How to Pass the AKT
The RCGP Applied Knowledge Test is one of the three components of the MRCGP exam. It tests your clinical knowledge, evidence-based practice, and understanding of professional and organisational topics. This guide covers everything you need to know to prepare effectively.
The exam at a glance
Since October 2025, the AKT has 160 questions in 2 hours 40 minutes. That is one minute per question with no negative marking. The exam is computer-based and sat at a Pearson VUE test centre. Check the current exam dates for booking windows and sitting dates.
How long should you revise?
Most trainees start 3 to 6 months before the exam. The key is consistency rather than volume. A few focused sessions each week will do more for your retention than a weekend of cramming. If you are working full time (and almost every GP trainee is), plan for 3 to 5 sessions of 15 to 30 minutes per week.
AKT Navigator sessions are 15 to 20 minutes with 10 questions picked for your weak areas. The algorithm handles the planning so you just open the app and start. You can also use the 50+ hours of audio revision during your commute, gym sessions, or any time you are away from a screen.
Study strategy that works
The biggest mistake trainees make is doing thousands of random questions without a strategy. Targeted revision, where you focus on your weak areas, is far more effective. Here is what works:
1. Start with a baseline
Take a full-length mock exam under timed conditions before you start revising. It shows you where you stand and which topics need the most work.
2. Focus on your weak areas
Spend more time on topics you scored lowest on. This sounds obvious, but many trainees default to revising what they already know because it feels productive.
3. Do questions, not just reading
Active recall (answering questions) is more effective than passive reading. Use a question bank as your primary revision tool, with textbooks and guidelines for reference.
4. Do not neglect the non-clinical topics
Evidence-based practice and organisational topics make up 20% of the AKT. Many trainees skip them because they feel less interesting. That is 32 questions on the exam.
5. Practice under timed conditions
The new 160-question format gives you one minute per question. Many trainees report feeling rushed. Regular timed mocks build the speed you need.
6. Review your mistakes properly
When you get a question wrong, read the full explanation. Understand why the correct answer is correct, not just what it is. This is where the real learning happens.
Common mistakes
These are the pitfalls that trip up trainees who know their clinical medicine but still struggle on exam day:
- Running out of time. One minute per question means you cannot deliberate. If you are unsure, make your best guess and move on. There is no negative marking.
- Ignoring drug side effects. A recurring theme in AKT questions. Know the common side effects of SSRIs, statins, ACE inhibitors, and antiepileptics.
- Skipping statistics. Sensitivity, specificity, NNT, and study design questions are free marks if you learn the formulas. Most trainees avoid them.
- Not doing enough mocks. A single mock is not enough. You need repeated practice to build the pacing and stamina the real exam demands. AKT Navigator lets you generate unlimited mocks from over 20,000 questions.
The 32 AKT topics
The AKT curriculum spans 32 topics. Around 80% of questions are clinical medicine (including life stages such as children, older adults, and end of life), 10% cover evidence-based practice and statistics, and 10% cover organisational and professional topics.
Clinical (22 topics)
Professional (6 topics)
How to know you are ready
Take a full 160-question mock under timed conditions. If you are consistently scoring above 75% and finishing with time to spare, you are in a good position. Pay attention to the debrief: if you are still getting entire topics wrong or showing fatigue patterns, there is more work to do.
AKT Navigator's AI-powered mock debriefs catch patterns you cannot see yourself, like confidently-wrong topics and time management issues.
Free resources
Content aligned to NICE CKS and the RCGP curriculum. Written by a GP trainee. Last reviewed March 2026.
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