Void examination attempts following diagnosis of disability

Following the Judicial Review by Mr Justice Garnham on 26 August 2024, the RCGP has formulated a new policy on examination attempts for candidates who receive a late disability diagnosis.

As of 17 December 2024, the MRCGP Regulations have been updated to reflect the changes.

Please note that while we acknowledge that previous sittings can be voided following a diagnosis of disability, we are unable to issue refunds for these voided examinations. This is in line with our examination policies, which are equally applied to all candidates.

If you receive a diagnosis of a disability of which you were previously unaware, the RCGP may void any previous attempts taken while having that disability without the appropriate reasonable adjustments.

To apply, please follow these steps:

• Submit a voided examination attempts application form
• Submit supporting evidence to exams.accoms@rcgp.org.uk

Candidates may fall into a number of categories and wonder how this impacts them. Please see the FAQ below which covers each situation. If candidates have any further questions, they should email exams.accoms@rcgp.org.uk.

1a. I believe I qualify under 5.3b and may now have additional attempt/s remaining and am still in training

You should contact the examinations team via the online form and if confirmed you will be able to  reserve and book onto the examination. You could then continue to take attempts at the AKT and SCA up to your maximum limit while you are still in training. 

1b. I believe I qualify under 5.3b and may have additional attempt/s remaining but am about to exit training before I have another opportunity for a further examination attempt

You should contact the examinations team via the online form and if confirmed you will be able to reserve and book on to the examination.

Paragraph 5.4 of the regulations continues to apply in that you could sit one of the examinations in the twelve-month period immediately following exit from training without receiving a CCT as long as you have already passed the other examination and WPBA. Candidates must in this situation apply for GP registrations via the Portfolio Pathway (Approved Programme). The only way to ensure a CCT is to have an agreed extension to training with your deanery. Any questions around extensions would need to be discussed with your TPD and will be subject to the recommendations of the Gold Guide. 

If you have not passed all other elements of the tripos you would not be eligible to sit the examination. If you still have attempts remaining within the one-year period after exiting training but have failed more than once in this time you should contact the examinations team at exams.accoms@rcgp.org.uk.

1c. I believe I qualify under 5.3b and may have additional attempt/s remaining but have exited training, although I remain within a year of exiting training

You should contact the examinations team via the online form and if confirmed you will be able to reserve and book on to the examination.

Paragraph 5.4 of the regulations continues to apply in that you could sit one of the examinations in the twelve-month period immediately following exit from training without receiving a CCT as long as you have already passed the other examination and WPBA. Candidates must in this situation apply for GP registrations via the Portfolio Pathway (Approved Programme). This period of twelve months began from the date you exited training. The only way to ensure a CCT is to have an agreed extension to training. 

If you have not passed all other elements of the tripos you would not be eligible to sit the examination. If you still have attempts remaining within the one-year period after exiting training but have failed more than once in this time you should contact the examinations team at exams.accoms@rcgp.org.uk.

1d. I believe I qualify under 5.3b and may have additional attempt/s remaining but I exited training over 12 months ago

You may contact the examinations team via the online form, however if confirmed you would still need to be in training or within one year of exiting training to be eligible to sit the examination again. You may wish to discuss this with the deanery where you were in training.

2. What evidence do I need to provide the examinations team in order to apply for the voiding of previous attempts due to a diagnosis of disability?

All requirements for appropriate evidencing of a disability are outlined on the reasonable adjustments section of the Examination website. The sooner you notify the examinations team at exams.accoms@rcgp.org.uk, the sooner we can undertake this process for you.

3. How long will it take for an application to be reviewed and then communicated?

If all information in the online form is completed in line with the guidance, we would anticipate making decisions in a timely manner. We aim to get back to candidates with our decision in around 10 working days. If we require more time due to busy periods or complexity of your case, we will inform you of this within 10 working days and may need up to 28 working days to confirm our decision.

All timeframes for reasonable adjustments are the same as those outlined on the reasonable adjustments section of the Examination website. The sooner you notify the examinations team at exams.accoms@rcgp.org.uk, the sooner we can ensure these are in place for future attempts.

4. Is an application for the voiding of previous attempts a different process to applying for the reasonable adjustment itself?

Yes, once the RCGP team have confirmed that further attempts are possible, you should apply for your reasonable adjustment as soon as possible. If you already have an adjustment in place on record, and it does not need to change, then this will remain. In all other cases you should apply again within the advertised deadlines.

• Reasonable adjustments webpage