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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
Learning how to turn any GP Exam Academy course into a pass level study system can dramatically shift your approach from anxious uncertainty to confident preparedness for your RACGP exams. It is natural to feel stressed when faced with the enormous amount of content you are expected to master. Perhaps you have already experienced disappointment after an unsuccessful attempt, or maybe you are a first time candidate overwhelmed by the complexity ahead. Either way, your worries are entirely normal and understandable.
However, anxiety does not need to define your journey. With the right structured approach, you can channel your energy productively. I have supported hundreds of GP registrars and International Medical Graduates, and I have seen firsthand how a targeted strategy makes a real difference in exam outcomes. By methodically extracting high yield topics, mastering question techniques, developing clear notes, and reinforcing your memory with flashcards, you are not only studying smarter, you are cultivating the calm, strategic mindset necessary for exam success.
This guide walks you through each step clearly, practically, and supportively, so you can confidently pass your RACGP exams.
Extract the High Yield Content, for how to turn any GP Exam Academy course into a pass level study system
High yield content includes the topics most frequently tested on RACGP exams, making them essential for your targeted study approach. Identifying and mastering these topics ensures your study sessions deliver maximum impact, significantly increasing your likelihood of passing.
The RACGP exam consistently tests several key areas:
Chronic diseases, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, COPD
Acute presentations, chest pain, febrile children, acute abdominal pain
Preventive health, immunisation schedules, cancer screening guidelines
Paediatrics and mental health, common clinical scenarios encountered in everyday practice
Special contexts, ethical considerations, Indigenous health, rural scenarios, medico legal issues
Strategically prioritising these areas is essential. For instance, in the 2024.2 exam cycle, the AKT pass rate was 82.15% among 829 candidates [1], while the KFP pass rate was lower at 67.83% among 945 candidates [2], highlighting the KFP complexity and need for targeted preparation.
To effectively extract high yield content from your GP Exam Academy course, consider the following practical steps:
Review your course syllabus and align it with past RACGP public exam reports [1] [2]
Highlight and annotate frequently tested guidelines, protocols, and clinical scenarios
Create a dedicated list of topics requiring focused review sessions
Schedule study sessions to systematically cover each topic, ensuring comprehensive syllabus coverage
Plug in Higher Quality KFP Questions
Practising with high quality KFP questions under exam conditions is critical for honing your clinical reasoning skills and significantly improving your exam performance. The KFP section is particularly challenging as it assesses not only your knowledge but your ability to apply it accurately within specific clinical contexts.
Regular, structured practice is essential because:
RACGP public reporting shows improved outcomes when candidates use official preparation resources, including SAPTs and exam reports, to guide practice and remediation [4]
In the 2025.2 RACGP cycle, the pass rates were 79.41% for AKT and 79.57% for KFP [4]. Notably, first time AKT candidates achieved a pass rate of 85.9%, compared with 31.0% among candidates attempting for the fourth time or beyond [4]
Practical steps to integrate quality KFP practice include:
Regularly use RACGP style KFP practice questions that require precise, context specific answers
Simulate realistic timed exam conditions with focused blocks, then complete full length practice under exam timing
Carefully study each answer explanation to fully understand clinical reasoning, including why distractors are wrong
Track your common mistakes, such as not tailoring answers to the clinical details or including unnecessary information, and correct these habits deliberately
Finish with Flashcards, Fellow Academy Method
Flashcards combined with spaced repetition are proven to enhance long term retention, transforming temporary recall into deeply ingrained knowledge. This technique forms a cornerstone of the Fellow Academy method and is ideal for high stakes exams like the RACGP assessments.
