources are available from I-medics❓

1) FREE MRCGP AKT exam question bank: 2500 plus Question❓ Bank structured according to the RCGP. This helps you learn everything you need to know to pass the AKT exam 📝 on your first try 1st time. There are a wide range of packages to choose from such as; 

📝 FREE Package containing 2500 MCQs, 3 Podcasts and 3 Videos 

📝 BRONZE Package containing 2500 MCQs, 10 Podcasts , 10 Videos, and Flashcards 

📝 SILVER Package containing 2500 MCQs, 100 Podcasts, 100 Videos and Flashcards 

📝 GOLD Package containing 3500 MCQs,  350 Podcasts, 750 Videos and Flashcards  

https://i-medics.co.uk/aktcombined

2) AKT Live monthly webinar: join our LIVE monthly webinar and listen to experienced members of the RCGP speak to trainees looking to take the exam 📝. We cover different topic every month; to join just drop us an email and we will send you a registration link: CLICK HERE.

3) 350+ Podcast Library: containing 350+ UK 🌍 NICE CKS guideline summary podcasts based on the latest UK 🌍 medical guidelines. It is also useful as GP  🏨 CPD learning with 19 CPD points. The podcasts are on 350+ topics lasting 19 hours. The podcast guidelines are updated on monthly basis, in line with NICE guidelines. They are downloadable as MP3 to your phone, car, USB etc. (any audio device).

 https://i-medics.co.uk/podcasts

4) FREE Revision Flash Cards: These flash cards contain must know daily information for PLAB, Juniors doctors or GP trainees 🏨. This is an extremely useful reference guide when revising or on wards/ in clinics. 

 https://i-medics.co.uk/flashcards

5) Virtual ZOOM AKT Mock Exam: This is a full day AKT mock exam 📝. 200 AKT high yield questions❓ will be administered in virtual mock exam 📝. This takes place from 10:00-20:00 UK 🌍 GMT. It is a 3 hours and 10 minutes AKT exam 📝 taken from the comfort of your own home.There will be experienced members of the RCGP present on the day. After the lunch break, 6 hours of marking questions❓ and explaining relevant latest NICE guidelines will occur. All questions❓ will be reviewed with in-depth feedback and exam 📝 technique explained. Clinical Medicine, Statistics and Organisation domains are all covered.

https://i-medics.co.uk/aktmock 

What I can expect the day of AKT exam❓

You should always arrive at your test centre on or before time. Admission times are quite strict so it is important that transportation and parking time is factored into the total time needed to arrive, as any candidate arriving late will not be admitted into the exam 📝. 

The test will be conducted at a computer 💻 work station and you will be given the opportunity to complete a tutorial before the test begins to acquaint yourself with the test format and how to operate the computer 💻.

All personal items will not be allowed into the test and you must leave them in the locker room. Items such as mobile phones, bags, electronic devices 💻, watches, wallets, food or drink items are examples of such items not allowed. 

You will however be allowed to leave the test for toilet breaks or water but your exam 📝 time will not be extended. 

What to bring❓

You will need to bring with you some form of identification document to be admitted into the test centre. These should be both of the following: 

1) A current valid passport or UK 🌍 photo card driving licence as photographic ID

2) A current credit or debit card showing your name and signature as secondary ID

The names on the documents will be cross referenced with that used when submitting your application to the RCGP, so it is essential that they must match exactly. If the names do differ, you must provide an additional original document that links the two names for example your maiden name and your married name will need to be verified by a marriage certificate. If you are unable to provide the required document, you will not be admitted into the test and this can be avoided by proper planning, so if you have any questions❓ as to what documents can suffice, you should always contact the RCGP before the exam 📝 date to enable you obtain the right documents for admission. 

Test security

On the day of the exam 📝, two tests are usually administered in two different sessions; morning and afternoon. 

To maintain the reliability of the test 📝, candidates from the the morning session are not allowed to leave the test area until the afternoon session candidates have arrived. 

It is important to note this and factor this time in (if you are a morning candidate) when accounting for total time ⏱ needed to complete the test. 

The test centres are equipped with CCTV cameras to ensure that no candidates breach security/exam 📝 protocols. 

Non disclosure agreement

The test items are confidential to the RCGP. Candidates taking the test will be required to sign ✍ an agreement not to disclose the details or information of any of the items used in the test.

Summary

The MRCGP AKT Exam can be a challenging exam 📝 for most candidates and has a considerable failure rate (approx 1 out of 3 candidates will fail). 

This exam 📝 covers a large curriculum so allowing enough preparatory time is paramount to successfully passing it. Candidates will need to create proper plans and schedules to prepare in a methodical way. Candidates will gain both knowledge and question❓ structure practice when preparing for this exam 📝 as they are required to use multiple resources. Preparation for this exam 📝 will also equip you with knowledge needed for the MRCGP CSA exam 📝 when the time comes and also will help you in your everyday practice. 

Regardless of the pass and failure rates, it is indeed possible to pass the exam 📝 through effective preparation, not only by practising question❓ banks but by forming an understanding of what is being assessed, your current knowledge and how to problem solve by applying said knowledge. In summary the key areas that need to be focused on are: 

Getting advise from colleagues 🏨 who have successfully passed on when to sit for the exam 📝, what materials they used, how they planned their time, what challenges they encountered along the way. This is so you can make sure you learn from their experiences, avoid any mistakes and focus on the right areas. 

Deciding on what time works best for you. When do you think is the right time to sit for the exam 📝? What are your current rotations and what fits well with your training or life commitments.  

Speak to programme directors and supervisors to know if other support is available; for example, if you can be permitted study leave time exam 📝. 

Consider how you personally study and how much time you need to prepare for the exam 📝. What materials do you have access to and which ones can you get access to. How do you create a schedule and make sure you stick to it with your current rotations and life. 

Make use of multiple resources. Find out which ones are available and up to date. You can register for courses, make use of guidelines and utilise question❓ banks.

Familiarizing yourself with the exam 📝 procedure. What happens on the day, asking colleagues of their experiences. How much time you have and practising based on the exam timing. The areas the exam 📝 will cover and which ones you find challenging. 

Do not forget to take all the documents needed for entry to the exam 📝.

Rest properly before the exam 📝 and try not to over study right before the exam 📝 as you may already be saturated!

Good luck and best wishes from the i-medics team!