AKT Exam Preparation: Study Strategies That Work

Understanding the structure of the RACGP AKT exam is critical to effective revision and exam-day confidence. The AKT comprises 150 multiple-choice questions, conducted over 4 hours, delivered as a paper-based exam in invigilated venues across Australia, providing roughly 96 seconds per question [3][4]

Important details about the AKT include:

• Questions assess clinical reasoning and applied clinical knowledge.
• Question formats include single best-answer and modified extended matching questions.
• There is no negative marking in the AKT exam [5].

The pass mark recently was 65.54% for 2025.1 [1] and 66.44% for 2024.2 [2].

For more details, see our [AKT question format guide].

Starting your AKT exam preparation early is crucial. Evidence consistently shows candidates beginning their revision 4 to 6 months prior to their exam significantly outperform peers who delay revision [2]

Key benefits of starting early include:

• Short, frequent study sessions (ideally 1-hour blocks) significantly improve retention and reduce cognitive fatigue [5]
• Flexibility in managing clinical duties and personal responsibilities alongside your revision.
• Reduced stress levels by avoiding last-minute cramming.

Many GP trainees successfully integrate study sessions before or after clinical shifts, maximising effective use of their time. Explore our [AKT planning and timing guide] for detailed schedules.

If you're wondering how to prepare for the AKT without losing your mind or your weekends, the answer lies in structure.

Here’s a four-phase approach used by high-performing candidates:

Phase 1: Foundation (Weeks 1–4)

• Review major systems: cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, musculoskeletal.
• Start with conditions you manage regularly but drill into guideline-based details (e.g. targets in diabetes, asthma step-ups).
• Use the RACGP curriculum and recent exam reports to shape your scope.

Phase 2: Practice & Application (Weeks 5–8)

• Introduce daily AKT-style MCQs under time pressure.
• Focus on question rationale, understanding why correct answers are right and wrong ones are wrong.
• Use active recall and spaced repetition methods (like flashcards or question banks).

Phase 3: Diagnostic Review (Weeks 9–11)

• Take weekly mock exams under full timed conditions.
• Analyse patterns in errors: are they content gaps or interpretation errors?
• Target weaker topics. For instance, women’s health, dermatology, and musculoskeletal medicine are common weak points in reports [5]

Phase 4: Consolidation & Exam Readiness (Week 12)

• Focus on short, high-yield revision blocks.
• Review flagged questions, revisit missed topics.
• Maintain your routine but prioritise rest and calm leading into the exam.

🔗 Download our AKT weekly planner template for your own editable study schedule.

Efficient revision targets high-yield topics and your personal areas of difficulty. Common clinical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, mental health, women’s health, dermatology, and musculoskeletal presentations frequently appear on AKT exams [1][2]

Practical revision strategies include:

• Early identification and prioritisation of challenging or weaker topics in your schedule.
• Dedicated study time for interpreting data, statistics, and critical appraisal.
• Regular revision of practice management, ethical and medico-legal scenarios.
• Using RACGP feedback reports to identify common candidate pitfalls and challenging exam areas [2].

Targeted revision ensures efficient use of your revision time and builds exam-day confidence.

Active learning techniques significantly outperform passive reading for knowledge retention and recall. Engaging actively enhances your clinical reasoning and deepens understanding.

Effective active study techniques include:

• The "read, recall, test" cycle, proven to strengthen long-term memory [5]
• Frequent integration of practice questions alongside theory revision.
• Participation in peer-led study groups, case discussions, or mentorship groups.
• Structured clinical reasoning discussions with your supervisor or GP mentors.

Collaborative and active revision enhances motivation, reduces exam fatigue, and improves performance. For further tips, view our [AKT peer study framework].

Your choice of revision materials significantly impacts exam preparedness and performance. Ensure all materials are current, authoritative, and aligned with Australian general practice guidelines and RACGP standards.

Recommended study resources include:

• Official RACGP AKT guides and exam feedback reports [1][2]
• NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries (CKS) for guideline-based management of common conditions.
• British National Formulary (BNF) for accurate pharmacological information.
• Trusted AKT-specific question banks, including GP SelfTest and RACGP practice question sets.
• Key textbooks such as Murtagh’s General Practice and the Oxford Handbook of General Practice.
• Australian journals such as Australian Journal of General Practice (AJGP) and Australian Prescriber.

See our full [Fellow Academy AKT resource list] for further recommendations.

Here’s a simplified version of a 12-week AKT study roadmap:

• Weeks 1–2: Cardiovascular, endocrine, women’s health (core reading + 30 Qs daily)
• Weeks 3–4: Respiratory, paediatrics, dermatology (add spaced recall tools)
• Weeks 5–6: Mental health, MSK, men’s health, preventive screening (timed quizzes)
• Weeks 7–8: Admin topics, prescribing rules, non-clinical (review PBS, TGA, ethics)
• Weeks 9–10: Practice full-length exams (150 Qs, 3.5 hours), review every item
• Weeks 11–12: Final consolidation, sleep, wellbeing, and strategy reminders

Don’t underestimate your environment. Book study sessions like appointments. Ask your supervisor for time and support. You don’t have to do this alone.

Practising under realistic exam conditions significantly enhances exam-day performance, pacing, and stamina. Regular mock exams are essential in reducing anxiety and familiarising yourself with the AKT format.

Practical exam strategies:

• Regularly complete full-length mock exams with 150 questions in 4 hours [3][4]
• Aim for an average pacing of approximately 38 questions per hour, adjusting for longer or shorter stems [3][4]
• Carefully read each question: RACGP feedback consistently highlights errors from misreading question stems [2].
• Always answer every question, as there is no negative marking [5].

Practising with paper-based mock exams and time constraints greatly reduces exam-day anxiety. For detailed pacing strategies, view our [AKT exam pacing guide].