RACGP Exam: AKT Questions and How to Tackle Them with GP Institute Support

The Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) is a key component of the RACGP (Royal Australian College of General Practitioners) Fellowship exams. The RACGP AKT exam is not necessarily a reflection of how skilled you are as a doctor but rather a test of your ability to pass it. Knowing precisely what the exam requires allows you to achieve better results using the same clinical knowledge and practical skills.As one of the most challenging parts of the exam, understanding the AKT questions and how to approach them is crucial for success. In this article, we’ll explore the types of questions you’ll encounter on the AKT and how the GP Institute can support your preparation journey.

What is the RACGP AKT?

The AKT is a written exam designed to assess a candidate’s ability to apply clinical knowledge in the context of Australian general practice. The questions cover a wide range of topics, including diagnosis, treatment, management, and patient care. The AKT consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), and you will need to demonstrate the practical application of your medical knowledge to everyday situations in general practice.

Time Management

Running out of time during the exam is not due to a lack of time but poor management of it. Everyone has the same amount of time, so ensure you use it wisely. You can’t earn marks on unanswered questions, yet every exam, some candidates fail to complete the paper.

Before the exam, you should be fully aware of how many questions it includes and how long it lasts. This understanding will help you track your progress during the exam. The RACGP AKT consists of 150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) over a 4-hour period.

Here’s a suggested pace:

10 questions every 15 minutes
40 questions completed by the end of the first hour
80 questions by the second hour
120 questions by the third hour
150 questions completed with 15 minutes to spare

Take time before the exam to familiarize yourself with this rhythm. If you fall behind schedule, you’ll know when to speed up. If you’re ahead, you can take a brief break, stretch, or use the bathroom to maintain focus and comfort. Managing this cadence prevents you from missing out on easy marks due to time mismanagement. Remember, unanswered questions yield no marks.

Approach to RACGP AKT MCQs

Multiple-choice exams aim to assess the breadth of your knowledge. The principle of “measure twice, cut once” applies here: read each question thoroughly, then provide your answer based on what the question truly asks.

Common pitfalls to avoid:

Running out of time, leaving questions unanswered.
Selecting the wrong answer box despite knowing the correct answer.
Misreading the question and failing to answer what’s actually being asked.
Jumping to conclusions when an early answer option seems right, without considering if a later one is even more accurate.
Saving difficult questions for later—a poor strategy because:
- If you don’t know the answer now, you’re unlikely to figure it out four hours later.
- You may run out of time and miss answering these questions altogether.
- Re-reading questions wastes valuable time and disrupts your time management.
- Doing this repeatedly could cause you to fall behind and run out of time.
- It adds unnecessary stress, potentially distracting you from the current question.

The Power of Exclusion and Educated Guessing

When you’re unsure, use the process of elimination. You’ll often be able to discard some incorrect options. From there, make an educated guess between the remaining two or three choices, accepting that the odds will work in your favor over the course of the exam.

Since there’s no negative marking, leaving a question unanswered is a waste of potential marks. By not taking a guess, you may miss fractional points that could add up to a pass.

The key to success: exclude, guess, answer, and move on. Your full attention is needed for the remaining 149 questions.

Key Features of the AKT:

100-150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
3.5-hour exam
Covers common clinical scenarios encountered in Australian general practice
Focuses on diagnosis, management, investigations, and treatment

Types of AKT Questions

The questions on the AKT are designed to test your knowledge across different domains of general practice. Here’s a breakdown of the common types of questions you’ll encounter:

1. Diagnosis and Management

These questions typically present a clinical scenario, and you must choose the correct diagnosis or the most appropriate management plan.

Example: A 50-year-old male presents with chest pain radiating to his left arm. His ECG shows ST-segment elevation. What is the next best management step?

2. Clinical Investigations

You’ll need to identify the most appropriate investigation to confirm a diagnosis or guide treatment.

Example: A 30-year-old woman with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections presents with flank pain and fever. What investigation would be most useful in confirming pyelonephritis?

3. Pharmacology and Medication Management

These questions test your knowledge of pharmacological treatments, including drug interactions and side effects.

