Executive Summary (TL;DR)
The MRCGP (AKT & SCA) Now Has Credible, UK-Made AI Tools Aligned To RCGP Expectations, Moving Far Beyond Generic Chatbots.
For The SCA: Clinitalk (Built By RCGP Examiners) Lets You Record A Consult And Get Immediate, Individualised Feedback. It Is Complemented By Platforms Like SCA Prep And SimPrep AI, Which Offer GPT-Based SCA Cases, While Geeky Medics AI Adds 200 AI Virtual Patients For Practice.
For The AKT: AKTprep.uk Provides A 1,000+ Question Bank Plus A NICE-Trained AI Tutor. iatroX Gives Free Adaptive Quizzes And Guideline Q&A Grounded In UK Sources (NICE/CKS/BNF).
All Of This Should Sit On Top Of The Official RCGP AKT/SCA Pages And Not Replace Them.
1) Why AI Now for MRCGP?
There Is Rising Evidence That Large Language Models (LLMs) Can Meet Or Even Beat GP Performance On MRCGP-Style Exam Items. It Therefore Makes Sense To Harness These Tools As Tutors Rather Than Competitors.
The RCGP Is Very Explicit About The Exam Format, Especially For The SCA. This Means Training On Exam-Shaped Conversations (Which These Tools Offer) Is Far More Valuable Than Generic GP Chat.
2) Core, Non-AI Foundations You Still Need
Before Touching AI, Every Trainee Must Use The Official RCGP Resources As Their Foundation:
- RCGP AKT Page: This Defines The Blueprint, Timings, And The Critical 80% Clinical, 10% EBM, And 10% Admin Split.
- RCGP SCA Page: This Details The Three Core Marking Domains: Data Gathering, Clinical Management, And Interpersonal Skills.
- Traditional AKT Bank: One Large, Established Question Bank (Like Passmedicine, MRCGPExamPrep, Or Pastest) Is Still Essential For Building Question Volume.
3) AI Tools for SCA (Simulated Consultations)
This Is The Fastest-Growing Area For MRCGP AI. These Tools Help You Practice The Specific Conversational Skills Marked In The Exam.
Clinitalk
- What It Is: An SCA Practice Tool Built By RCGP Examiners. Trainees Can Record Audio Or Video Of A Consultation And Receive Immediate, Individualised Feedback Mapped Directly To The SCA Domains.
- Why It Matters: It Is Used By Trainers And Training Hubs To Support Trainees, Especially Those At Risk Of Extension. It Has Robust Data-Protection Policies And Is Designed For Deliberate, Repeated Practice.
SCA Prep (scaprep.co.uk)
- What It Is: An AI-Driven Platform Offering Realistic SCA Cases With GPT-Style Responses. It Is Positioned Specifically Against The RCGP SCA Blueprint And Provides Instant Marking.
Geeky Medics AI SCA Patients
- What It Is: A Bank Of 200+ AI-Driven Virtual Patients That Allow Trainees To Rehearse Consultation Structure And Interpersonal Skills On Demand.
SimPrep AI
- What It Is: A Platform To Consult With AI Patients That Provides RCGP-Aligned Feedback, Offering Extra Variety To Your Practice Routine.
SCA AI Tool Comparison
| Tool | What It Simulates | Feedback Type | Ideal Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinitalk | Real Consults (Recorded) | Instant, Individualised, RCGP-Mapped | ST3, Deliberate Practice, At-Risk Trainees |
| SCA Prep | AI-Generated Cases | Instant AI Marking | ST2/ST3, Case Variety |
| Geeky Medics AI | 200 AI Virtual Patients | AI Examiner Feedback | ST2/ST3, Skill Rehearsal |
| SimPrep AI | AI Patient Consults | RCGP-Aligned Feedback | ST2/ST3, Case Variety |
4) AI Tools for AKT (Applied Knowledge Test)
These Tools Help You Learn, Understand, And Retain The Vast Knowledge Base Required For The AKT.
AKTprep.uk
- What It Is: A Comprehensive AKT Platform Featuring Over 1,000 AKT-Style Questions Combined With A NICE-Trained AI Tutor That Sits On Top Of The Content, Allowing You To Query Unclear Topics.
iatroX
- What It Is: A Free, UK-Centric Clinical AI Tool With Two Key Features For AKT Prep:
- Ask/Knowledge Centre: Provides Instant UK Guideline Answers (From NICE/CKS/SIGN/BNF) For When Question Bank Explanations Are Thin Or Outdated.
- Quiz: A Free, Adaptive Quiz Engine With Spaced Repetition For MRCGP-Style Content, Helping You Lock In Knowledge.
RCGP + FourteenFish AKT Material
- What It IS: The Official RCGP Partner Materials. While Not AI, These Should Be Paired With A Tool Like iatroX To Instantly Clarify Clinical Topics And Guidelines Referenced In The Modules.
5) How to Combine Them (AKT + SCA) in One Study Week
- Monday–Wednesday (AKT Focus): Complete AKT Blocks In AKTprep Or A Traditional Bank. Push Any Unclear Topics (E.G., A New Guideline) To iatroX Ask For A Guideline-Anchored Clarification. Add Hard-To-Remember Facts To The iatroX Quiz For Spaced Repetition Review.
- Thursday (SCA Focus): Record And Review 2–3 Consultations In Clinitalk For Deep, Specific Feedback. Then, Run 1–2 Extra Cases In Geeky Medics AI For Topic Variation.
- Friday (SCA Variation): Try 1 SCA Case In SCA Prep Or SimPrep AI To Ensure Your Consultation Skills Can Be Transferred Across Different AI Platforms And Case Styles.
6) What to Watch For (Limitations & Governance)
- SCA Nuance: AI SCA Tools Are Excellent For Structure And Data Gathering But Cannot Fully Assess Real Rapport, Subtle Safeguarding Nuances, Or Prescribing Safety. Always Cross-Check Feedback With The Official RCGP Descriptors.
- Data Privacy: Never Use Real Patient Data In Any Third-Party AI Tool. Practise On Fictional Or Heavily Obfuscated Cases Only.
- Verify Content: Always Verify AI-Generated Clinical Content Against The Primary Source. iatroX Makes This A One-Click Process By Citing NICE/CKS/BNF Directly.
7) Calls to Action
- Trainees: Pick One AI SCA Tool (Like Clinitalk Or Geeky Medics AI) And One AI AKT Tool (Like AKTprep Or iatroX) And Integrate Them Into Your Revision For 4 Weeks.
- Trainers & TPDs: Consider Funding Clinitalk Licences For Trainees Who Are At Risk. The Cost Is Significantly Less Than A Six-Month Training Extension.
- ICBs/Deaneries: Issue A Short “Approved AI Tools For MRCGP Prep” Note. Referencing The RCGP’s Own Pages Alongside These Safe, UK-Specific Tools Can Grow Trainee Confidence And Reduce Risky "Shadow AI" Use.