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Dr Shaun Tan, FRACGP, MD, BMSC
Medical Examiner | Associate Lecturer
Scored 90% on the AKT & Top 15th percentile in the KFP
Many GP registrars feel a sense of relief when they begin achieving high marks on their RACGP KFP practice questions. It is comforting to believe that consistently strong performance means you are on track for the real exam. Yet beneath that relief sits a quiet concern. You start to wonder if the questions you are using are genuinely representative of the real RACGP KFP exam. You wonder if they are challenging enough, contextual enough, and aligned to the complexity that the exam is known for.
The KFP is one of the most demanding components of the RACGP Fellowship assessments. The overall pass rate for the 2024.2 KFP exam was 67.83 percent from 945 candidates [1]. The 2025.1 KFP reported a 76.89 percent pass rate based on a pass mark of 60.63 percent [1]. These figures tell us something important. If your practice questions feel consistently easy, they may not reflect the real depth of reasoning that the KFP demands. For context, the 2024.2 AKT recorded an 82.15 percent pass rate [2], and the 2022.2 CCE recorded an 84.26 percent pass rate [3].
This blog explains exactly what the real RACGP KFP exam tests, why some practice questions fall short, how Fellow Academy designs exam realistic questions, and how to blend lectures, notes, flashcards and question banks to strengthen your preparation.
What Real KFPs Test (Reasoning, Key Features, Management Sequence)
Real RACGP KFP exams are built to test clinical reasoning, prioritisation of care, key feature recognition, and your ability to make safe decisions within the constraints of general practice. The exam expects you to think like an independent GP, not like a student revising a textbook summary.
The exam focuses on 3 crucial elements:
Key clinical features
Every scenario contains clues about what matters most for this patient. This includes age, practice setting, comorbidities, social factors, and risk levels. Your answer must reflect these details clearly.Decision making and prioritisation
The exam tests whether you understand the difference between immediate care, next steps, and ongoing management. You must decide the correct sequence of actions.Context specific responses
The answer must match the specific situation described. Generic responses, even if clinically correct in another context, do not score well.
RACGP exam reports repeatedly note that many candidates lose marks for giving answers that do not align to the scenario. Common errors include:
Non specific or overly broad answers
Providing more answers than requested
Not recognising the urgency level required
Misreading or overlooking essential details
The difficulty of the exam is reflected in its data. The overall pass rate for the 2024.2 cycle was 67.83 percent from 945 candidates [1]. For additional context, the 2025.1 KFP reported 76.89 percent [1].
Repeat attempts show a clear downward trend. Candidates on their first attempt achieved 83.8 percent, second attempt 48.6 percent, third attempt 36 percent, and fourth attempt or later 19.3 percent [4]. These numbers demonstrate the importance of strong first attempt preparation.
If your RACGP KFP practice questions do not require this level of analysis, they may be too easy. For more strategies, see our guide on building exam realistic GP reasoning skills.
Issues With Questions Modified From Older MSQs
Many practice sets take older questions and convert them into the new Multiple Selection Question format. The difficulty is that these lightly reworked questions often lose the nuance and complexity of genuine exam items. From the 2025.2 exam cycle, the KFP moved to 70 MSQs in a four hour sitting and the short answer format was removed [5], with exam day information confirming four hours duration [6]. This new format still reflects the same assessment standard, but poorly updated question banks often fail to match it.
You can often identify these simplified questions by noticing issues such as:
Limited scenario detail
Lack of social or contextual factors
Incorrect or outdated guideline references
Weak distractors that do not genuinely test reasoning
Reduced emphasis on sequencing decisions
Generic cases that resemble lists more than clinical narratives
RACGP reports clearly warn that outdated or simplified questions do not prepare candidates adequately. When candidates practise repeatedly on low complexity material, they often struggle with the layered reasoning required in the real exam [4].
If your practice questions feel predictable, overly straightforward, or familiar from old resources, they may not align with the modern RACGP standard. For more insights on exam design changes, see our MSQ transition explainer.
How to Mix Their Lectures With Our Questions, Notes and Flashcards
High quality RACGP exam preparation involves more than answering questions. You need a structured learning pathway combining content, application, and repetition.