Example: A 65-year-old patient with atrial fibrillation is started on warfarin. What is the most appropriate test to monitor their response to therapy?

4. Preventive Medicine

You may be asked to identify the best preventive measures or screening recommendations for various conditions.

Example: A 40-year-old woman with no family history of breast cancer asks about screening mammograms. What is the recommended age to start routine mammograms in this patient?

5. Emergency Management

These questions assess your ability to handle acute medical situations, including emergencies.

Example: A child presents with stridor, a barking cough, and respiratory distress. What is the initial management?

How to Tackle AKT Questions

Answering AKT questions requires a strategic approach. Here are some essential tips to help you navigate the exam successfully:

1. Read the Question Carefully

Take time to thoroughly read the question and understand what is being asked. Misreading the question can lead to avoidable errors.

2. Eliminate Incorrect Answers

Use a process of elimination to narrow down the answer choices. Often, you can rule out at least two options that are clearly incorrect.

3. Focus on Clinical Guidelines

Many questions are based on current Australian clinical guidelines. Make sure you are familiar with the RACGP guidelines and updates, especially for common conditions in general practice.

4. Manage Your Time

With over 100 questions to answer in 3.5 hours, time management is critical. Pace yourself and avoid spending too much time on any single question.

5. Practice, Practice, Practice

Regular practice is the key to success. Use past papers, sample questions, and mock exams to familiarize yourself with the format and improve your confidence.

GP Institute Support for AKT Preparation

The GP Institute provides invaluable support to candidates preparing for the AKT exam. Here’s how they can assist you:

1. Personalized Study Plans

GP Institute offers tailored study plans that focus on your individual strengths and areas for improvement, helping you maximize your study time effectively.

2. Mock Exams

Participate in GP Institute’s mock AKT exams to simulate real exam conditions. These exams cover a broad range of topics and provide detailed feedback on your performance.

3. Expert Guidance

With access to experienced general practitioners and mentors, GP Institute ensures you receive expert advice on clinical scenarios, management strategies, and exam techniques.

4. Comprehensive Question Banks

GP Institute provides a comprehensive database of practice questions covering the key areas tested in the AKT. These questions mirror the difficulty level and format of the real exam.

5. Focused Workshops

GP Institute organizes workshops on specific topics like pharmacology, emergency care, and preventive medicine, which are critical for the AKT.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the AKT exam?

The AKT (Applied Knowledge Test) is a written exam that assesses a candidate’s clinical knowledge and its application to general practice in Australia. It is one of the components of the RACGP Fellowship exam.

How many questions are in the AKT?

The AKT typically consists of 100 to 150 multiple-choice questions, which must be completed within 3.5 hours.

What topics are covered in the AKT?

The AKT covers a wide range of topics, including diagnosis, treatment, investigations, pharmacology, emergency management, and preventive medicine.

How can GP Institute help with AKT preparation?

GP Institute provides personalized study plans, mock exams, expert mentorship, and access to a large question bank to help candidates prepare effectively for the AKT.

What is the best way to practice for the AKT?

The best way to practice for the AKT is by using past papers, sample questions, and participating in mock exams. Regular practice helps you get familiar with the format and build confidence.

Are there any online resources for AKT preparation?

Yes, there are numerous online resources available, including GP Institute’s online courses, RACGP guidelines, and other exam preparation platforms.

All of the questions in the AKT are written by experienced general practitioners (GPs) who currently work in clinical practice, and are based on clinical presentations typically seen in an Australian general practice setting. The questions should be answered based on the context of Australian general practice.

It is important to carefully read the clinical scenario and question. Although more than one option may be plausible, only the most appropriate option for the clinical scenario provided should be selected.

Practice Exams- Our practice exams Do help!

The pass rate for candidates who do the RACGP practice exam are 20-35% higher.

Exam Cycle	Pass Rate – Did Practice Exam	Pass- Rate – No Practice Exam	Percentage Gain
2020.1	81%	61%	+20%
2019.2	83%	56%	+27%
2019.1	70%	36%	+34%
2018.2	70%	40%	+30%
2018.1	80%	50%	+30%
2017.2	73%	36%	+37%
2017.1	71%	39%	+32%
2016.2	71%	42%	+29%
2016.1	67%	33%	+34%

Do the practice exams!

