Changes to the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) timetable from October 2025

From October 2025 the duration of the AKT will change:

• From 200 to 160 items
• From 190 to 160 minutes

Please read the full statement about the changes

What does this mean for candidates?

This reduction in examination duration will result in slightly revised examination timings. While these are not major, they do impact the overall timetable, especially in terms of amended examination start times (please check the table below for full details).

The shorter duration also means we can now offer morning examinations to some candidates with reasonable adjustments for extra time — which was not possible under the previous schedule.

As a result:

• separate rooms will now be available in both sittings (previously limited to afternoon sittings, however these are not guaranteed
• centre availability for those who could previously only sit in the afternoon should also improve.

The new AKT daily timetable

Please note

• There are now 2 different arrival/start times for the morning session:
  • Candidates with standard time or 15 minutes extra will start at the new later time of 09:30.
  • Candidates with 30 minutes or 25% extra will start at the usual time of 09:00.
• For the afternoon examination sitting the start time is now 12:45 for all candidates, including those with extra time adjustments. Examination durations refer only to the examination itself and do not include quarantine or tutorial time.
• Candidates with extra time accommodations (15/30 minutes or 25%) can now be scheduled in either the morning or afternoon examination sitting.
• Candidates with extra time accommodations (50%, 1 and 2 hours) will still need to schedule the afternoon examination sitting only.

The quarantine period

• The quarantine period runs from 12:00 to 12:30, after which all morning candidates are permitted to leave the test centre.
• This period exists to maintain examination security by preventing any interaction between:
  • morning candidates, who have completed the examination, and
  • afternoon candidates, who have not yet begun the examination.

This is consistent with the current examination arrangements.

• Morning candidates must remain seated during quarantine and may not access to personal belongings, centre facilities (e.g. lockers, toilets, or mobile phones) or leave the test centre until the period ends.
• Afternoon candidates must arrive before 12:30 to be processed and admitted to the exam and therefore will have a longer gap between their arrival and the start of the examination to allow for quarantine management; however, unlike morning candidates, they may leave the examination room immediately after completing their examination. When leaving the exam room and test centre please respect that other candidates will still be taking their exam and any disturbance caused whilst a candidate is using will be raised as a case and reported to RCGP.

The application process

For all candidates the application and booking process will remain the same. Please see details of how to book on our website.

However, for candidates with confirmed extra time/separate room/Reader adjustments please take note that:

1. Your approved extra time reasonable adjustments will not show on your initial Pearson VUE confirmation email, i.e. the email will state the standard examination duration of 160 minutes.

Your adjustment request will be confirmed with Pearson VUE after the booking window, and we will send you an email confirming when this has been done.

2. Pearson VUE will process your reasonable adjustment request, then send you a new booking email confirming your extra time/separate room/Reader adjustments (you may also receive an automated email ahead of this, cancelling your original booking)

We recommend that you look at your new booking email very carefully before your examination as the start time of your examination and/or location may change. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that they attend the correct centre at the right time. If you attend the wrong centre or at the wrong time on the day of the examination, the RCGP will not be able to provide an alternative session and you will not be entitled to a refund.

New AKT duration for candidates with reasonable adjustments

* For approved adjustment requests of extra examination time plus additional time for breaks, we tend to round up the overall extended examination length. This means that you may have a few minutes extra on top of your approved time.