United Kingdom
Membership of the RCGP - Applied Knowledge Test
The AKT component of MRCGP - tests applied clinical knowledge, critical appraisal and administrative aspects of GP.
- Exam body
- Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)
- Frequency
- 3 times yearly
- Eligibility
- Enrolled in GP Specialty Training (GPST)
- Format
- 200 MCQs - clinical, evidence-based, administrative
MRCGP Applied Knowledge Test: overview
Membership of the RCGP - Applied Knowledge Test is administered by Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). The AKT component of MRCGP - tests applied clinical knowledge, critical appraisal and administrative aspects of GP.
In practical terms the assessment is delivered as 200 multiple-choice questions - clinical, evidence-based, administrative, and candidates are measured against a approximately 60%. It is scheduled 3 times yearly, so building a realistic timeline back from the sitting you intend to take is the first planning step.
Exam pattern at a glance
- Exam format
- 200 MCQs - clinical, evidence-based, administrative
- Pass / selection standard
- Approximately 60%
- Frequency
- 3 times yearly
- Eligibility
- Enrolled in GP Specialty Training (GPST)
Subjects covered
Syllabus
- Clinical Medicine in GP context
- Critical Appraisal
- Health Administration
- UK prescribing
Subject focus and weightage
Candidates who score well tend to protect time for the highest-yield areas rather than reading everything evenly. For MRCGP Applied Knowledge Test, the topics that repeatedly carry weight include qof indicators, nice guidelines in gp, safe prescribing in primary care. Working these to mastery first, then broadening outward, is a more reliable use of limited revision time than a single linear pass through the syllabus.
The syllabus spans core subjects including Clinical Medicine in GP context, Critical Appraisal, Health Administration, UK prescribing. A blueprint-led plan - allocating study hours in proportion to how heavily each subject is examined - usually beats spending equal time on every subject.
High-yield areas
Study priorities
- QOF indicators
- NICE guidelines in GP
- Safe prescribing in primary care
How to prepare
A dependable preparation cycle for MRCGP Applied Knowledge Test moves through three repeating phases. Learn: build the core concept for each topic once, from structured notes, so the framework is solid before you test it. Recall: convert that understanding into durable memory with active recall and spaced repetition rather than re-reading. Practise: apply it under exam conditions with question banks, reviewing every wrong answer until you understand why the correct option wins - which for this exam is where clinical-reasoning gaps surface.
Timed, full-length practice in the exam's own format is what converts knowledge into a score: it trains pacing, and the stamina a long paper demands. Analyse each mock not just for the total but for which subjects and question-types are dragging the score, then feed that back into the next study block.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MRCGP Applied Knowledge Test exam and who conducts it?
Membership of the RCGP - Applied Knowledge Test is conducted by Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). The AKT component of MRCGP - tests applied clinical knowledge, critical appraisal and administrative aspects of GP.
What is the MRCGP Applied Knowledge Test exam pattern?
The stated format is 200 multiple-choice questions - clinical, evidence-based, administrative. The pass or selection standard is Approximately 60%. Because pattern and marking can be revised between cycles, confirm the current structure on the official notification before you sit.
Who is eligible for the MRCGP Applied Knowledge Test?
Broadly, eligibility is: Enrolled in GP Specialty Training (GPST). This is a summary only - the definitive eligibility criteria, documentation and any registration or attempt limits are published by Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) for each sitting.
Sources and currency
Sources: official examination-body notifications and information bulletins (NBEMS, NMC, GMC, the relevant UK Royal College, USMLE/NBME, AMC, MCC and the Gulf health authorities as applicable). Exam patterns and eligibility change between cycles - always confirm the current sitting's rules, dates and fees on the official body's own notification before you apply. Last verified July 2026.
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