Research demonstrates flashcards combined with spaced repetition:
Enhance memory compared to traditional revision methods, using retrieval practice and spacing to improve durable learning [5]
Promote active recall, reinforcing knowledge more effectively than passive reading [5]
Practical steps for using flashcards effectively:
Convert key facts from your notes into flashcards, with clear, concise questions and answers, for example what are red flag symptoms of cauda equina syndrome
Use spaced repetition apps, Anki, Brainscape, or Fellow Academy tools, to schedule frequent and efficient reviews
Commit to daily, brief review sessions, 10 to 20 minutes per day, rather than infrequent, prolonged sessions
Immediately convert mistakes from practice questions into new flashcards, ensuring continuous learning and knowledge consolidation
Build Exam Day Strategy and Time Management
Clear exam day routines help you translate preparation into performance. You improve reliability when your timing plan is rehearsed, simple, and forgiving.
Rehearse a pacing plan for each paper using focused blocks, then full dress rehearsals
Use checkpoints to avoid time sinks and to ensure priority questions are answered first
Finalise equipment, identification, and logistics a week early to reduce cognitive load
Close the Loop With Supervisor Feedback and Reflection
Feedback accelerates insight and prevents repeated errors. A short feedback loop keeps your system responsive and focused on what matters most.
Meet a supervisor or study partner weekly to review errors, near misses, and improving answers
Document one to two behaviour changes each week and check them against your next practice set
File one exemplar answer per domain to create a bank of worked models
FAQs, Mastering RACGP Exam Preparation
1. What exactly are high yield topics for RACGP exams?
High yield topics frequently tested include chronic diseases, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, COPD, acute conditions, chest pain, febrile children, acute abdomen, preventive health guidelines, immunisation, screening, paediatrics, mental health, Indigenous health, rural medicine, ethical scenarios. Prioritising these significantly improves exam readiness. See recent RACGP public reports for emphasis and common pitfalls [1] [2].
2. How do I create a realistic RACGP exam study plan?
Aim for at least 6 months of structured study. Begin with high yield content, proceed to regular question practice, and finalise with spaced repetition review sessions. Set clear weekly objectives, for example completing 50 practice questions or summarising 1 clinical guideline per week, and adjust your schedule according to your progress. Use RACGP SAPTs and public exam reports to benchmark progress and plan remediation [1] [2] [4].
3. How should IMGs specifically prepare for RACGP exams?
IMGs should prioritise Australian specific contexts, PBS rules, Medicare procedures, Australian clinical guidelines, culturally relevant healthcare practices. Structured notes, frequent practice questions, and mentorship from Australian GP supervisors substantially improve preparedness and integration. Align preparation with RACGP exam reports and current guideline sources to ensure local accuracy [1] [2].
4. How many practice questions or mock exams should I aim to complete?
Target several hundred AKT questions and 40 to 50 KFP style scenarios over your preparation period, then complete at least 2 full length mocks under realistic conditions. Use official resources, SAPTs, and RACGP public exam reports to shape practice and track improvement [1] [2] [4].
5. Are flashcards and spaced repetition effective for RACGP exam preparation?
Yes. Extensive research shows spaced retrieval and active recall improve long term retention and knowledge transfer [5]. This method ensures essential exam knowledge becomes second nature, which supports performance in high stakes exams.
Calibrate With Official RACGP Materials
Anchoring your study to official RACGP materials ensures accuracy, alignment with current expectations, and efficient use of time. You should regularly consult public exam reports and candidate resources to refine your plan.
Add Topic Based Notes to Solidify Knowledge
Topic based notes are concise, structured summaries that reinforce your learning and provide a handy reference for efficient revision. They are crucial for turning passive reading into active recall, which significantly boosts your knowledge retention and confidence.
Your notes should clearly summarise:
Clinical guidelines, concise lists of diagnostic criteria, medication dosages, treatment protocols, red flags
Insights from past RACGP exam reports, including commonly made errors such as incorrect medication prescribing or missed diagnosis opportunities [1] [2]
Relevant scenarios from your clinical experiences, particularly valuable for IMGs becoming familiar with Australian general practice
To create highly effective notes:
Organise topics systematically, by clinical presentations, body systems, or special scenarios, for example rural health or Indigenous healthcare
Review and refine your notes weekly to reinforce learning and fill knowledge gaps identified during practice questions
Discuss challenging notes with peers or supervisors to clarify complex topics and to validate local standards
If RACGP exam preparation feels overwhelming, Fellow Academy offers targeted AKT and KFP question banks, concise, comprehensive notes, and evidence based flashcards designed specifically for Australian GP trainees and IMGs. Explore our free KFP case packs, webinars, and practical resources that provide structured guidance every step of the way. You have the ability to achieve Fellowship confidently and calmly, we are here to support you throughout your journey.