An effective preparation structure includes:
Lectures for foundation knowledge
Use lectures to build a solid base in key curriculum areas such as chronic disease management, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and rural general practice. Stick closely to Australian guidelines.Exam realistic question practice
Begin practising with realistic questions early. Set a timer and aim for the exam standard pace of 3.4 minutes per question when working through MSQs, which aligns with 70 questions in 4 hours [5,6]Notes and flashcards for knowledge consolidation
Break guidelines into summary tables and short notes. Use flashcards to embed key management steps and differentiate similar conditions. Apply active recall frequently for long term retention.Mock exams for timing and technique
Use official RACGP Self Assessment Progress Tests regularly. The 2025.1 KFP reported 76.89 percent which provides a useful benchmark for your preparation [1]. Mock exams allow you to test your technique, stamina and reasoning under time pressure.
This blended approach ensures you not only understand content but can apply it quickly and accurately in high pressure exam situations. For help developing an integrated study plan, explore our KFP study roadmap.
Benchmarking And Self Assessment Using SAPTs
Benchmarking helps you detect gaps that easy question sets hide. Use the official RACGP Self Assessment Progress Tests to calibrate difficulty and track readiness over time.
Practical steps to apply now:
Sit a timed SAPT to reveal weak domains early
Review items by domain such as cardiovascular or paediatrics and log recurring errors
Map errors to targeted notes and flashcards then repeat the SAPT after 2 weeks
Compare your trend with cohort level insights described in RACGP exam reports such as 67.83 percent from 945 candidates in 2024.2 and 76.89 percent in 2025.1 [1]
Use these checkpoints to make your study plan responsive. For a worked example, see our internal guide on SAPT driven revision loops.
Supervisor And Peer Support To Sharpen Clinical Reasoning
Support from supervisors and peers turns knowledge into performance. Use brief structured sessions that mirror exam constraints and keep feedback specific.
Try these formats:
Ten minute rapid case with two minute justification of immediate and next steps
One page summary notes per topic and a three question viva at the end
Weekly mini mock focusing on Indigenous health, rural access or PBS constraints
Debrief using a checklist covering context, key features, sequencing, and rationale
This structure builds speed, precision, and confidence. For a ready to use template, see our peer coaching checklist and mini mock schedule pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are my KFP practice questions too easy if I consistently score 90 percent or higher?
Possibly. Real exam context shows 67.83 percent from 945 candidates for 2024.2 and 76.89 percent for 2025.1 [1]. SAPTs provide more realistic benchmarking.
2. Does the new MSQ format introduced in 2025.2 make the exam easier?
No. The format shifted to 70 MSQs in four hours, while the college has confirmed the assessment standard remains the same [5,6].
3. How long should I prepare for the KFP exam?
Many candidates plan 6 months of structured study before a first attempt. Align the time you allocate with RACGP advice and your supervisor’s guidance, then combine lectures, questions, notes and SAPTs for best effect.
4. Why do pass rates drop sharply on repeat attempts?
Data show a decline: 83.8 percent first attempt, 48.6 percent second attempt, 36 percent third attempt, 19.3 percent fourth attempt or later [4]. This demonstrates the importance of strong early preparation.
5. What should I look for in a high quality question bank?
Look for context rich scenarios, accurate distractors, guideline alignment, detailed rationale, and updated content matching current RACGP standards.
Are Your RACGP KFP Practice Questions Truly Exam Level
Use this section as a quick audit to compare your current preparation materials with real exam expectations. Keep your evaluation honest and specific to your setting and patient population.
Consider the following checks:
Do your cases include clear patient context that changes management decisions
Are distractors plausible enough to force you to reason rather than recall
Are answers referenced to current Australian guidelines including PBS and Therapeutic Guidelines
Do explanations teach sequencing of care such as immediate next and follow up
Do cases simulate time pressure equal to the real exam pace of 3.4 minutes per question based on 70 questions in 4 hours [5,6]
If several answers are no, lift question difficulty to match exam realistic standards. For related guidance, see our KFP study roadmap and our free KFP case pack pages for practical examples and structured pathways.
Fellow Academy’s Question Standard (Harder but Exam Realistic)
Fellow Academy deliberately designs questions that feel challenging, detailed, and fully aligned with the modern RACGP exam. The goal is not to discourage you, but to push your reasoning so that the real exam feels achievable and manageable.
Our question design reflects 5 key principles:
Detailed case scenarios
Each question mirrors genuine GP consultation complexity, including practice setting, comorbidities, cultural and social factors, and ethical considerations.Guideline aligned reasoning
All answers follow current Australian clinical guidelines including PBS, Therapeutic Guidelines and the Australian Immunisation Handbook.Challenging distractors
Options are designed to feel clinically plausible, encouraging deeper thinking.Sequencing of care
Questions emphasise what to do immediately, what to do next, and what to avoid.Exam realistic cognitive load
Questions reflect the type of mental processing required in the real exam rather than simple recall.
