Twelve weeks. That is the sweet spot — long enough for systematic coverage of all three AKT domains, short enough to maintain intensity and momentum. This plan assumes you are working clinically during the day and revising in the evenings and weekends.
Setup (Before Week 1)
Choose your primary Q-bank: Passmedicine (£35/4 months) or Pastest (£50-100/3-6 months). Set up iatroX (free) for daily adaptive sessions. Install the BNF app. Bookmark NICE CKS. Block out 75-90 minutes per evening for revision.
Weeks 1-2: Diagnostic Phase
Take a full diagnostic mock exam (FourteenFish if available, or your primary Q-bank). Do not revise beforehand — the point is to establish your baseline. Analyse your results: which clinical specialties are weakest? How did you perform on EBP and organisational questions? Create a priority list.
Begin daily routine: 50 primary Q-bank questions + 15 minutes iatroX adaptive quiz + 15 minutes CKS verification of wrong answers.
Weeks 3-6: Systematic Coverage
Work through your primary Q-bank systematically — topic by topic, covering your weak areas first (from diagnostic mock analysis). Aim for 50 questions per day minimum. After each session, verify every wrong answer against CKS or BNF.
iatroX adaptive quiz daily (15 minutes) — the engine automatically resurfaces topics you got wrong, complementing your systematic Q-bank work with spaced repetition targeting.
Weeks 7-8: EBP and Organisational Focus
Most trainees have neglected these domains by now. Dedicate specific sessions to: NNT/NNH, sensitivity/specificity/PPV/NPV, study design interpretation, audit cycle (EBP domain). QOF indicators, NHS contract structures, CQC, clinical governance, screening programme specifics, medico-legal frameworks (organisational domain).
These 32 questions (16 EBP + 16 organisational) are often the difference between pass and fail.
Weeks 9-10: Mock Exam Phase
Full mock exams under timed conditions: 160 questions, 2 hours 40 minutes. No pausing, no CKS lookups. One mock per weekend. Analyse: are you finishing on time? Are there consistent specialty weaknesses? Are you losing marks to careless errors or genuine knowledge gaps?
Continue daily Q-bank work and iatroX sessions between mocks.
Weeks 11-12: Targeted and Final
Review NICE guideline updates from the past 6 months — these are "hot topics" likely to appear. Revisit your persistently weak areas with focused Q-bank sessions. Take a final mock exam in week 11. Week 12: light revision, focus on high-yield areas, rest before the exam. Do not cram the night before.
Daily Routine Summary
Weekday: 45-60 min Q-bank → 15 min iatroX adaptive → 15 min CKS/BNF verification.
Weekend: 1 full mock exam (every 2 weeks from week 5) + review of wrong answers + Ask iatroX for deep-dives on persistent gaps.
Where iatroX Fits
iatroX is the daily 15-minute layer that makes the 12-week plan more efficient. The adaptive engine prioritises your weakest topics automatically — no manual triage needed. Free to add alongside any primary Q-bank.