KFP vs AKT: Which RACGP Exam Is Harder? (AKT KFP Resources)

The RACGP Fellowship journey requires you to pass both the AKT (Applied Knowledge Test) and KFP (Key Feature Problem) exams. They assess complementary but distinct skill sets.

AKT: Focuses on your breadth of clinical knowledge, including diagnostic, management, ethical, and population health competencies.

KFP: Focuses on your depth of reasoning, requiring you to demonstrate logical decision making and prioritisation in realistic patient scenarios.

While both are essential, the KFP’s case based design often feels more challenging because it demands precise judgment under exam conditions. Across 2021 to 2024, KFP pass rates have averaged 71%, compared to 81% for AKT [1].

This distinction means you cannot rely solely on memorisation: the KFP measures how you think as a GP in real time.

Each exam has unique timing, marking, and question structures. Knowing these differences early helps tailor your preparation.

AKT format:

• 150 multiple choice questions (MCQs)
• Duration: 4 hours
• Exam type: Single‑best‑answer and extended‑matching
• Pass rate: 82.15% in 2024.2 [2]
• Focus: Breadth of knowledge

KFP format:

• 70 multiple choice case based questions (new format introduced mid‑2025)
• Duration: 4 hours
• Focus: Clinical reasoning and prioritisation
• Pass rate: 67.83% in 2024.2 [3]
• Aspect, AKT, KFP
• Question style, Multiple choice, single best answer, Case-based multiple selection
• Exam duration, 4 hours, 4 hours
• Focus, Broad factual knowledge, Clinical decision making
• Average pass rate (2021–2024), 81% [1], 71% [1]
• Recent result (2024.2), 82.15% [2], 67.83% [3]

Both exams are held twice per year, often on consecutive days, allowing candidates to attempt both within the same cycle.

For additional structural details, see our [RACGP Exam Day Checklist].

Both exams draw from the same curriculum, but their goals differ.

AKT: Testing Applied Knowledge

The AKT evaluates whether you can apply clinical knowledge across the full scope of general practice. You are expected to:

• Recall diagnostic criteria, management plans, and guideline recommendations.
• Apply evidence based reasoning to common general practice scenarios.
• Demonstrate familiarity with Australian guidelines and PBS prescribing standards.

AKT questions are written by experienced GPs and aligned with the RACGP curriculum. For example, you may be asked:

“Which of the following is the most appropriate initial investigation for this presentation?”

Such questions reward candidates who can recall factual information quickly and apply it within context.

The KFP focuses on judgment, prioritisation, and safe patient management. Each scenario mimics a consultation, where you must decide:

• What is the most likely diagnosis?
• Which investigations are justified?
• What are the critical next steps in management?

Precision is crucial. Selecting unnecessary answers (known as overcoding) can reduce marks. The KFP tests not what you know, but how you think under time pressure.

As an examiner, I often advise: think like you would in a real consultation, where each decision counts toward safe patient care.

Each exam demands a different study rhythm and technique.

Preparing for the AKT

AKT success depends on breadth of content knowledge and speed. Focus on:

• Regular timed MCQ practice (simulate 150 questions in 4 hours).
• Reviewing RACGP curriculum topics weekly.
• Using resources like Therapeutic Guidelines, Australian Immunisation Handbook, and PBS database to ensure currency.
• Practising recall under timed conditions.

Example:

If you’re studying diabetes, cover diagnostic thresholds, first‑line therapies, and PBS prescribing rules. For the AKT, memorising these details is essential.

Tip: Use Fellow Academy’s AKT flashcards and question banks to build recall speed while reinforcing clinical context.

Preparing for the KFP

The KFP rewards depth of reasoning and contextual decision making. Effective strategies include:

• Practising clinical reasoning through case based learning.
• Writing out key steps in diagnosis and management for each case.
• Limiting yourself to what’s clinically justified.
• Reviewing real RACGP case reports to learn from common candidate errors.

Example:

If presented with a 65‑year‑old with breathlessness and oedema, identify red flags, prioritise urgent heart failure management, and avoid unnecessary investigations.

Tip: Join structured KFP study groups that mirror RACGP’s case approach. Discussing reasoning aloud enhances your ability to think clearly under exam pressure.

For a combined study plan, see our [Integrated AKT‑KFP Study Schedule].

Yes, you should. Both exams share the same knowledge base, and studying together maximises efficiency. Candidates who integrate preparation tend to perform better overall [4].

Integrated Study Benefits:

• Reinforces knowledge through repetition in both formats.
• Reduces study time by covering shared curriculum areas once.
• Improves consistency between theoretical and applied reasoning.
• Practical Combined Plan:
• Start 4 to 5 months before the exam cycle.
• Allocate 3 days weekly to AKT style MCQs.
• Allocate 2 days weekly to KFP style case reasoning.
• Conduct weekly mixed‑topic reviews combining both formats.

Example:

In “respiratory week,” practise 20 AKT MCQs on asthma, then tackle a KFP case on COPD management.

Combined preparation builds stamina, a critical advantage when exams occur on consecutive days.

High quality AKT KFP resources are invaluable for streamlining preparation. The best tools integrate AKT knowledge testing with KFP reasoning practice.

Recommended Resources:

• RACGP official materials: Self Assessment Progress Tests (SAPTs) and sample exams [5].
• Therapeutic Guidelines (eTG): Ensures you are using up‑to‑date recommendations.
• Murtagh’s General Practice: Ideal for integrating clinical reasoning.
• Fellow Academy AKT & KFP Bundle: Combines realistic MCQs, case based reasoning, and evidence based summaries.

Why Integrated Resources Work:

• They maintain alignment with RACGP expectations.
• They improve study efficiency by merging both exam approaches.
• They prevent knowledge fragmentation across two exams.
• For topic‑specific strategies, explore our [KFP Case Practice Guide].