The benefit of harder practice is shown in outcomes. The 2025.1 KFP reported a 76.89 percent pass rate 1, and the 2025.2 cycle reported 79.57 percent out of 1160 candidates [7]. This reinforces that using exam realistic questions, not simplified practice sets, makes a measurable difference. If you want to explore exam realistic practice, you can try our free KFP case pack for additional support.
If RACGP exam preparation feels overwhelming, Fellow Academy offers structured support tailored to your needs. Explore high quality AKT and KFP question banks, concise and comprehensive exam notes, and evidence based flashcards designed to boost confidence. You can also access free KFP case packs, practical webinars, and study frameworks to guide you calmly toward Fellowship.
Disclaimer: This content is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. 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.
Disclaimer: This content is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. 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
[1] Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. (2025, April 2). Latest fellowship exam results surpass previous. newsGP. https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/racgp/latest-fellowship-exam-results-surpass-previous
[2] Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. (2024, August 27). RACGP releases final AKT exam report of the year. newsGP. https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/racgp/racgp-releases-final-akt-exam-report-of-the-year
[3] Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. (2022, December 15). Results for 2022’s final Fellowship exam. newsGP. https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/racgp/results-for-2022-s-final-fellowship-exam
[4] Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. (2024, September 17). Latest FRACGP exam report released. newsGP. https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/racgp/latest-fracgp-exam-report-released
[5] Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. (2024, October 16). Key Feature Problem exam changes on the way. newsGP. https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/racgp/key-feature-problem-exam-changes-on-the-way
[6] Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. AKT and KFP information for candidates. RACGP. https://www.racgp.org.au/kfp-and-akt-exam-day-information
[7] Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. (2025, August 22). RACGP releases 2025.2 exam cycle results. newsGP. https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/racgp/racgp-releases-2025-2-exam-cycle-results
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Dr Shaun Tan, FRACGP, MD, BMSC
Medical Examiner | Associate Lecturer
Scored 90% on the AKT & Top 15th percentile in the KFP
Summary
Many GP registrars feel a sense of relief when they begin achieving high marks on their RACGP KFP practice questions. It is comforting to believe that consistently strong performance means you are on track for the real exam. Yet beneath that relief sits a quiet concern. You start to wonder if the questions you are using are genuinely representative of the real RACGP KFP exam. You wonder if they are challenging enough, contextual enough, and aligned to the complexity that the exam is known for.
The KFP is one of the most demanding components of the RACGP Fellowship assessments. The overall pass rate for the 2024.2 KFP exam was 67.83 percent from 945 candidates [1]. The 2025.1 KFP reported a 76.89 percent pass rate based on a pass mark of 60.63 percent [1]. These figures tell us something important. If your practice questions feel consistently easy, they may not reflect the real depth of reasoning that the KFP demands. For context, the 2024.2 AKT recorded an 82.15 percent pass rate [2], and the 2022.2 CCE recorded an 84.26 percent pass rate [3].
This blog explains exactly what the real RACGP KFP exam tests, why some practice questions fall short, how Fellow Academy designs exam realistic questions, and how to blend lectures, notes, flashcards and question banks to strengthen your preparation.
What Real KFPs Test (Reasoning, Key Features, Management Sequence)
Real RACGP KFP exams are built to test clinical reasoning, prioritisation of care, key feature recognition, and your ability to make safe decisions within the constraints of general practice. The exam expects you to think like an independent GP, not like a student revising a textbook summary.
The exam focuses on 3 crucial elements:
Key clinical features
Every scenario contains clues about what matters most for this patient. This includes age, practice setting, comorbidities, social factors, and risk levels. Your answer must reflect these details clearly.Decision making and prioritisation
The exam tests whether you understand the difference between immediate care, next steps, and ongoing management. You must decide the correct sequence of actions.Context specific responses
The answer must match the specific situation described. Generic responses, even if clinically correct in another context, do not score well.
RACGP exam reports repeatedly note that many candidates lose marks for giving answers that do not align to the scenario. Common errors include:
Non specific or overly broad answers
Providing more answers than requested
Not recognising the urgency level required
Misreading or overlooking essential details
The difficulty of the exam is reflected in its data. The overall pass rate for the 2024.2 cycle was 67.83 percent from 945 candidates [1]. For additional context, the 2025.1 KFP reported 76.89 percent [1].
