Journal

You can build a serious MRCGP preparation strategy at zero cost with the RCGP Consultation Toolkit, i-Medics, member- or organisation-included resources where eligible, NICE CKS an...

The AKT Q-bank market is mature. Passmedicine and Pastest dominate self-directed preparation; Emedica and Arora offer structured programmes. Free alternatives have improved signifi...

The SCA preparation market has fragmented into four categories — AI consultation feedback, AI patient simulation, case banks, and traditional courses. This guide maps every option ...

From October 2025, the AKT dropped from 200 to 160 questions in 2 hours 40 minutes. The domain split remains 80/10/10. Each question now carries more weight — you can afford fewer ...

The SCA replaced the CSA via the pandemic-era RCA. Key changes: video format, updated marking criteria, different case distribution. Older preparation resources designed for the CS...

The AKT uses multiple question formats — SBA, EMQ, SAQ, FTM, MBA. Each requires a different cognitive skill. Most Q-banks focus on SBA. Trainees who neglect other formats often los...

AKT failure usually comes from one of three patterns: thin clinical knowledge, neglecting the EBP/organisational 20%, or poor exam technique. The resit strategy must target the act...

Repeating the same preparation strategy after a fail is the most common mistake. A resit requires diagnosis — which domain let you down, was it knowledge or technique, and did your...

Twelve weeks is the sweet spot for focused AKT preparation. This week-by-week plan front-loads knowledge gaps, interleaves Q-bank practice with CKS verification, and builds in regu...

Most trainees begin dedicated SCA preparation 3-6 months before the exam. The optimal approach is phased — knowledge consolidation first, consultation framework second, simulation ...

The AKT tests breadth, not depth — 160 questions across clinical (80%), EBP (10%), and organisational (10%). The common mistake is over-investing in clinical questions while neglec...

First-time SCA pass rates hover around 66%. The trainees who pass first time combine three elements: clinical knowledge confidence, structured consultation technique, and realistic...