.png)
.png)
.png)
Dr Shaun Tan, FRACGP, MD, BMSC
Medical Examiner | Associate Lecturer
Scored 90% on the AKT & Top 15th percentile in the KFP
Many trainees and IMGs already using GP Academy describe the same experience. You sit down to revise, open your deck, scroll through slide after slide, and feel increasingly unsure about what you are meant to remember, let alone how to apply it in a pressured exam environment. It is not because the content is not good. It is because long lecture decks are simply not designed for rapid recall or exam day clarity.
This guide walks you through a structured way to transform your GP Academy content into something genuinely revisable. Using spaced repetition, authoritative Australian guidelines, exam aligned practice questions, and carefully constructed notes, you can revise efficiently, confidently, and consistently. This article explains exactly how to make that happen while supporting you with a grounded, examiner like voice.
The Real Trouble With Long Lecture Decks During RACGP Exam Preparation
Long lecture decks contain valuable teaching material, but they are not revision tools. This section explains exactly why many trainees struggle when using long decks alone.
Many exam candidates underestimate how crucial retrieval speed is. In the AKT, all questions are single best answer items within a clinical vignette format, and the AKT comprises 150 single best answer questions [1]. Both the AKT and KFP are paper based and each has a duration of 4 hours [2].
From 2025.2, the KFP consists of 70 scenarios, each with 1 multiple selection question, and short answer questions have been removed [3].
The CCE requires structured performance across 9 cases that include 4 case discussions and 5 clinical encounters, each 15 minutes plus 5 minutes reading time [4,5].
When your study materials are scattered or unstructured, this creates added cognitive load. You waste time searching for information rather than practising the core task of clinical reasoning. The solution is the creation of a structured notes hub that extracts and organises the most relevant clinical details.
For more strategies, see our comprehensive AKT timing guide.
The Power of a Single Notes Hub for Effective Exam Preparation
A single notes hub gives you clarity, structure, and flow. In this section, you will learn why this method works across AKT, KFP, and CCE preparation. Already Using GP Academy appears here to keep your primary focus precise.
The first 2 to 3 sentences summarise the key value.
A structured notes hub turns scattered content into clear reference material. When every topic is mapped to the RACGP curriculum and anchored in authoritative Australian sources, your revision becomes faster and more accurate. You also reduce the likelihood of relying on non Australian clinical guidelines.
Your notes hub should include:
Definitions and short clinical overviews
Key diagnostic thresholds cross referenced with RCPA Manual cutoffs
First line management steps taken directly from Therapeutic Guidelines, ETG
Patient safety flags and red flags that examiners regularly test
Clear PBS authority related requirements
Paediatric guideline variations using RCH and CHQ resources
Updated immunisation schedules referencing the Australian Immunisation Handbook, including the Catch up vaccination page updated on 16 October 2025 and the Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised page updated on 24 October 2025 [6 7 8]
Authoritative Australian references you must use:
Therapeutic Guidelines, ETG, for stepwise clinical management and prioritised actions
Australian Prescriber for prescribing updates and deprescribing guidance
PBS authority listings for prescribing decisions
RCPA Manual entries for reference intervals and urine testing interpretation
Paediatric clinical guidelines from RCH and CHQ for common presentations
Australian Immunisation Handbook updates, including the site wide update log confirming October 2025 changes [6 7 8]
Real time prescription monitoring frameworks, including national RTPM via the Department of Health and Aged Care and SafeScript NSW practitioner guidance [9,10]
For deeper organisation strategies, see our complete guide to exam mapped note creation.
Practise Specifically for Exam Formats
Exam format practice transforms theoretical knowledge into applied reasoning. This section helps clarify the importance of matching your study style to the exam itself.