Repeat attempts show a clear downward trend. Candidates on their first attempt achieved 83.8 percent, second attempt 48.6 percent, third attempt 36 percent, and fourth attempt or later 19.3 percent [4]. These numbers demonstrate the importance of strong first attempt preparation.
If your RACGP KFP practice questions do not require this level of analysis, they may be too easy. For more strategies, see our guide on building exam realistic GP reasoning skills.
Issues With Questions Modified From Older MSQs
Many practice sets take older questions and convert them into the new Multiple Selection Question format. The difficulty is that these lightly reworked questions often lose the nuance and complexity of genuine exam items. From the 2025.2 exam cycle, the KFP moved to 70 MSQs in a four hour sitting and the short answer format was removed [5], with exam day information confirming four hours duration [6]. This new format still reflects the same assessment standard, but poorly updated question banks often fail to match it.
You can often identify these simplified questions by noticing issues such as:
Limited scenario detail
Lack of social or contextual factors
Incorrect or outdated guideline references
Weak distractors that do not genuinely test reasoning
Reduced emphasis on sequencing decisions
Generic cases that resemble lists more than clinical narratives
RACGP reports clearly warn that outdated or simplified questions do not prepare candidates adequately. When candidates practise repeatedly on low complexity material, they often struggle with the layered reasoning required in the real exam [4].
If your practice questions feel predictable, overly straightforward, or familiar from old resources, they may not align with the modern RACGP standard. For more insights on exam design changes, see our MSQ transition explainer.
How to Mix Their Lectures With Our Questions, Notes and Flashcards
High quality RACGP exam preparation involves more than answering questions. You need a structured learning pathway combining content, application, and repetition.
An effective preparation structure includes:
Lectures for foundation knowledge
Use lectures to build a solid base in key curriculum areas such as chronic disease management, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and rural general practice. Stick closely to Australian guidelines.Exam realistic question practice
Begin practising with realistic questions early. Set a timer and aim for the exam standard pace of 3.4 minutes per question when working through MSQs, which aligns with 70 questions in 4 hours [5,6]Notes and flashcards for knowledge consolidation
Break guidelines into summary tables and short notes. Use flashcards to embed key management steps and differentiate similar conditions. Apply active recall frequently for long term retention.Mock exams for timing and technique
Use official RACGP Self Assessment Progress Tests regularly. The 2025.1 KFP reported 76.89 percent which provides a useful benchmark for your preparation [1]. Mock exams allow you to test your technique, stamina and reasoning under time pressure.
This blended approach ensures you not only understand content but can apply it quickly and accurately in high pressure exam situations. For help developing an integrated study plan, explore our KFP study roadmap.
Tools That Make Active Recall Easy
Digital tools simplify the process of integrating active recall and spaced repetition into your RACGP exam preparation.
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Brainscape: Uses adaptive algorithms to determine when you should review each flashcard based on your confidence level.
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Anki: Allows custom deck creation for topics like PBS rules or emergency management.
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Quizlet: Offers collaborative decks for study groups.
Using these tools allows you to:
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Review flashcards during commutes or between patients.
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Automatically revisit topics you’re struggling with.
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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.
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Start early (at least 6–12 months before your exam).
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Create flashcards for each guideline or high-yield topic.
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Use Brainscape or Anki daily to review material in spaced cycles.
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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. Are my KFP practice questions too easy if I consistently score 90 percent or higher?
Possibly. Real exam context shows 67.83 percent from 945 candidates for 2024.2 and 76.89 percent for 2025.1 [1]. SAPTs provide more realistic benchmarking.
2. Does the new MSQ format introduced in 2025.2 make the exam easier?
No. The format shifted to 70 MSQs in four hours, while the college has confirmed the assessment standard remains the same [5,6].
3. How long should I prepare for the KFP exam?
Many candidates plan 6 months of structured study before a first attempt. Align the time you allocate with RACGP advice and your supervisor’s guidance, then combine lectures, questions, notes and SAPTs for best effect.
4. Why do pass rates drop sharply on repeat attempts?
Data show a decline: 83.8 percent first attempt, 48.6 percent second attempt, 36 percent third attempt, 19.3 percent fourth attempt or later [4]. This demonstrates the importance of strong early preparation.
5. What should I look for in a high quality question bank?
Look for context rich scenarios, accurate distractors, guideline alignment, detailed rationale, and updated content matching current RACGP standards.
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
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GP Supervisors Australia. (2025). Study Skills Guide for GP Registrars: Studying Smarter, Not Harder. GPSA.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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