Medication monitoring
Know common monitoring patterns for high-use GP medicines: renal function, U&Es, LFTs, blood counts and therapeutic-drug checks where relevant.
MRCGP AKT prescribing and medication safety
AKT prescribing is not just drug trivia. The exam can test whether you recognise unsafe monitoring, side effects, prescribing errors, higher-risk patients and safe repeat-prescribing systems in UK general practice.
Prescribing and medication safety
Short answer
AKT prescribing revision should focus on safe prescribing decisions, contraindications, pregnancy and breastfeeding, renal impairment, controlled drugs, monitoring, interactions, MHRA alerts and BNF/NICE-aligned management. Practise the decision, then use the BNF or NICE CKS to check why it is safe.
Best for
- - high-yield prescribing practice
- - medication safety questions
- - trainees worried about BNF-style scenarios
- - final weak-area revision
What prescribing questions test
Side effects and interactions
Revise predictable side effects, contraindications and interaction traps for common long-term medicines rather than obscure hospital-only drugs.
Repeat prescribing systems
Questions can test safe repeat prescribing, medication reviews, shared-care responsibilities, prescribing records and error prevention.
Higher-risk groups
Pay extra attention to pregnancy, breastfeeding, older adults, children, renal impairment, hepatic impairment and polypharmacy scenarios.
Prescribing errors
Look for wrong dose, wrong formulation, missed monitoring, duplicate therapy, allergy warnings and unsafe continuation after a clinical change.
Recurring AKT feedback themes
April 2026
The official feedback report highlighted common medication monitoring and prescribing errors as areas where candidates struggled.
October 2025
The report highlighted side-effects of long-term medication, reinforcing the need to connect drugs with patient-facing risks.
Recent reports
Prescribing sits alongside statistics, confidentiality, safeguarding and neurology as a recurring revision signal across AKT feedback.
How to revise prescribing safely
Use the BNF and NICE CKS after questions
Do the question first, then check the drug, monitoring requirement or contraindication in a trusted source. That makes the reference search stick.
Build a high-risk medicine list
Track anticoagulants, DMARDs, lithium, antiepileptics, opioids, insulin, steroids, ACE inhibitors, diuretics and common antibiotics.
Practise monitoring as decisions
Do not only memorise intervals. Ask what is unsafe today, what should be checked before prescribing and what advice the patient needs.
Pair questions with audio revision
Use questions for exam decisions, and audio to keep drug groups, side effects and safety principles moving during commutes or low-energy time.
AKT prescribing FAQ
Is prescribing tested in the MRCGP AKT?
Yes. Prescribing is part of the RCGP curriculum and appears in AKT feedback themes. It can be tested through medication monitoring, side effects, contraindications, repeat prescribing, medicines management and safe systems.
Is prescribing high-yield in the AKT?
Yes. Prescribing and medication safety are high-yield because they combine clinical knowledge, risk management and everyday GP systems. Recent AKT feedback has highlighted medication monitoring, prescribing errors and long-term medication side effects.
What prescribing topics should I revise for the AKT?
Prioritise common medication monitoring, side effects and interactions, prescribing in higher-risk groups, repeat prescribing safety, prescribing errors, drug allergies, renal-dose issues and medicines that need extra monitoring.
Should I memorise the BNF for the AKT?
No. Use the BNF and NICE CKS as reference sources during revision. The aim is not to memorise the entire BNF, but to recognise common safety patterns and apply them quickly in AKT-style scenarios.
What prescribing traps come up in AKT-style questions?
Common traps include missing renal impairment, pregnancy or breastfeeding cautions, unsafe repeat prescriptions, drug interactions, allergy warnings, high-risk medicine monitoring and continuing a medicine after the clinical situation has changed.
Why do AKT feedback reports mention prescribing?
Prescribing is high-risk in real GP work and easy to test through applied scenarios. Recent feedback reports have highlighted medication monitoring, prescribing errors and long-term medication side effects.
Official sources
This is revision guidance, not official RCGP advice. Check RCGP, NICE CKS and the BNF for current exam and clinical guidance. Last reviewed June 2026.
October sitting
Oct 26
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days
Keep moving, even on tired days.
Questions, mocks and explanations are free. Your first 2 hours of AKT audio are free. Full 4-month audio access is £79.