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. 2024. 2024.2 AKT Public Exam Report. East Melbourne, VIC, RACGP. Link: https://www.racgp.org.au/education/education-examinations/registrars/fellowship-pathways/fracgp-exams/public-exam-reports
[2] Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. 2024. 2024.2 KFP Public Exam Report. East Melbourne, VIC, RACGP. Link: https://www.racgp.org.au/education/education-examinations/registrars/fellowship-pathways/fracgp-exams/public-exam-reports
[3] General Practice Registrars Australia. 2025. Study Tips for GP Trainees. Melbourne, VIC, GPRA. Link: https://gpra.org.au/
[4] Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. 2025. 2025.2 AKT and KFP Exam Results Summary. East Melbourne, VIC, RACGP. Link: https://www.racgp.org.au/education/education-examinations/registrars/fellowship-pathways/fracgp-exams/public-exam-reports
[5] Carpenter, S. K., Pan, S. C., and Butler, A. C. 2022. The science of effective learning with spacing and retrieval practice. Nature Reviews Psychology, 1, 495 to 511. Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44159-022-00147-4
AKT Exam Preparation: Study Strategies That Work
AKT vs KFP: Which RACGP Exam Is Harder (and How to Prepare for Both)
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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
Learning how to turn any GP Exam Academy course into a pass level study system can dramatically shift your approach from anxious uncertainty to confident preparedness for your RACGP exams. It is natural to feel stressed when faced with the enormous amount of content you are expected to master. Perhaps you have already experienced disappointment after an unsuccessful attempt, or maybe you are a first time candidate overwhelmed by the complexity ahead. Either way, your worries are entirely normal and understandable.
However, anxiety does not need to define your journey. With the right structured approach, you can channel your energy productively. I have supported hundreds of GP registrars and International Medical Graduates, and I have seen firsthand how a targeted strategy makes a real difference in exam outcomes. By methodically extracting high yield topics, mastering question techniques, developing clear notes, and reinforcing your memory with flashcards, you are not only studying smarter, you are cultivating the calm, strategic mindset necessary for exam success.
This guide walks you through each step clearly, practically, and supportively, so you can confidently pass your RACGP exams.
Extract the High Yield Content, for how to turn any GP Exam Academy course into a pass level study system
High yield content includes the topics most frequently tested on RACGP exams, making them essential for your targeted study approach. Identifying and mastering these topics ensures your study sessions deliver maximum impact, significantly increasing your likelihood of passing.
The RACGP exam consistently tests several key areas:
Chronic diseases, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, COPD
Acute presentations, chest pain, febrile children, acute abdominal pain
Preventive health, immunisation schedules, cancer screening guidelines
Paediatrics and mental health, common clinical scenarios encountered in everyday practice
Special contexts, ethical considerations, Indigenous health, rural scenarios, medico legal issues
Strategically prioritising these areas is essential. For instance, in the 2024.2 exam cycle, the AKT pass rate was 82.15% among 829 candidates [1], while the KFP pass rate was lower at 67.83% among 945 candidates [2], highlighting the KFP complexity and need for targeted preparation.
To effectively extract high yield content from your GP Exam Academy course, consider the following practical steps:
Review your course syllabus and align it with past RACGP public exam reports [1] [2]
Highlight and annotate frequently tested guidelines, protocols, and clinical scenarios
Create a dedicated list of topics requiring focused review sessions
Schedule study sessions to systematically cover each topic, ensuring comprehensive syllabus coverage
Plug in Higher Quality KFP Questions
Practising with high quality KFP questions under exam conditions is critical for honing your clinical reasoning skills and significantly improving your exam performance. The KFP section is particularly challenging as it assesses not only your knowledge but your ability to apply it accurately within specific clinical contexts.
