MRCGP appeals
16.9. An appeal is a request for a review of a decision of the RCGP to fail or disqualify a trainee in a component of the MRCGP. No appeal will be considered solely on the grounds that the trainee wishes to challenge the academic judgment of the examiners or where the candidate did not understand or was unaware of the Examination Regulations.
16.10. The RCGP’s Appeals Policy is published on the website. Read the MRCGP Appeals Policy on the RCGP website.
16.11. Appeals relating to the AKT, SCA or RCA components of the MRCGP must be made to the RCGP, and must be lodged by the trainee, not a third party. Appeals relating to WPBA must be made to the deanery. All deaneries operate an appeals system in accordance with the Gold Guide.
16.12. There are three stages of appeal dependent on the nature of the assessment and the relevant decision:
- Stage 1 – Review of examination result (AKT and SCA only)
- Stage 2 – Appeal (AKT, RCA and SCA)
- Stage 3 – Independent Appeal Review.
16.13. Separate appeals must be made if a trainee wishes to appeal against failure in more than one component of the MRCGP. There are administrative fees for the different stages of appeal, and trainees are referred to Appendix 2 of the Appeal policy for more details. Read the Appeals Policy on the RCGP website.
16.14. Requests for appeals must be submitted using the correct form and with supporting evidence. The form and supporting evidence must be emailed to exams@rcgp.org.uk. Hard copies sent by post will not be accepted. The request for appeal forms are available on the RCGP website. Access the appeal forms on the RCGP website.
16.15. A Stage 1 Review of an examination result is applicable for both the AKT and SCA examination and is a clerical check for errors in the examination process, including in the calculation or collation of marks and grades and correcting any errors that are identified.
16.16. A Stage 1 Review must be requested within 10 working days of the publication of the result of the examination to which the request relates.
16.17. The outcome of the Stage 1 Review will be reported to the trainee within 28 days of the receipt of the request and payment of fees.
16.18. A Stage 2 Appeal is applicable for trainees who wish to appeal either in relation to the AKT, SCA or RCA examination. The stage 2 Appeal can be made against:
- the outcome of a Stage 1 Review of Examination Result (AKT and SCA)
- the decision of the RCGP to fail a trainee in an examination of the MRCGP (AKT, SCA and RCA)
- the decision of RCGP to disqualify a trainee and annul their examination outcome because of an examination misconduct investigation.
16.19. A Stage 2 Appeal must be requested within 10 working days of the publication of the result of the examination to which the request relates, or 28 days from the outcome of a Stage 1 Review of Examination Result (AKT and SCA).
16.20. The outcome of the Stage 2 Review will be reported to the trainee within 45 days of the receipt of the request and payment of fees.
16.21. A Stage 3 Independent Appeal Review is the final avenue of the appeal and only available following the outcome of the Stage 2 Appeal.
16.22. A request for a Stage 3 Independent Appeal Review can only be made on the basis that the RCGP has not followed its own appeals policy in handling the initial appeal.
16.23. A Stage 3 Independent Appeal Review must be requested within 15 working days of the outcome of a Stage 2 Appeal.
16.24. The outcome of the Stage 3 Independent Appeal Review will be reported to the trainee within 15 working days of the Independent Appeal Panel being convened.
16.25. Once the outcome has been communicated to the trainee the RCGP will not enter any further correspondence regarding the appeal.