Executive summary
The UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA) is the new national standard for entry to the medical register. It comprises a computer-based Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) and a practical Clinical & Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA), both of which are mapped directly to the General Medical Council's (GMC) comprehensive MLA Content Map. The most effective preparation strategy begins with this official map, then layers on high-quality question banks, dedicated OSCE practice, and a new generation of AI-powered revision tools.
Your essential resources should include the official GMC and Medical Schools Council (MSC) guidance, authoritative clinical references like the BNF and NICE CKS, and proven question banks from providers like Passmedicine, Quesmed, and BMJ OnExamination. For OSCE and CPSA practice, Geeky Medics remains a cornerstone. To make your study more efficient, AI-powered add-ons like iatroX (offering a free, UK-centric adaptive quiz) and Anki (for spaced repetition) can help you close knowledge gaps faster and retain information for longer.
UKMLA at a glance (know the exam before you revise)
The UKMLA consists of two distinct parts, both of which you must pass.
- The AKT (Applied Knowledge Test): This is a multiple-choice exam that tests your clinical knowledge and your ability to apply it.
- The CPSA (Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment): This is a practical, OSCE-style exam that assesses your clinical skills, communication, and professional behaviours.
Both parts are derived directly from the GMC's MLA Content Map, which outlines the core conditions, presentations, and practical skills that every UK doctor is expected to know. Your first step in revision should always be to download and familiarise yourself with this document. Official GMC UKMLA Guidance.
Non-negotiables: official & primary clinical references
- GMC MLA Content Map: This is your revision bible. Print it out, annotate it, and use it to track your progress against every required domain and presentation.
- NICE CKS & BNF: The AKT is designed to test knowledge relevant to a UK foundation doctor. Therefore, the NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries (CKS) for common presentations and the British National Formulary (BNF) for all prescribing questions are your ground-truth sources. Build the habit of checking these after every MCQ session to verify your answers.
The classic stack: proven revision platforms
- Passmedicine (Finals/UKMLA): A stalwart of UK medical education, offering over 10,000 single-best-answer and extended-matching questions, including dedicated sections for OSCE and PSA-style content.
- Quesmed (UKMLA): A modern, popular platform providing UKMLA mock exams, PSA practice questions, and an integrated library of revision notes.
- BMJ OnExamination (MLA): From a highly trusted publisher, this resource offers over 2,000 MLA-aligned questions. Access is often free for BMA members.
- Zero to Finals: An excellent resource for building your conceptual anchors, with succinct primers and a range of member tools.
CPSA/OSCE resources (skills & communication)
- Geeky Medics: The go-to resource for practical skills. Its extensive library of OSCE guides, with clear checklists and videos, is mapped to the conditions and presentations in the MLA Content Map, making it perfect for deliberate practice.
AI-powered revision: faster feedback, better retention
AI tools are not a replacement for the classic stack, but they are a powerful accelerator. They can speed up your understanding, personalise your practice, and support your OSCE rehearsal.
iatroX (free, UK-centric)
- Knowledge Centre / Ask iatroX: When you're debriefing a set of MCQs and need to quickly understand a concept, Ask iatroX provides fast, cited answers that can help you navigate to the right section of the official NICE or SIGN guidelines.
- iatroX Quiz: This feature is your daily review engine. It is an adaptive and spaced repetition quiz tool that is mapped to the UKMLA curriculum. The adaptive engine targets your weak areas, while the spaced repetition mode helps you lock in knowledge for the long term. It is a powerful, free tool to consolidate your learning.
Anki (Spaced Repetition System)
- Anki is an open-source flashcard program that uses powerful spaced repetition algorithms. It is exceptionally good for memorising high-volume, factual information like pharmacology, diagnostic criteria, and eponymous syndromes.
Weekly study blueprint
| Day | Time | Activity | Tools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon–Thu | 90 mins | 45–60 mins: Mixed Q-bank block. Tag misses by content-map domain.<br>15–20 mins: Clarify uncertain items with cited Q&A.<br>10–15 mins: Spaced repetition review. | Passmedicine/Quesmed<br>iatroX Ask → Anki<br>iatroX Quiz/Anki |
| Fri | 60 mins | CPSA / OSCE station practice. | Geeky Medics checklist |
| Weekend | Optional | Timed mock exam block + full debrief. | Quesmed/Passmedicine + NICE CKS/BNF |
Resource matrix
| Task | Primary Resource | Why It’s High-Yield | AI Add-on |
|---|---|---|---|
| AKT Knowledge Gaps | Passmedicine / Quesmed / BMJ OnExam | Exam-style breadth and depth | iatroX Quiz for adaptive review |
| Guideline Look-ups | NICE CKS / BNF | Authoritative, exam-relevant answers | iatroX Knowledge Centre for faster, cited retrieval |
| CPSA Practice | Geeky Medics OSCE guides | Checklists + content mapped to MLA | Use AI Q&A to script concise patient explanations |
FAQs
- Is the UKMLA just the old AKT + OSCE?
- In essence, yes. It formalises the assessment into two parts—an Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) and a Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA)—both of which are assessed against the single, unified GMC MLA Content Map.
- What are the best free tools for UKMLA revision?
- The most powerful free combination is iatroX (for its AI-powered Q&A and adaptive quiz) and Anki (for its world-class spaced repetition), used alongside the free-to-access NICE CKS and BNF websites.
- Which question bank is “closest” to the real MLA?
- All three of the main paid platforms—BMJ OnExamination, Passmedicine, and Quesmed—are widely used and highly regarded. The best strategy is to use one as your primary bank and supplement it with timed mocks from another to get a feel for different question styles.
Calls to action
- Start with the map: Download and annotate the official GMC MLA Content Map today. It is your single source of truth for what you need to know.
- Pick your stack: Choose one main question bank (Passmedicine, Quesmed, or BMJ OnExamination) and layer on the free AI tools (iatroX for adaptive practice and Anki for spaced repetition) for your daily reviews.
- Schedule your skills: Book in weekly CPSA practice sessions using the Geeky Medics station guides and always verify your explanations against NICE CKS and the BNF.