Exams and MRCGP
To demonstrate competence and fitness to be licensed as a GP, trainees have to pass the MRCGP which consists of these assessments:
Applied Knowledge Test
The AKT is sat by trainees during or after their ST2 year. Trainees are allowed up to a maximum of four attempts.
Trainees are entitled to one fully-funded place on a course. If trainees do not succeed in their AKT attempt, they can seek funding for an additional preparation course. Applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Click on the icon to view further exam information, including:
- Preparation resources
- Statistics
- Data interpretation
- Practice questions
Supporting trainees with an unsuccessful AKT outcome
The following resources have been kindly shared by the Exeter educators conference:
Collaborative Discussion Document
Used to guide a meeting with the DiT to support them following an unsuccessful outcome.
Pre-meet Trainee Questionnaire
Completed ahead of the collaborative discussion. Kindly shared by Somerset VTS.
Top Tips
Suggested tasks aimed at supporting trainees in their preparation for an AKT attempt.
Simulated Consultation Assessment
The SCA has replaced the Recorded Consultation Assessment (RCA) as the final professional exam required to achieve MRCGP. It can only be sat during the ST3 year and is usually conducted remotely at the trainees’ host GP practice.
The assessment simulates twelve consultations, each 12 minutes long. Each trainee will be assessed according to a blueprint of the twelve clinical experience groups. Click on the icon for more information.
Click on the icon for information for trainers and trainees on the SCA including relevant dates, bookings information, and Q&A webinars.
Preparation
See the Bristol GP trainee SCA revision guide.
Developed by HEE NW, this RCGP endorsed SCA toolkit can be used to assist trainers in the analysis of trainee performance and plan educational strategies or activities to focus development of weaker competencies before sitting the exams.
Videos with tips on how to make the most of the toolkit can be found here.
Trainees are entitled funding to attend one RCGP/Severn Faculty SCA course. Details and dates of these courses are disseminated via email, but can also be booked here:
If trainees are unsuccessful in their first SCA attempt then funding for a further one-day SCA preparation course will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
See also SCA Case Example Videos on the RCGP site:
Support for Performance and Exams Programme
The SPEX programme is an highly successful, evidence-based intervention to help Doctors in Training (DiTs) improve communication skills, learn to “Consult like a GP”, and provide revision support for AKT and RCA/SCA exams based on the award-winning HEE North West Support on Extension Programme.
The South West SPEX programme is a course delivered online during the general practice stages of training to improve exam success rates. The SCA and AKT exams comprise the MRCGP which all GP DiTs will need to pass prior to CCT.
It is comprised of SPEX 1 and SPEX 2, and both are offered by invitation.
SPEX 1
Designed to be an early introduction to “consulting like a GP”, it is delivered in General Practice in ST1/2.
It is an additional communication course which complements the VTS for registrars that are identified as requiring additional support.
Please see the SPEX FAQs page for more information on the programme including recruitment methods.
SPEX 2
A one-off tutorial to provide additional support to DiTs during ST3 to improve consultation skills and pass the SCA.
It is offered by invitation and is conducted by an experienced educator, often an AD, TPD or RCGP examiner.
Please see the SPEX FAQs page for more information on the programme including recruitment methods.