AKT practice must include:
Multiple choice single best answer questions presented as clinical vignettes, with the AKT comprising 150 single best answer questions [1]
Distractors that reflect common errors and near misses identified in exam reports
Quick recall of ETG, RCPA, PBS, and paediatric guideline information
KFP, 2025.2 format practice must reflect:
70 multiple selection scenarios
Clear distinction between first line actions and unsafe or lower priority actions [3]
Structured reasoning and safety based decision making
CCE practice must include:
Case discussions and clinical encounters matching the real exam structure of 4 case discussions and 5 encounters, each 15 minutes plus 5 minutes reading time [4 5]
Structured approaches to patient assessment, explanation of reasoning, and demonstration of safe decision making
For tools that mirror exam patterns, review our AKT and KFP practice case library. For calendar alignment, note that RACGP Self Assessment Progress Tests are released on 10 March, 12 May, 8 September, and 10 November [14].
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does making GP Academy content revisable mean?
It means converting long GP Academy lecture decks into structured, concise notes anchored to Australian guidelines. These structured notes allow you to revise faster, apply clinical reasoning more clearly, and meet RACGP exam expectations.
2. How does spaced repetition help if I am already using GP Academy?
Spaced repetition strengthens memory through timed reviews. It is supported by a meta analysis confirming that distributed practice significantly improves long term recall [11]. This method also addresses the challenge that about 50 percent of medical learners struggle to maintain consistent revision routines without structured tools [12 13].
3. Why must I use Australian guidelines for revision?
RACGP exams test Australian clinical practice. Using ETG, RCPA, PBS, RCH, CHQ, and the Australian Immunisation Handbook ensures you revise information that examiners expect, with the Handbook’s catch up and immunocompromised pages confirmed updated in October 2025 [6 7 8].
4. How does Fellow Academy complement GP Academy?
Fellow Academy transforms GP Academy content into structured, exam aligned revision tools. It offers concise notes, vetted flashcards, AKT and KFP practice sets that reflect the 70 scenario KFP [3], and CCE simulations aligned to examiner expectations [4 5].
5. How should I revise for the 2025.2 KFP when using GP Academy?
Focus on multiple selection scenarios that match 70 cases [3]. In each scenario, separate first line actions, near misses, unsafe choices, and lower priority options, and cross check decisions with ETG and PBS.
Where Fellow Academy Complements GP Academy
In this section, you will learn how Fellow Academy elevates your GP Academy experience.
Fellow Academy does not replace your GP Academy learning. Instead, it adds structure, clarity, and exam alignment. It gives you a system that transforms content into genuinely revisable material.
Fellow Academy offers:
Concise exam aligned notes mapped to RACGP curriculum units
Flashcards grounded in ETG, PBS, RCPA, RCH, CHQ, and the Australian Immunisation Handbook
AKT practice questions based on the standard setting approach used by the RACGP exam program
KFP cases that mirror the 70 scenario multiple selection format [3]
CCE scenarios matched to examiner competency frameworks [4,5]
Exam study plans aligned to RACGP SAPT release dates, 10 March, 12 May, 8 September, and 10 November [14]
To explore these tools, visit our Fellow Academy exam preparation hub. For more strategies, see our comprehensive AKT timing guide.
Create Effective Revision With Flashcards and Spaced Repetition
Spaced repetition reinforces memory using timed intervals. This section helps you understand why it works so well for RACGP exams.
Research confirms that spaced repetition is one of the most effective ways to lock information into long term memory. A meta analysis demonstrated that distributed practice significantly improves long term retention compared with massed practice [11]. This method is particularly useful in medical training because about 50 percent of medical trainees report difficulty maintaining consistent revision without structured learning systems [12,13].
To build effective spaced repetition using GP Academy content, create several key flashcard types:
Clinical facts based flashcards with definitions, threshold values, and management steps
Pattern recognition flashcards simulating realistic exam scenarios
Step by step management flashcards reflecting ETG recommendations
Guideline threshold flashcards containing PBS rules, RCPA values, paediatric guidelines, and immunisation schedules
Schedule intervals:
Day 2 review
Day 7 review
Day 21 review
These intervals align with evidence for durable consolidation [11].
If you want structured templates for making these flashcards, refer to our step by step spaced repetition toolkit.
If you are feeling uncertain or overwhelmed about the RACGP exams, Fellow Academy offers evidence based flashcards, structured notes, and realistic AKT and KFP practice questions to help you revise with clarity and confidence. You will also find free KFP cases, webinars, and practical exam readiness tools to support every step of your preparation.
