Executive summary
For UK doctors and advanced practitioners approaching the end of their training, the final hurdle is a convergence of high-stakes exit exams and the demanding process of portfolio sign-off for the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT). In this critical phase, the right AI-assisted digital toolkit can be a powerful accelerator, boosting revision efficiency, strengthening your use of evidence, and streamlining the packaging of your Quality Improvement (QI) and CPD activities.
This guide provides a use-case map to a modern, non-obvious study stack. We will explore how to combine best-in-class tools for different jobs: iatroX for its UK-guideline-aware Q&A and adaptive quiz engine; Dyna AI for its deep, citation-first answers; SimConverse for real-time AI patient conversations for PACES/SCA; Trip, OpenEvidence, and a suite of literature-mapping tools for rapid evidence triage; and Life QI for presenting your project data.
Map your endgame: exams + CCT deliverables
Your goal is to meet the final requirements for your specialty.
- For GP trainees: This means passing the MRCGP AKT and SCA, completing your ePortfolio with rich reflections, and evidencing your QI project.
- For hospital specialties: This involves passing your final exit exam (e.g., MRCP PACES), ensuring all workplace-based assessments are complete, and compiling robust evidence of your QI and teaching activities.
The tooling principles for this final push are: citation-first search, adaptive memory (spaced repetition), and audit-ready outputs for your ARCP.
The non-obvious stack
| Task | Tool(s) | Why it helps | When to use | UK Compliance Angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guideline-Grounded Answers | iatroX; Dyna AI | RAG/citation-first, UK-centric | Daily clinics + post-MCQ debrief | Aligns with DTAC/NICE evidence culture |
| OSCE/SCA/PACES Comms | SimConverse; Geeky Medics VP | Real-time AI patients, structured feedback | Twice-weekly drills | Mirrors consultation station demands |
| Evidence Triage & Synthesis | Trip; OpenEvidence; Consensus; Litmaps; scite; Scholarcy | Faster discovery + quality signals | For exam justifications & QI projects | Cite sources in portfolio |
| QI Project Packaging | Life QI | SPC charts, driver diagrams, sharing | During project wrap-up for ARCP | Recognised across NHS organisations |
Rapid, reliable answers for viva/short-answer justifications
- iatroX (free, UK-centric): Use Ask iatroX to get fast summaries with citations that help you navigate to NICE, CKS, and other UK-accepted guidance. Use the Quiz for adaptive and spaced repetition reviews mapped to UK curricula. You can also log your Q&A sessions as CPD with reflections for your portfolio.
- Dyna AI (EBSCO): A powerful RAG-based assistant that works over the deep content of DynaMed and DynaMedex. It's excellent for getting clinician-facing, answer-level citations for on-the-spot management thresholds.
- OpenEvidence: A fast, evidence-linked Q&A tool that synthesises information from major journals. It’s free for verified healthcare professionals and useful for counselling complex queries.
Simulation for communication-heavy stations (SCA, PACES)
- SimConverse × BMJ OnExam (PACES): This partnership provides voice-based, AI-driven patient encounters designed specifically for the PACES exam, with reflective feedback after each session.
- Geeky Medics Virtual Patients: A great resource for practising live, real-time AI consultations. Integrate your practice with the official OSCE station checklists for deliberate practice.
- Session design: Run a circuit of three 10-minute stations (e.g., breaking bad news, discussing risk, medication counselling). Debrief your performance using UK guidance you can pull up quickly via iatroX or Dyna AI, then repeat.
Evidence-powered study & project write-ups
- Trip (with PICO mode): Your first stop for surfacing high-quality guidelines and evidence rapidly.
- Consensus: A medical search engine that uses AI to find and summarise findings from across 200M+ papers. It's incredibly useful for generating rationales for an audit or viva.
- Litmaps: Visualise the literature landscape around a key topic and set up alerts so you don't miss seminal trials as your exam approaches.
- scite: Use its "Smart Citations" to see whether the key papers you are referencing have been supported or contradicted by later research—perfect for viva-style probing.
- Scholarcy: An AI-powered tool that can digest long PDFs (like a full guideline or systematic review) into summary flashcards for your final review.
Memory that sticks (without more hours)
- iatroX Quiz: After each question bank session, use the adaptive and spaced repetition modes to lock in the topics you found difficult. The system is mapped to UK exams and automatically schedules your reviews.
- Pair with your own notes: If you keep personal notes, use a tool like Readwise to review your highlights or the spaced-repetition plugin for note-taking apps like Obsidian.
QI/leadership evidence for ARCP/CCT
- Life QI: This platform is purpose-built for healthcare quality improvement. Use it to structure your driver diagrams, log your PDSA cycles, and auto-chart your data with Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts. You can then export screenshots directly into your ePortfolio.
- Tie-in to NICE EVA/ESF language: When you write up your project's impact, use the language of the NICE Evidence Standards Framework. This clarity and structure will resonate with your ARCP panel.
One-week “CCT runway” plan
| Day | Activity (75–90 mins) |
|---|---|
| Mon–Thu | 40–50 mins: Main Q-bank questions.<br>10 mins: Verify misses with iatroX/Dyna AI.<br>15–20 mins: iatroX Quiz spaced review. |
| Fri | 45–60 mins: Two simulated consultations (SimConverse/Geeky Medics VP) + a written debrief with citations. |
| Weekend | 60–90 mins: Evidence sweep on weak topics (Trip/OpenEvidence/Consensus). Update QI visuals in Life QI for your portfolio. |
Safety & governance (use AI wisely)
- Always prefer citation-first outputs and click through to the primary sources to verify.
- Keep patient-health-information (PHI) out of any third-party tools that are not approved by your organisation. Keep a log of your prompts and outputs in your portfolio notes for your own audit trail.
- When describing your use of a tool in a QI project or practice write-up, align your language with UK expectations (DTAC, NICE ESF).
FAQs
- Are these tools allowed during exams?
- No. These are for preparation and learning only. Always follow the specific rules set out by the Royal Colleges.
- Which single tool offers the most ROI in the final month?
- For a UK-centric blend of breadth and retention, the combination of iatroX (for its fast, cited answers and its free adaptive quiz) paired with a dedicated OSCE simulator is a powerful choice.
- How do I cite AI in my portfolio?
- It is best practice to save the AI's output along with the source links it provided (iatroX, Dyna AI, Trip, OpenEvidence all do this). Then, in your reflection, summarise your own clinical judgement and how the tool informed it.