The most tested conditions in the UKMLA AKT are the high-frequency, decision-critical presentations weighted in the 2026 MLA content map: acute and emergency presentations, cardiology, respiratory, endocrine, gastroenterology, infection, psychiatry, and the ethics and law topics that run through every paper. Because the GMC built the AKT and PLAB 1 on the same content map, the high-yield conditions are identical for UK finalists and IMGs — what differs is that finalists can fold revision into placements. Treat the list below as a prioritisation guide, not a complete syllabus.
Key takeaways
- The AKT and PLAB 1 share the MLA content map, so the high-yield conditions are the same.
- Highest-yield: acute/emergency, cardiology, respiratory, endocrine, GI, infection, psychiatry, ethics/law.
- The AKT tests applied clinical reasoning at Foundation Year 2 level — management decisions, not recall.
- Finalists have an edge: placement exposure is revision when paired with structured question practice.
- High-yield is where to start, not where to stop — the AKT can test anything on the content map.
What is the UKMLA AKT and what does it test?
The Applied Knowledge Test is the written component of the GMC's UK Medical Licensing Assessment — a single-best-answer assessment mapped to the 2026 MLA content map (430 conditions, around 220 presentations and three overarching themes). For UK students it's delivered within the medical degree, sat alongside final-year clinical placements, with no separate GMC fee. It's pitched at the level of a Foundation Year 2 doctor and tests whether you can apply knowledge to clinical scenarios rather than recall isolated facts.
How is "most tested" defined here?
Two factors: weighting in the MLA content map, and clinical frequency at F2 level. A condition that is both heavily mapped and commonly encountered is where your early revision pays off most. The honest caveat — the AKT can draw from anywhere on the content map, so use high-yield to sequence your revision, not to decide what to skip.
The most-tested domains
| Domain | Why it's high-yield | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Acute & emergency | Decision-heavy, safety-critical | Sepsis, anaphylaxis, the acutely unwell patient |
| Cardiology | Heavy map weighting, common | ACS, heart failure, atrial fibrillation |
| Respiratory | Common acute and chronic disease | Asthma, COPD, pneumonia, PE |
| Endocrine & metabolic | Frequent, classic emergencies | Diabetes, DKA, thyroid disease |
| Gastroenterology | Common presentations | GI bleed, liver disease, IBD |
| Infection | Cross-cutting, topical | Sepsis, common infections, antimicrobial choice |
| Psychiatry | Significant weighting | Depression, risk assessment, dementia/delirium |
| Ethics, law & safety | Threads through every paper | Capacity, consent, safeguarding |
For the system-by-system detail, see high-yield cardiology and high-yield acute and emergency medicine, and the 20 most commonly tested conditions.
How should UK finalists revise these?
Your advantage is clinical exposure. Conditions you've clerked, examined and discussed on placement stick far better than ones you've only read. So the efficient approach is to pair placements with structured question practice on the same systems, then add a focused revision block before the sitting. For the full format and a worked timeline, see the UKMLA AKT study plan and our complete UKMLA revision guide.
How a question bank surfaces your high-yield gaps
A generic high-yield list is a start; what moves your score is knowing which high-yield conditions you are weak on. An adaptive bank concentrates your time there rather than re-covering what you already know.
iatroX does this directly: its adaptive engine surfaces your weak high-yield areas, the Socratic Tutor works through the clinical reasoning rather than just the answer, and Ask iatroX lets you confirm management against UK guidance (NICE, CKS, SIGN and the SmPC). Its explanations are mapped to the 2026 MLA content map, and you can drill specific systems through the UKMLA Academy. iatroX covers UKMLA and PLAB 1 on one subscription (£29/month or £99/year), with free sample questions.
Frequently asked questions
What conditions are most tested in the UKMLA AKT? The high-frequency, decision-critical ones weighted in the MLA content map — acute and emergency presentations, cardiology, respiratory, endocrine, gastroenterology, infection, psychiatry, and ethics/law topics that thread through the paper.
Is the UKMLA AKT the same as PLAB 1? They share the same MLA content map and standard, so the tested conditions are the same. UK finalists sit the AKT within their degree; IMGs sit it via the GMC (still often labelled PLAB 1). The exam is the same; the route differs.
Can I revise only the high-yield conditions for the AKT? It's risky. High-yield conditions are where to start, but the AKT can test anything on the content map, so aim for full coverage after building strong foundations.
How do UK students prepare for the AKT alongside finals? Integrate revision with placements — clerk and discuss the high-yield conditions you meet — and pair that with structured question practice, then a focused block before the sitting.