Disclaimer: This content is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. The strategies shared are based on personal and peer experiences and intended for general study guidance only.
Disclaimer: This content is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. The strategies shared are based on personal and peer experiences and intended for general study guidance only.
References
[1] Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. 2025. Assessments and examinations candidate handbook, Part 2, Introduction, Applied Knowledge Test. East Melbourne, VIC: RACGP. https://www.racgp.org.au/education/registrars/fellowship-pathways/policy-framework/program-handbooks-and-guidance-documents/assessments-and-examinations-candidate-handbook/part-2/introduction
[2] Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. 2025. AKT and KFP information for candidates. East Melbourne, VIC: RACGP. https://www.racgp.org.au/kfp-and-akt-exam-day-information
[3] Wisbey M. 2024. Key Feature Problem exam changes on the way. newsGP, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, 16 October 2024. https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/racgp/key-feature-problem-exam-changes-on-the-way
[4] Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. 2025. Clinical Competency Exam overview. East Melbourne, VIC: RACGP. https://www.racgp.org.au/education/fracgp-exams/racgp-exams/clinical-competency-exam
[5] Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. 2025. Candidate guidelines for the Clinical Competency Exam. East Melbourne, VIC: RACGP. https://www.racgp.org.au/getattachment/a5a6a184-7266-4d2b-a9f7-fc924320db68/Candidate-guidelines-for-the-Clinical-Competency-Exam.aspx
[6] Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. 2025. Australian Immunisation Handbook, Catch up vaccination, updated 16 October 2025. Canberra, ACT. https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/contents/catch-up-vaccination
[7] Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. 2025. Australian Immunisation Handbook, Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised, updated 24 October 2025. Canberra, ACT. https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/contents/vaccination-for-special-risk-groups/vaccination-for-people-who-are-immunocompromised
[8] Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. 2025. Australian Immunisation Handbook, Updates to the Handbook, October 2025. Canberra, ACT. https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/
[9] Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. 2025. National Real Time Prescription Monitoring. Canberra, ACT. https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/real-time-prescription-monitoring
[10] NSW Health. 2024. SafeScript NSW practice guidance. Sydney, NSW. https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pharmaceutical/rtpm/Pages/safescript-nsw.aspx
[11] Donoghue G. M., et al. 2021. Distributed practice and learning retention. Frontiers in Education, 6, 581216. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2021.581216/full
[12] Jape D., Zhou J., Bullock S. 2022. Spaced repetition in medical education. BMC Medical Education, 22, 337. https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-022-03337-3
[13] Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. 2025. AKT public exam report 2025.1. East Melbourne, VIC: RACGP. https://www.racgp.org.au/education/registrars/fellowship-pathways/exam-reports
[14] Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. 2025. Exam planning, SAPT release dates and composition. East Melbourne, VIC: RACGP. https://www.racgp.org.au/education/fracgp-exams/preparing-for-exams/exam-planning-start-here
AKT Exam Preparation: Study Strategies That Work
AKT vs KFP: Which RACGP Exam Is Harder (and How to Prepare for Both)
Trial Fellow Academy for Free
Complete the Form to Access 30 FREE KFP MSQs & AKTs + Invite to Our Free 2026.1 RACGP Exam Prep Webinar
Dr Shaun Tan, FRACGP, MD, BMSC
Medical Examiner | Associate Lecturer
Scored 90% on the AKT & Top 15th percentile in the KFP
Summary
Many trainees and IMGs already using GP Academy describe the same experience. You sit down to revise, open your deck, scroll through slide after slide, and feel increasingly unsure about what you are meant to remember, let alone how to apply it in a pressured exam environment. It is not because the content is not good. It is because long lecture decks are simply not designed for rapid recall or exam day clarity.
This guide walks you through a structured way to transform your GP Academy content into something genuinely revisable. Using spaced repetition, authoritative Australian guidelines, exam aligned practice questions, and carefully constructed notes, you can revise efficiently, confidently, and consistently. This article explains exactly how to make that happen while supporting you with a grounded, examiner like voice.
