Examinations
AKT
12.4. The AKT is a computer-based examination. Marks are generated electronically. Trainees are awarded one mark for each question answered correctly. There is no negative marking.
SCA
12.5. The SCA is an examiner-marked examination, and a trained RCGP examiner marks each case/consultation following the examination day. A different examiner is assigned to each case, resulting in 12 examiners contributing to the overall mark. Examiners do not participate in the consultations.
RCA
12.6. The RCA is an examiner-marked examination, and a trained RCGP examiner marks each case/consultation. A different examiner is assigned to each case. Examiners do not participate in the consultations.
12.7. Trainees are responsible for completing assessments throughout training. All assessors need to be compliant with the GMC regulations for assessors. Guidance on who can complete assessments can be found on the RCGP website. Read 'Who can complete workplace-based assessments'.
12.8. The educational supervisor conducts regular, structured reviews of candidate progress, normally every six months. Deaneries undertake annual reviews of competency progression on all candidates, full time and flexible, in accordance with the requirements of the Gold Guide.
12.9. The educational supervisor makes a recommendation to the deanery on whether the trainee has reached the necessary standard within the planned period of training. A deanery panel review also takes place at the end of training and recommends whether the trainee can proceed to their Certificate of Completion of Training CCT, in accordance with the requirements of the Gold Guide. Trainees who cannot proceed will discuss the implications of further training with their deanery.
Results
Notification of results
13.1. Results for the AKT, SCA and RCA will be published by the RCGP, in accordance with published timescales, via each candidate’s Portfolio. Results are also issued to the trainee's host deanery.
13.2. Examinations Team staff are not permitted to discuss results with individual trainees.
Feedback
13.3. All trainees are given feedback on each component of the examination, in a form consistent with the purpose of the examination component.
13.4. Deaneries are provided with feedback on the performance of individual trainees training in their deanery. Anonymised and statistical information on trainees' performance may be made available to other organisations and published.
AKT
13.5. Individual feedback, with comparative data, is given on performance in each of the three key subject areas. General descriptions about the areas causing difficulty for trainees overall are also published on the AKT examinations website and shared with deaneries.
SCA/RCA
13.6. Quantitative and qualitative feedback is given to all trainees. For trainees for whom fitness to practise concerns are raised, more specific feedback from individual examiners may be made available.
WPBA
13.7. WPBA is a process of continuous assessment and feedback. A trainee's educational supervisor is ultimately responsible for the provision of feedback in this component.
13.8. In accordance with the GMC's expectations about the currency of national professional examinations, AKT, SCA, RCA and CSA passes are valid for seven calendar years from the date when the assessment was undertaken. The seven-year currency rule applies to all trainees, whether the trainee has been in training on a continuous basis or has left and then re-joined the training programme. The College may, however, apply the rule flexibly to a particular cohort in some circumstances.
13.9. AKT trainees impacted by Covid-19: Any trainee (which includes TGPT, LTFT and those on maternity leave) who were in ST2 or ST3 between 18 March 2020 and 3 August 2021, and whose training may therefore have been affected by the pandemic will have had the currency of their AKT examination extended from 7 years to 7 years and 6 months.
13.10. CSA or RCA trainees impacted by Covid-19: Any trainee (which includes TGPT, LTFT and those on maternity leave) who were in ST3 between 18 March 2020 and 3 August 2021, and whose training may therefore have been affected by the pandemic will have had the currency of their CSA, RCA or SCA examination extended from 7 years to 7 years and 6 months.