The PARA KBA content map includes over 550 conditions across every clinical specialty. Attempting to study them all with equal intensity is impossible in 12 weeks. The solution is structured prioritisation: high-yield areas get more time, the adaptive algorithm handles retention, and mock exams identify gaps before the real exam reveals them.
Before You Start
Gather your resources. A primary PA-specific Q-bank (PA Practice, Matrix, or PLABable). iatroX Q-Bank for free adaptive spaced repetition (start from day one). Ask iatroX for instant guideline verification. RCP sample questions for format familiarisation.
Baseline test. Complete 100 mixed questions from iatroX on day one without studying. The results map your starting strengths and weaknesses. The adaptive algorithm begins targeting your gaps immediately.
Phase 1: Core Clinical Medicine (Weeks 1-4)
Cover the highest-volume clinical specialties.
Week 1 — Cardiovascular and respiratory. Hypertension, ACS, heart failure, AF, PE, DVT, asthma, COPD, pneumonia, lung cancer. 30-40 primary Q-bank questions + 20 iatroX questions daily.
Week 2 — Gastroenterology, hepatology, renal. IBD, coeliac, liver disease, GI bleeding, AKI, CKD, UTI, electrolyte disorders.
Week 3 — Neurology, endocrine, musculoskeletal. Stroke, epilepsy, headache, diabetes (types 1 and 2), thyroid, osteoarthritis, RA, back pain red flags, gout.
Week 4 — Women's health, paediatrics. Obstetric emergencies, antenatal care, contraception, menstrual disorders. Febrile child, safeguarding, developmental milestones, childhood infections.
Phase 2: Remaining Specialties (Weeks 5-8)
Week 5 — Surgery and emergency medicine. Acute abdomen, appendicitis, fractures, burns, anaphylaxis, sepsis, DKA.
Week 6 — Psychiatry and mental health. Depression, anxiety, psychosis, bipolar, substance misuse, eating disorders, Mental Health Act.
Week 7 — Dermatology, ENT, ophthalmology, haematology. Skin conditions, hearing loss, red eye, anaemia, clotting disorders.
Week 8 — Pharmacology, clinical sciences, professional practice. Drug interactions, adverse effects, monitoring. Ethics, consent, capacity, safeguarding. PA-specific scope of practice and escalation.
Increase targets to 40-50 primary questions + 25 iatroX questions daily.
Phase 3: Mocks and Consolidation (Weeks 9-12)
Week 9: First full mock exam. Analyse by specialty. Identify weakest areas.
Week 10: Targeted weakness revision using iatroX performance data and mock results.
Week 11: Mock exams 2 and 3. Further targeted revision. Use Ask iatroX for precision — verify every uncertain point against the guideline.
Week 12: Light revision only. Final mock at start of week. Rest the last 2 days.
The Daily Routine
Morning commute: 10-15 iatroX questions on mobile.
Study session (2-3 hours): 30-50 primary Q-bank questions with explanation review.
Quick reference: Use Ask iatroX for any clinical question that arises during study or clinical work.
One rest day per week. Over 12 weeks, burnout is a real risk. Protect it.
The Key Principle
550 conditions cannot all be studied equally. The adaptive spaced repetition in iatroX Q-Bank solves the allocation problem — it automatically prioritises the conditions you know least, ensuring exam-day knowledge is distributed across the entire content map rather than clustered in your comfort zones. Combined with structured weekly topic coverage, this approach makes the overwhelming manageable.