Success rates for candidates who do this are 20-37% higher.

Expert Tips for Success

Understanding the Question and Information Provided

Carefully read the entire question stem, paying attention to every detail, as each piece of information is included for a reason.
Differentiate between questions asking for the most important diagnosis (e.g., cancer) and those asking for the most likely diagnosis (e.g., bronchiectasis).
If a question is challenging, think about how you would manage the patient in your own clinical setting, which might help clarify the answer.

Time Management Strategies

Efficient time management is crucial. Don’t spend too much time on difficult questions. You can flag questions to review later if time allows.
Always keep track of the time and your progress, which will be displayed on the exam screen.
Remember, the RACGP AKT has no negative marking, so it’s better to choose an answer than to leave any question blank.

General Exam Tips

Read the clinical scenario thoroughly, paying close attention to critical details that help guide your response.
Make sure you fully understand the question before reviewing the answer options.
Try to answer the question in your head before looking at the provided choices. Select the answer that best fits both the scenario and the question.
Always answer questions within the context of Australian general practice.

Effective Approaches to AKT Questions

Visualize the Patient: Imagine the patient sitting in front of you as you carefully read the scenario. Key details, often at the end of sentences, can be easily overlooked.
Consider the Context: Pay attention to the setting – is it rural, urban, after hours, or in an emergency department? If no specific setting is mentioned, assume the context of a metropolitan general practice.
Analyze Patient Characteristics: Age, gender, occupation, ethnicity, risk factors, and past medical history are vital. If certain characteristics (e.g., smoking status) are not mentioned, assume they are not relevant.
Focus on Key Features: Every detail in the scenario is important. Consider both the positive details and any significant omissions.
Summarize the Problem: Create a concise 1-2 line medical summary of the scenario. Include the time course, symptoms, risk factors, and key features. For example: “50-year-old female with acute colicky abdominal pain, bilious vomiting, abdominal distension, history of previous abdominal surgery.”
Read the Lead-in Carefully: Understand exactly what the question is asking (e.g., diagnosis, investigation, or management). Don’t glance at the answer options yet—focus on determining what’s being asked.
Cover the Answer Choices: Before seeing the options, come up with your own answer based on the scenario. Then, reveal the options and see if your choice matches one of them.
Verify Your Answer: Double-check that your selected answer aligns with all the information provided in the scenario and addresses the specific question asked.

What to Do If You Can’t Find the Answer

If you reach a point where you can’t identify the correct answer, try the following strategies:

Eliminate Incorrect Options: Start by crossing off answers that don’t fit the scenario’s details. This should narrow down your choices.
Use Your Best Judgment: If two options remain, go with your best guess based on the key information in the scenario.
Flag It for Later: If unsure, you can mark the question and return to it later. The system will clearly indicate which questions you haven’t answered by adding a tick for completed ones and a double dash for unanswered ones. Before submitting, you’ll receive a warning if any questions are incomplete.

However, some believe this tactic can backfire. If you don’t know the answer now, you likely won’t know it after several hours. Plus, forgetting an answer can cost you fractional marks.

Avoid Assumptions

Don’t assume information that isn’t explicitly provided in the scenario. Only use the facts given in the question.

A Structured Approach for Complex Questions

For especially tough questions, try using a table format. List the key features of the scenario across the top row, and down the side, list all the answer options. Tick the boxes that correspond with each answer, and the option with the most ticks is likely correct. This method is time-intensive, so only use it when absolutely necessary.

By applying these strategies, you’ll navigate the RACGP AKT exam more effectively, avoiding common pitfalls and maximizing your chances of success.

Conclusion

Preparing for the AKT can be challenging, but with the right approach and study materials, success is within reach. By using a combination of books, online courses, and practice questions, you can thoroughly prepare for every aspect of the exam. GP Institute offers exceptional support, from personalized study plans to expert-led workshops, ensuring you are fully prepared to tackle the AKT.