The MRCGP AKT exam was held on the 26th of October 2022 and was sat by 2,139 candidates. This feedback report provides a summary of the AKT exam held in October 2022, including key statistics, areas of strength, areas for improvement, and advice for future exam preparation. If you would like to review feedback reports for other AKT examinations held in the past, please click on any of the below for more information:
The scores for this exam ranged from 71 to 193 out of 200 questions, with a mean overall score of 147.7 marks (73.84%). The pass mark for AKT was set at 141, with 68.02% of all 2,139 candidates passing the exam. The mean scores for the three subject areas was as follows:
For the October 2022 AKT exam, candidates performed better than previous sittings in questions relating to:
During the AKT exam, candidates were uncertain about privacy, which could overlap with confidentiality in certain circumstances, as well as issues surrounding the widespread use of social media and digital technologies. The exam questions were centred on real-life scenarios, and whilst detailed knowledge of regulations was not expected, the scenarios concerning professional topics required thoughtful application of important principles.
For the AKT exam, candidates are aware that certain questions will relate to scenarios where a diagnosis must be made. The scenarios may include information such as symptoms, examination findings, and test results that candidates need to synthesise to arrive at the correct answer. Whilst it's important to have a high level of awareness of the possibility of cancer, its equally important to carefully read the scenarios and consider whether an alternative diagnosis is more likely based on the given information.
In some cases, candidates overlooked the possibility of pregnancy as the cause of common symptoms. A careful reading of the scenarios was necessary to identify key features that could indicate the need for pregnancy testing. Failure to diagnose pregnancy in a timely manner could lead to severe consequences, highlighting the importance of considering all possible explanations for symptoms.
During the AKT exam, some candidates were not aware of the appropriate follow-up tests recommended to help confirm or rule out cancer after initial abnormal investigations. Over-referral or over-investigation is unhelpful for patients and can lead to a waste of resources. The diagnosis and investigation of suspected cancer continues to be widely tested in the exam.
Candidates demonstrated improved performance in drug calculations. However, they encountered difficulties in basic calculations related to respiratory parameters or values. As a reminder, we encourage candidates to double-check their numerical answers for accuracy.
Candidates appeared to lack awareness that certain symptoms described in a scenario could indicate pregnancy and necessitate testing, both in the topics of sexual health and gynaecological issues. Lastly, candidates had difficulty understanding the underlying causes of erectile dysfunction.
It is important for candidates to pay close attention to these areas in their exam preparation to improve their chance of success. The GP curriculum provides a comprehensive guide for exam preparation, and the knowledge and skills sections within each topic guide can be particularly helpful for candidates who want to ensure they have covered all the important topics. It is also recommended that candidates do the MRCGP AKT question bank and mock exam and regularly review the feedback from past AKT exams to identify areas where they may need to focus their preparation efforts.