Executive summary
The journey through medical training in the UK is a multi-stage marathon, with each phase demanding a specific set of tools and resources. For applicants, success hinges on UCAT and interview preparation, with platforms like Medify and virtual work experience from the BSMS providing the necessary edge. In the pre-clinical years, building foundational knowledge relies on visual and structured resources like TeachMeAnatomy and Osmosis.
As students transition to clinical placements, the focus shifts to practical skills, with Geeky Medics and Quesmed becoming indispensable for OSCE and UKMLA preparation. Finally, for new Foundation Year doctors, survival on the wards depends on at-hand references like Mind the Bleep. Throughout this journey, a new layer of AI-powered tools like iatroX can help to consolidate learning, providing citation-backed answers from UK guidance and using adaptive quizzes to ensure knowledge is retained for the long term.
Stage 0 — Getting in: UCAT, interviews & credible experience
Your first hurdle is securing a place at medical school. This requires a focused approach to admissions tests and demonstrating a realistic understanding of a medical career.
-
Core tools:
- Medify (UCAT course & Q-bank): The most widely used UCAT simulator, offering a huge question bank and realistic mock exams.
- Medic Mind (UCAT courses): Provides video-led strategies and a sizable UCAT bank, with options for one-to-one tutoring.
- Official UCAT prep: The official consortium provides free practice tests and a prep calendar. Use these to benchmark your performance.
- BSMS Virtual Work Experience & RCGP Observe GP: These free, online work experience platforms are designed by medical schools and Royal Colleges to provide the reflective insights that admissions tutors are looking for.
- The Medic Portal: A great source of free UCAT resources and guidance on gaining work experience.
-
How to use (quick wins):
- Alternate between the official UCAT mocks and a commercial bank like Medify to calibrate your timing and technique.
- Keep a reflective diary as you complete the BSMS or Observe GP modules—this will be gold dust for your personal statement and interviews.
Stage 1 — Pre-clinical foundations (Years 1–2)
The pre-clinical years are about building the foundational scientific knowledge upon which everything else rests.
-
Learning stack:
- TeachMeAnatomy & TeachMePhysiology: A brilliant online encyclopaedia with clear diagrams, concise articles, and integrated quiz questions.
- Osmosis: An excellent visual learning platform with illustrated explainer videos and quizzes that are perfect for rapid concept capture.
- Ninja Nerd: Offers detailed, long-form lecture videos with structured notes and illustrations for those who prefer a deeper dive.
-
Why these work: They provide visual, chunked content that supports how the brain builds schemas. Pair each topic you cover with 10–15 active recall questions from the platform's own quizzes to test your understanding.
Stage 2 — Transition to clinical: OSCEs, CPSA & on-placement learning
This is where you translate theory into practice. Your focus shifts to clinical skills and exam formats like the OSCE and the new UKMLA CPSA.
-
OSCE/CPSA core:
- Geeky Medics: The definitive resource for OSCEs. It has step-by-step guides, over 1,300 interactive stations, and a dedicated CPSA hub.
- OSCEstop: Provides a great collection of stations, concise learning notes, and an integrated SBA question bank.
- Quesmed: Excellent for UKMLA mock exams and PSA practice, with an integrated library of notes to consolidate your knowledge.
-
How to drill:
- Form a study group and run station "triads" (one candidate, one examiner, one patient) using the Geeky Medics checklists. Rotate roles and provide structured feedback.
- Interleave the clinical knowledge questions from Quesmed with your practical skills practice to build context.
Stage 3 — Hitting the wards: FY1 survival, prescribing & “what do I do now?”
As a new FY1 doctor, your priority is safe and efficient practice. You need reliable, at-hand references.
-
At-hand references:
- Mind the Bleep: An essential, peer-written survival guide for foundation doctors, packed with practical "how-to" articles and webinars on managing common on-call issues.
- NICE CKS: For any common primary-care-style presentation, CKS provides pragmatic, UK-specific summaries of what to do.
- BNF: The British National Formulary is the non-negotiable source of truth for all prescribing decisions in the UK.
-
Tip: When you are uncertain on the wards, develop a simple workflow: check the management steps in a trusted summary source like NICE CKS, then verify any specific prescribing details in the BNF. Copy the key lines and your sources into your notes for a clear audit trail.
Add an AI layer (that’s actually safe and useful)
AI tools can accelerate your learning, but only when they are used correctly.
iatroX (UK-centric, free)
- Knowledge Centre / Ask iatroX: When you're debriefing a question bank or a real case from placement, Ask iatroX provides fast, citation-backed answers that can help you navigate to the correct section of authoritative UK guidelines from bodies like NICE and SIGN.
- iatroX Quiz: The quiz feature uses adaptive learning and spaced repetition and is mapped to UK curricula (including the UKMLA and PSA). This makes it an ideal daily review engine to help you retain what you learn for longer.
Why spaced repetition matters: Multiple medical education studies have shown that spacing out your revision leads to better short- and long-term knowledge retention. Using a tool that automates this process is one of the most efficient ways to study.
“Mix & match” resource matrix
| Task | Primary Resource | Why High-Yield | Backup / AI Assist |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCAT Timing & Technique | Medify / Medic Mind | Large banks + strategy videos | Official UCAT mocks to calibrate |
| Anatomy/Physiology | TeachMeAnatomy / TeachMePhysiology | Concise, diagram-rich articles | Osmosis / Ninja Nerd for deeper visuals |
| OSCE "Muscle Memory" | Geeky Medics / OSCEstop | Detailed checklists + station banks | Quesmed for linked MCQs & PSA tie-ins |
| Ward Confidence | Mind the Bleep | FY1-oriented "how-to" articles | NICE CKS / BNF to verify actions |
| Retention & Rapid Look-ups | — | — | iatroX (adaptive quiz + cited UK guidance) |
Calls to action
- Applicants: Book an official UCAT mock this week. Pick one main commercial bank (Medify or Medic Mind) and schedule time to complete the BSMS or Observe GP virtual work experience.
- Pre-clinical students: Choose TeachMeAnatomy/Physiology as your core and supplement it with one visual platform (Osmosis or Ninja Nerd). Set a 30-minute daily study cadence.
- Clinical years: Run three OSCE stations a night with your study group using Geeky Medics or OSCEstop. Then, use the iatroX spaced repetition mode to lock in your recall of the key steps.