Resources for candidates
Preparing to take the MRCGP Applied Knowledge Test: A concise guide for candidates (PDF file, 177 KB) - offers a clear overview of what is required.
Preparing for the AKT video - a recorded interview with three successful ST2 GP candidates. Please watch for practical preparation advice and top tips, with a summary at the end.
InnovAIT - designed to support GP registrars, each issue contains articles on exam preparation.
Understanding Single Best Answer questions (SBAs)
The AKT exam contains a variety of question formats including mainly SBAs, but also Multiple Best Answers (MBAs), Free Text (FT) and Extended Matching Questions (EMQs).
If you have had little experience of SBAs in the past, or are re-sitting the AKT, please discuss this Understanding SBAs guide (PDF file, 258 KB) with your GP Educator, in conjunction with the many other exam preparation resources available on this website.
PASSAKT
The following helpful mnemonic was created and shared by Dr Jasvinder Kandola. He reflected on his own experience and talked to other GP registrars across Wessex who had initially been unsuccessful before passing their AKT.
- Prepare early
- Ask for help from peers, training programme directors & education supervisor
- Study groups and study partners
- Sit the exam after primary care experience
- Apply clinical knowledge when seeing patients
- Know your clinical guidelines
- Take the exam when right for your circumstances
AKT tutorials
In this series of videos, Dr Chris Elfes, former Clinical Lead for the AKT, talks to Dr Margaret Mascarenhas, a GP Training Programme Director.
Episode 1: Supporting GP Trainers and Registrars
This podcast provides an overview of the AKT and helps to guide registrars who are preparing for the AKT. The podcast also contains helpful guidance on how GP trainers and registrars can maximise tutorial time when preparing for the AKT.
View Supporting GP Trainers and Registrars
Episode 2: Readiness to sit the AKT
This video provides advice on how registrars can analyse their own readiness to sit the AKT, in conjunction with advice from their GP trainers and wider GP educational team.
Episode 3: Resitting the AKT
This video provides support and guidance for registrars who are resitting the AKT. We discuss successful strategies to help in passing the exam.
Data interpretation
Read the RCGP Curriculum topic covering data interpretation.
Data interpretation in the AKT (PDF file, 1.1 MB) - for candidates and GP educators to use in tutorials and peer group learning. Aims to kick-start conversations about the importance of interpreting data we encounter in primary care.
Data interpretation video tutorials
Professor Michael Harris is an experienced GP and Professor of Primary Care based near Bath. One of his many areas of expertise includes teaching about critical appraisal skills and medical statistics. He was commissioned to independently produce these excellent videos in response to candidate requests for data interpretation teaching resources.
The videos aim to help understand data interpretation found in both day-to-day clinical practice and common reading materials. The views expressed are those of Professor Harris and the content is purposefully detailed.
The AKT assesses basic understanding and principles, such as interpreting graphs and charts as well as simple calculations. The level of detail in the videos may be higher than that which is being tested, but we trust this is helpful to candidates. Please note that a transcript of each video can be viewed by expanding the video description and clicking on ‘show transcript’.
Understanding research data - Professor Michael Harris talks to Dr Margaret Mascarenhas (a Training Programme Director) to provide an overview of statistical terms and how they apply to understanding research data in clinical medicine. A transcript summary of this resource is also available: how to understand research data (PDF file, 306 KB).
Qualitative research - Professor Michael Harris discusses the use of qualitative research in general practice.
Systematic review and meta-analysis - Professor Michael Harris discusses the use of systematic review, meta-analysis and the use of forest and funnel plots.
Interpreting diagnostic test statistics - Professor Michael Harris discusses with GP registrars common statistical concepts.
Interpreting risk – Professor Michael Harris discussing how to interpret risk and present the effectiveness of a treatment.
How to interpret the results of a randomised control trial - tutorial with Professor Michael Harris discussing data interpretation.
Data interpretation topics in recent AKTs
GP administration
Organisation and management topics in recent AKTs.
Exam practice
Download the following documents to see 50 AKT practice questions and the answers:
Each online issue of InnovAiT contains questions and answers to help GP registrars identify their educational needs. There are more issues available from our archive. Access InnovAiT online.
Interactive tutorial of practice exam
On the day of the examination before sitting the AKT, you'll do a practice tutorial with example questions. It should help to familiarise you with the look and feel of the AKT testing platform.
See an example of a Pearson practice tutorial.
Resources for the GP educator
GP educators are in a prime position to support GP registrars in their AKT exam preparation. The AKT is 80% clinical medicine, 10% data interpretation/critical appraisal skills and 10% primary care organisation/management questions.
Please see the following information about some of the ways that you can help with these areas, and about discussions to have with GP registrars considering sitting the AKT.
- How trainers can help with AKT preparation (PDF file, 260 KB)
- MRCGP candidate presentation (PPTX file, 3.4 MB)
Single Best Answer (SBA) Writing workshop for GP educators
RCGP Headquarters, 30 Euston Square, London
Thursday 26 March 2026, 10:00 - 15:30
Many educators - including highly experienced clinicians - have had limited exposure to UK-based SBA item writing processes, expectations, and quality assurance standards. This one-day interactive workshop is designed for qualified GP educators who wish to:
- Better understand how SBAs function as assessment tools
- Improve their ability to critique and teach SBA construction
- Support GP Registrars and colleagues in creating good questions
- Gain insight into UK SBA writing conventions and common pitfalls
- Level the playing field for those with less direct experience of UK SBA item writing
- Develop relevant skills for those interested in future advertised AKT group roles
- Stay current with assessment practice in the context of evolving SBA design
- The structure of high-quality SBAs
- How SBA questions are created, refined, and quality-assured in the UK
- How to recognise common SBA flaws
This is an interactive day, with presentations by item writing experts from the MRCGP AKT Core Group, followed by:
- Group discussion
- Live question development
- Critiquing and repairing flawed questions
- Peer learning with other GP Educators
Participants will hopefully leave with greater confidence and some practical resources.
This course is potentially for:
- GP Trainers
- Educational Supervisors
- Training Programme Directors
- Associate Deans
- GP educators with limited prior exposure to UK SBA item writing
- Educators interested in developing skills relevant to future AKT roles
If you fit the above criteria and are interested in attending, please email the examinations team (exams@rcgp.org.uk), with the following information:
- Name
- GMC number
- Role in GP Education
Places are limited and so not guaranteed; we will contact all interested parties by Friday 13 March to confirm attendance.