The Real Trouble With Long Lecture Decks During RACGP Exam Preparation
Long lecture decks contain valuable teaching material, but they are not revision tools. This section explains exactly why many trainees struggle when using long decks alone.
Many exam candidates underestimate how crucial retrieval speed is. In the AKT, all questions are single best answer items within a clinical vignette format, and the AKT comprises 150 single best answer questions [1]. Both the AKT and KFP are paper based and each has a duration of 4 hours [2].
From 2025.2, the KFP consists of 70 scenarios, each with 1 multiple selection question, and short answer questions have been removed [3].
The CCE requires structured performance across 9 cases that include 4 case discussions and 5 clinical encounters, each 15 minutes plus 5 minutes reading time [4,5].
When your study materials are scattered or unstructured, this creates added cognitive load. You waste time searching for information rather than practising the core task of clinical reasoning. The solution is the creation of a structured notes hub that extracts and organises the most relevant clinical details.
For more strategies, see our comprehensive AKT timing guide.
The Power of a Single Notes Hub for Effective Exam Preparation
A single notes hub gives you clarity, structure, and flow. In this section, you will learn why this method works across AKT, KFP, and CCE preparation. Already Using GP Academy appears here to keep your primary focus precise.
The first 2 to 3 sentences summarise the key value.
A structured notes hub turns scattered content into clear reference material. When every topic is mapped to the RACGP curriculum and anchored in authoritative Australian sources, your revision becomes faster and more accurate. You also reduce the likelihood of relying on non Australian clinical guidelines.
Your notes hub should include:
Definitions and short clinical overviews
Key diagnostic thresholds cross referenced with RCPA Manual cutoffs
First line management steps taken directly from Therapeutic Guidelines, ETG
Patient safety flags and red flags that examiners regularly test
Clear PBS authority related requirements
Paediatric guideline variations using RCH and CHQ resources
Updated immunisation schedules referencing the Australian Immunisation Handbook, including the Catch up vaccination page updated on 16 October 2025 and the Vaccination for people who are immunocompromised page updated on 24 October 2025 [6 7 8]
Authoritative Australian references you must use:
Therapeutic Guidelines, ETG, for stepwise clinical management and prioritised actions
Australian Prescriber for prescribing updates and deprescribing guidance
PBS authority listings for prescribing decisions
RCPA Manual entries for reference intervals and urine testing interpretation
Paediatric clinical guidelines from RCH and CHQ for common presentations
Australian Immunisation Handbook updates, including the site wide update log confirming October 2025 changes [6 7 8]
Real time prescription monitoring frameworks, including national RTPM via the Department of Health and Aged Care and SafeScript NSW practitioner guidance [9,10]
For deeper organisation strategies, see our complete guide to exam mapped note creation.
Practise Specifically for Exam Formats
Exam format practice transforms theoretical knowledge into applied reasoning. This section helps clarify the importance of matching your study style to the exam itself.
AKT practice must include:
Multiple choice single best answer questions presented as clinical vignettes, with the AKT comprising 150 single best answer questions [1]
Distractors that reflect common errors and near misses identified in exam reports
Quick recall of ETG, RCPA, PBS, and paediatric guideline information
KFP, 2025.2 format practice must reflect:
70 multiple selection scenarios
Clear distinction between first line actions and unsafe or lower priority actions [3]
Structured reasoning and safety based decision making
CCE practice must include:
Case discussions and clinical encounters matching the real exam structure of 4 case discussions and 5 encounters, each 15 minutes plus 5 minutes reading time [4 5]
Structured approaches to patient assessment, explanation of reasoning, and demonstration of safe decision making
For tools that mirror exam patterns, review our AKT and KFP practice case library. For calendar alignment, note that RACGP Self Assessment Progress Tests are released on 10 March, 12 May, 8 September, and 10 November [14].
Tools That Make Active Recall Easy
Digital tools simplify the process of integrating active recall and spaced repetition into your RACGP exam preparation.
-
Brainscape: Uses adaptive algorithms to determine when you should review each flashcard based on your confidence level.
