This is the question every GP trainee asks. The answer depends on how you learn.
Passmedicine
4,500+ AKT questions mapped to the updated 2025 RCGP curriculum. The Knowledge Tutor provides spaced repetition for consolidation. Performance benchmarking compares your scores against candidates preparing for the same diet — answering "am I ready?" with peer comparison data. Full mock exams in AKT format. Teaching notes accompany every question. Approximately £35 for 4 months.
Pastest
3,300+ AKT questions in SBA, EMQ, Free Text Matching, and Multiple Best Answer formats. The explanation quality is widely regarded as the best in market — Pastest explanations teach clinical reasoning, not just confirm correct answers. Searchable textbook, podcasts, and the new Tutor On-Demand feature for interactive support. 48-hour free trial available. Approximately £50-100 for 3-6 months.
The Comparison
Volume: Passmedicine (4,500+) vs Pastest (3,300+). Passmedicine provides ~36% more questions.
Explanation quality: Pastest wins. The explanations develop reasoning — they explain why each incorrect option is wrong and connect the answer to underlying pathophysiology or guidelines. Passmedicine explanations are good but more confirmatory than educational.
Spaced repetition: Passmedicine's Knowledge Tutor provides algorithmic review scheduling. Pastest does not have an equivalent built-in feature.
Question formats: Both cover SBA. Pastest adds EMQ, SAQ, FTM, and MBA — matching the full range of AKT question types. This matters for format familiarity.
Peer benchmarking: Passmedicine lets you compare against other candidates sitting the same AKT diet. Pastest does not offer this feature.
Price: Comparable — both approximately £35-100 depending on subscription length.
The Common Approach
Many high-performing trainees use both — Passmedicine for volume, benchmarking, and spaced repetition in the early phase; Pastest for depth, reasoning development, and format variety in the later phase. This is expensive but comprehensive.
For one platform: volume learners choose Passmedicine. Depth learners choose Pastest.
Where iatroX Fits
Passmedicine gives volume. Pastest gives depth. iatroX adds a free adaptive layer that surfaces your specific weak topics — use it alongside either or both to close gaps. The iatroX AKT Q-bank is free, with guideline-grounded explanations for every weak area.