No, the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test is a linear, fixed-form exam, not computer-adaptive. Every candidate sitting a given paper answers the same set of questions in a fixed order, and the difficulty does not respond to your performance as you go. If you have heard that "the AKT adapts", that is a misunderstanding of how it is standardised across papers.
What the AKT format actually is
The AKT is the applied knowledge component of the UK Medical Licensing Assessment, built around the GMC's MLA content map. It is a computer-based, single-best-answer exam, delivered as a fixed set of items rather than an adaptive sequence. Because it is fixed-form, you can move through it, and everyone taking that paper faces the same questions, unlike an adaptive test where each candidate sees a different paper tailored to their ability.
How the pass mark is really set
The AKT uses multiple balanced papers with a standard set per item, so that the likelihood of passing is independent of which paper you happen to sit. Judges estimate how a just-competent candidate would perform on each question, an approach in the Angoff family, and the standard is applied consistently across papers. This is why the raw percentage needed can differ slightly between sittings while the underlying competence bar stays the same. For how pass marks are set across exams, see how medical exam pass marks are set.
What would be different if it were adaptive
If the AKT were adaptive, it would update an estimate of your ability after each answer and select the next question to be maximally informative, so difficulty would rise as you did well and every candidate would see a different paper, as happens in the AMC CAT. We explain that machinery in how computer-adaptive testing works. The AKT does none of this: it is a fixed paper measured against a fixed standard.
How to prepare given the linear format
Because the exam is fixed-form, the adaptivity you want belongs in your practice, not in the exam. The most efficient preparation targets your weak topics and spaces your revision so you retain them, rather than grinding undirected question volume. iatroX uses an adaptive engine to surface your weakest areas first, with free sample questions to try at iatroX.
Frequently asked questions
Is the UKMLA AKT adaptive? No. It is a linear, fixed-form single-best-answer exam. Difficulty does not change based on your answers, and everyone sitting a paper faces the same questions.
Why does the pass percentage vary between sittings? Because the standard is set per item and papers differ slightly in difficulty, so the raw percentage needed can vary while the competence standard stays constant.
Should I practise with an adaptive tool? Yes, for learning. An adaptive learning engine targets your weaknesses efficiently, which is the right use of adaptivity for a fixed-form exam like the AKT.