-
Anki: Allows custom deck creation for topics like PBS rules or emergency management.
-
Quizlet: Offers collaborative decks for study groups.
Using these tools allows you to:
-
Review flashcards during commutes or between patients.
-
Automatically revisit topics you’re struggling with.
-
Track progress and identify weak areas.
These platforms bring structure to your study plan, ensuring regular reinforcement and better recall.
(For time management strategies, see our AKT Study Planner.)
How to Combine These Methods for Peak Performance
When you combine active recall with spaced repetition, the results are exponential. This combination, known as “spaced retrieval practice”, creates a continuous cycle of learning, forgetting, and relearning that strengthens memory.
-
Start early (at least 6–12 months before your exam).
-
Create flashcards for each guideline or high-yield topic.
-
Use Brainscape or Anki daily to review material in spaced cycles.
-
Schedule mock exams every 3–4 weeks to test your applied knowledge.
Research indicates spaced repetition can significantly increase long-term retention, with spaced learners achieving approximately 58% accuracy compared to 43% among traditional learners (p<0.001) [4].
By six months into this method, most candidates report not only improved recall but also better confidence under pressure. You’re no longer scrambling to remember—you’re retrieving information automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does making GP Academy content revisable mean?
It means converting long GP Academy lecture decks into structured, concise notes anchored to Australian guidelines. These structured notes allow you to revise faster, apply clinical reasoning more clearly, and meet RACGP exam expectations.
2. How does spaced repetition help if I am already using GP Academy?
Spaced repetition strengthens memory through timed reviews. It is supported by a meta analysis confirming that distributed practice significantly improves long term recall [11]. This method also addresses the challenge that about 50 percent of medical learners struggle to maintain consistent revision routines without structured tools [12 13].
3. Why must I use Australian guidelines for revision?
RACGP exams test Australian clinical practice. Using ETG, RCPA, PBS, RCH, CHQ, and the Australian Immunisation Handbook ensures you revise information that examiners expect, with the Handbook’s catch up and immunocompromised pages confirmed updated in October 2025 [6 7 8].
4. How does Fellow Academy complement GP Academy?
Fellow Academy transforms GP Academy content into structured, exam aligned revision tools. It offers concise notes, vetted flashcards, AKT and KFP practice sets that reflect the 70 scenario KFP [3], and CCE simulations aligned to examiner expectations [4 5].
5. How should I revise for the 2025.2 KFP when using GP Academy?
Focus on multiple selection scenarios that match 70 cases [3]. In each scenario, separate first line actions, near misses, unsafe choices, and lower priority options, and cross check decisions with ETG and PBS.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by RACGP exam preparation, Fellow Academy offers high quality AKT and KFP questions, exam notes in concise and comprehensive format, and high yield, evidence based flashcards designed to help you study smarter and perform with confidence. You’ll also find free KFP case packs, webinars, and practical study resources to guide you every step of the way.
Disclaimer: This content is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). The strategies and approaches shared are based on personal experience and the experiences of other GP candidates who successfully passed their exams. They are intended as general study guidance only and should not be taken as official RACGP advice.
References
-
GP Supervisors Australia. (2025). Study Skills Guide for GP Registrars: Studying Smarter, Not Harder. GPSA.
-
Carpenter, S. K., Pan, S. C., & Butler, A. C. (2022). The science of effective learning with spacing and retrieval practice. Nature Reviews Psychology, 1(10), 496–511.
-
Durrani, S. F., Yousuf, N., Ali, R., et al. (2024). Effectiveness of spaced repetition for clinical problem solving amongst undergraduate medical students studying paediatrics in Pakistan. BMC Medical Education, 24(1), 676.
-
Price, D. W., Wang, T., O’Neill, T. R., et al. (2025). The effect of spaced repetition on learning and knowledge transfer in a large cohort of practising physicians. Academic Medicine, 100(1), 94–102.
RACGP Exam Mistakes: Common Pitfalls That Stop Candidates Passing the RACGP Exams
AKT Exam Preparation: Study Strategies That Work
AKT vs KFP: Which RACGP Exam Is Harder (and How to Prepare for Both)