The MRCGP AKT is a challenging exam and one of 3 parts of the MRCGP. In this article, Dr Kaylea Clark shares her experience of preparing for the AKT, resources she used, and tips that helped her pass with an exceptional 94% overall!
I sat the AKT in April 2024 and was amazed to obtain an overall score of 94%, with 100% in both Admin and Statistics. At the start of my AKT prep I felt quite lost, the curriculum is huge and there is an abundance of revision sources available. It was difficult to know where to start, what to start with, and when. The Emedica team have asked me to share my experiences preparing for the AKT, in the hopes that it can help others with their AKT preparation.

To prepare for the AKT I used a variety of resources; RCGP Courses, Passmedicine, GP Self-Test, Fourteen Fish, Red Whale and the Emedica AKT Pass Guarantee Programme (PGP).
Question Banks
During my preparation for the exam, I found the same questions being asked by other candidates online; “which bank is the best?” and “which bank is most like the exam?” Having used a few banks, I don’t believe there is a ‘best’ one, and none are exactly like the exam. I feel that the bank has to be right for the person using it, as there are pros and cons to each of them.
Passmedicine
I really like Passmedicine. I used it for Medical School Finals and the MSRA. I find their explanations very comprehensive with links to the relevant guidelines. Their High Yield Text Book is concise for an easy re-fresh of the learning obtained from previous questions. I also enjoyed reading the discussion boards following each question; through this I found handy aide memoirs and a few funny jokes which kept morale high.
These questions are hard, there is no doubt about that. I would be scoring high 80s on Passmedicine and mere 50s with Emedica. But these questions are meant to challenging; by completing this bank I was prompted to delve into the fine print of the guidelines (which I undoubtably would not have done otherwise). The fine print is where some of my AKT exams questions originated. These questions highlighted my learning needs, and the explanations were concise and to the point. I liked this as I could cover a lot of questions in a short time frame.
GP-Self Test
Probably my least preferred question bank. I found the questions varied between very simple, or very obscure with limited rationale given for the answers. Some questions would sign post me to a relevant guideline or journal article, while others would link back to the RCGP Curriculum list for that topic. This was useful to structure my revision but did not offer any additional information on the question I had gotten wrong. GP Self-Test is free for all associates in training which is great, and I gained the most benefit from the Mocks and Curriculum Wide Assessments. I did on average 1 mock or curriculum wide assessment each week for the 2 months leading up to the exam. This allowed me to identify and address my areas of weakness, as well as developed my exam technique and endurance.
Revision Packages
Fourteen Fish AKT Package
The videos were a welcome reprieve from the never-ending reading. I often found myself reading a topic, completing some questions and then watching the related video as a form of consolidation. There are lots of videos to choose from, covering a vast amount of the AKT Curriculum. I personally found the statistics series within this package invaluable. The speakers move slowly through the statistics curriculum, explaining worked examples and identifying the common pitfalls that trainees encounter when answering questions.
Emedica 90 Day Pass Guarantee Programme
I spent so long debating whether or not to do this programme. I chose to sit my AKT 8 months into my GP Training (I am on the Combined Programme) and, due to my limited GP experience, I wanted to maximise my chances of passing first time. This programme is intense (and hard) but also really fun.
There are several elements to the programme, including the question bank I discussed above:
– WhatsApp Group > I was placed into a WhatsApp group with approximately 30 doctors also enrolled onto the PGP. We would answer the same 22-42 questions each day and discuss our learning. In the event that there was a topic that we did not understand, there were moderators within the group to respond when required. This group was a great source of support, both academically and mentally as revision can be quite isolating (especially when you are the only one in your cohort sitting it).
– Seminars > The PGP hosted several full day courses and evening seminars which were very useful as they covered each of the 3 domains. These courses would each follow a similar format: question, then answer and explanation. The questions varied in intensity and the score you received from the questions would give you an indication as to your level of preparedness. We received a copy of the slides in advance, which I would annotate throughout the session, and then used these to refresh my learning the weekend before the exam. The regular contact with the Emedica faculty made them feel very approachable, which empowered me to ask lots of questions.
– Additional Resources > With the PGP you receive a physical package containing clinical case cards, a statistics book, a course timetable and curriculum checklist. You also have access to an online resource bank with the hyperlinks to useful websites (some of which I would have not found on my own), condensed revision material (High Yield DVLA Guidelines), and additional pre-recorded tutorials. This page saved me a huge amount of time finding relevant and reliable reference material.
– Guided Reading > The PGP gives you a reading list each day, which is then consolidated within the following days questions from the bank described above.
Red Whale
While not specifically a ‘package’ I had to mention this resource. Red Whale is a resource created by GPs for GPs. The team have reviewed and condensed many guidelines into easy-to read articles or GEMS. The articles cover a vast array of conditions and explain the underlying pathophysiological processes of conditions to explain the rational for our investigations and management options. I find understanding the ‘why’ behind the presentation or action helps me to remember the information. They also have 1-2 page summaries (GEMS) of many common GP presentations (which are also included within the AKT high yield topic list). These provided excellent aide memoires for me the day before the exam.
RCGP Statistics Course
This course was excellent! It was split into 2 half day sessions with the option of face-to-face or virtual (I chose virtual). The course was hosted by a statistician, who would explain statistical concepts in bitesize chunks. They provided worked examples, and tested our understanding with additional questions. The most beneficial part of this course was the time that was available to ask questions. As this course was split into 2 half days, I did not feel cognitively overloaded or overwhelmed. They provided a revision booklet which I referred to throughout the session, and used this as an aide memoire to refresh the concepts immediately before my exam.
My Top Tips
Have a plan and stick to it > I planned what I was going to revise and when on a calendar. Knowing that life can throw a few curve balls, I allocated ‘catch up’ sessions for myself to make sure I kept on track. This allowing me to ensure that I covered most of the RCGP curriculum.
Remember to rest > This is easier said than done; especially with the almost never ending RCGP Curriculum. It took me a while to accept that I was not going to be able to complete all of it, and having a rest evening every now and then, made my revision much more productive.

Give yourself enough time > This exam is hard, and the curriculum is vast. There is varying advice as to ‘how much time’ you should allocate to your preparation, but it is entirely dependent on the person. I studied consistently for 4 months; but I had no dependents and had already completed the FRCEM Primary and Intermediate during my Emergency Medicine Training. Your situation may be different.
Try to do a mock/curriculum wide assessment each week for the 6 weeks preceding the exam > This exam is long, and cognitive stamina is required to ward off decision fatigue.
Create a Revision Team > One of the most valuable elements of the PGP was the group WhatsApp chat. This space provided support and collaborative discussions to develop our understanding of complex topics. Through this group I have met so many incredible people and we have remained in touch since.
Exam Day
Before the exam: Have a good (large) breakfast. I had porridge in the morning and then toast and jam before my sitting in the afternoon, 3+ hours is a long time to feel hungry.
After the exam: Go and do something fun! I dragged my dog on a hike in Wales where there was no signal. It is easy to ruminate on difficult questions and worry that you’ve failed. There is nothing that can be changed at this point and we are much more likely to remember the questions that we struggled with.
I am aware that the above may seem overwhelming, I would encourage you to reflect on how you learn, and engage with the resources which align to your preferred learning style. One thing I have learnt from the AKT process is that one shoe definitely does not fit all.
Good Luck with your exam preparation!!!

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