Regular, structured practice is essential because:
RACGP public reporting shows improved outcomes when candidates use official preparation resources, including SAPTs and exam reports, to guide practice and remediation [4]
In the 2025.2 RACGP cycle, the pass rates were 79.41% for AKT and 79.57% for KFP [4]. Notably, first time AKT candidates achieved a pass rate of 85.9%, compared with 31.0% among candidates attempting for the fourth time or beyond [4]
Practical steps to integrate quality KFP practice include:
Regularly use RACGP style KFP practice questions that require precise, context specific answers
Simulate realistic timed exam conditions with focused blocks, then complete full length practice under exam timing
Carefully study each answer explanation to fully understand clinical reasoning, including why distractors are wrong
Track your common mistakes, such as not tailoring answers to the clinical details or including unnecessary information, and correct these habits deliberately
Finish with Flashcards, Fellow Academy Method
Flashcards combined with spaced repetition are proven to enhance long term retention, transforming temporary recall into deeply ingrained knowledge. This technique forms a cornerstone of the Fellow Academy method and is ideal for high stakes exams like the RACGP assessments.
Research demonstrates flashcards combined with spaced repetition:
Enhance memory compared to traditional revision methods, using retrieval practice and spacing to improve durable learning [5]
Promote active recall, reinforcing knowledge more effectively than passive reading [5]
Practical steps for using flashcards effectively:
Convert key facts from your notes into flashcards, with clear, concise questions and answers, for example what are red flag symptoms of cauda equina syndrome
Use spaced repetition apps, Anki, Brainscape, or Fellow Academy tools, to schedule frequent and efficient reviews
Commit to daily, brief review sessions, 10 to 20 minutes per day, rather than infrequent, prolonged sessions
Immediately convert mistakes from practice questions into new flashcards, ensuring continuous learning and knowledge consolidation
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.
FAQs, Mastering RACGP Exam Preparation
1. What exactly are high yield topics for RACGP exams?
High yield topics frequently tested include chronic diseases, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, COPD, acute conditions, chest pain, febrile children, acute abdomen, preventive health guidelines, immunisation, screening, paediatrics, mental health, Indigenous health, rural medicine, ethical scenarios. Prioritising these significantly improves exam readiness. See recent RACGP public reports for emphasis and common pitfalls [1] [2].
2. How do I create a realistic RACGP exam study plan?
Aim for at least 6 months of structured study. Begin with high yield content, proceed to regular question practice, and finalise with spaced repetition review sessions. Set clear weekly objectives, for example completing 50 practice questions or summarising 1 clinical guideline per week, and adjust your schedule according to your progress. Use RACGP SAPTs and public exam reports to benchmark progress and plan remediation [1] [2] [4].
3. How should IMGs specifically prepare for RACGP exams?
IMGs should prioritise Australian specific contexts, PBS rules, Medicare procedures, Australian clinical guidelines, culturally relevant healthcare practices. Structured notes, frequent practice questions, and mentorship from Australian GP supervisors substantially improve preparedness and integration. Align preparation with RACGP exam reports and current guideline sources to ensure local accuracy [1] [2].
4. How many practice questions or mock exams should I aim to complete?
Target several hundred AKT questions and 40 to 50 KFP style scenarios over your preparation period, then complete at least 2 full length mocks under realistic conditions. Use official resources, SAPTs, and RACGP public exam reports to shape practice and track improvement [1] [2] [4].
5. Are flashcards and spaced repetition effective for RACGP exam preparation?
Yes. Extensive research shows spaced retrieval and active recall improve long term retention and knowledge transfer [5]. This method ensures essential exam knowledge becomes second nature, which supports performance in high stakes exams.
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)