Failed MRCGP AKT? 7 Practical Steps to Pass at Your Next Sitting
If you have recently failed the MRCGP AKT exam, the result probably stayed with you longer than you expected.
Even if you told yourself you would be “fine either way”, the reality of seeing that result can feel heavy. There is often a quiet mix of frustration, disappointment and self-doubt. Some trainees feel embarrassed. Others feel angry. Many feel tired.
Before anything else, it is important to say this clearly… Failing the AKT does not mean you are not capable of being a great GP.
The AKT is a very specific type of assessment. It is structured, timed and standardised. It tests applied knowledge, interpretation and decision-making under pressure. It does not test the full range of what makes you a safe and competent clinician.
The question now is not “why did I fail?”
The more useful question is “what needs to change?”.
I’ve helped GP trainees answer this question for over 15 years… this blog breaks it all down.
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First, allow yourself a pause
There is often a strong urge to react immediately. To open the question bank again the next day. To double revision hours. To promise yourself you will “work harder”.
That reaction is understandable, but it is rarely helpful.
For a few days, step back. Not to avoid the exam, but to reduce the emotional noise around it. When frustration settles, thinking becomes clearer. You want your next preparation phase to be deliberate, not reactive.
When you return to planning, do so calmly and analytically.
Understand what the AKT really measures
Many trainees who fail assume they lacked knowledge. In reality, the picture is usually more nuanced.
The AKT assesses:
– Breadth of applied clinical knowledge
– Interpretation of guidelines in a UK context
– Evidence-based medicine and statistics
– Judgement in borderline scenarios
– Performance under time pressure
It is entirely possible to be a strong GP trainee and clinician, and still struggle with one or two of those domains.
The key is identifying where the gap was.
Your results provide domain breakdowns. Spend time reviewing them carefully. Was your performance consistently lower in EBP? Were you close to the pass mark in clinical knowledge? Did timing feel rushed?
Treat this like a clinical case. Diagnose before you prescribe.
The difference between effort and structure
One of the most difficult realisations after failing AKT is that many trainees were already working hard.
The issue is rarely lack of effort. It is usually lack of structure.
Common patterns include:
– Doing large volumes of questions but reviewing them superficially
– Reading guidelines passively rather than applying them
– Avoiding weaker areas, particularly statistics
– Rarely practicing under full timed conditions
None of these reflect laziness. They reflect human nature. We gravitate towards what feels comfortable and productive.
The next preparation phase needs to feel different. Not necessarily heavier. Just more intentional.
Train your concentration, not just your knowledge
The AKT is a long exam. Fatigue changes performance.
It is common to revise in short bursts but never simulate the sustained focus required on exam day. When you sit your next exam, your brain should recognise the experience.
This means incorporating full-length or extended mock exams into your preparation. Not simply to test knowledge, but to train pacing and concentration.
When reviewing mocks, look beyond the score. Ask yourself where your attention dipped, where you rushed and where you second-guessed unnecessarily.
Change how you review questions
Improvement happens in review, not in answering.
After each question session, spend time reflecting on why mistakes occurred. Was it misreading? Assumption? Lack of guideline familiarity? Overthinking?
Patterns will emerge. Those patterns are where marks are gained.
Many GP trainees who pass on a second attempt do not necessarily know dramatically more medicine. They understand the exam more deeply.
Read this blog to see how Dr Ify picked herself up and passed AKT second time.
The emotional side of failing
It is worth acknowledging something else.
After failing, confidence can quietly drop. Some trainees begin doubting clinical decisions in day-to-day practice. Others avoid conversations about the exam altogether.
This reaction is normal.
Confidence is built through evidence. When your preparation becomes structured again, and when mock scores begin to rise steadily, belief returns naturally.
You do not need to force confidence. You need to rebuild process.
What usually changes between fail and pass
In most cases, the shift looks something like this:
Before: Revision felt busy but slightly chaotic. Weak areas were known but not fully addressed. Full-length exam practice was limited.
After: Preparation becomes deliberate. Weak domains are tackled directly. Statistics becomes routine rather than avoided. Mock exams are used strategically. Question review is deeper. Use a free AKT planner to add strategy to your next attempt.
It is not dramatic. It is steady.
And steady change is what leads to a pass.
Address statistics early, not later
If there is one area that repeatedly separates pass from fail, it is evidence-based practice and statistics.
Many trainees underestimate how much these questions contribute to the overall score. Losing even eight or ten marks here can change the outcome.
Statistics does not improve through occasional exposure. It improves through repetition and familiarity. Short, consistent daily engagement is far more effective than occasional long sessions.
More importantly, statistics needs to feel predictable. Once you begin to recognise patterns in question style, it becomes far less intimidating. We focus on teaching Stats Principles, which improves understanding of core question types.
Consider structured support
If this is not your first attempt, or if you feel unsure about how to redesign your preparation, it may be worth stepping outside isolated revision.
Some trainees benefit from a structured programme that balances:
– Question practice
– Guided teaching
– Statistics revision
– Realistic mocks
– Accountability
At Arora Medical Education, our AKT Ultimate Package is designed with that balance in mind. It combines question banks, mock exams, video and audio teaching, flashcards and a live programme that runs in the weeks leading up to each sitting.
For some trainees, a one-to-one strategy session with a senior Arora GP tutor can also help identify blind spots and create a focused six-week reset plan.
The goal is not to overwhelm yourself with more resources. It is to create clarity.
A final word
Failing the AKT is not the end of your training. It is a setback, but one that many competent GPs experience on the way to qualifying.
Use this moment as a point of recalibration, not self-judgement.
Approach the next sitting differently. With structure. With focus. With clarity.
You are capable of passing this exam.
And when you do, this period will simply become part of your story.
#CanPassWillPass
Dr Aman Arora - Lead AKT Tutor
Hi! I’m Dr. Aman Arora, a Portfolio GP with over a decade of clinical and teaching experience, dedicated to helping doctors achieve their goals with confidence. Having had the privilege of supporting more than 50,000 doctors worldwide across exams such as MRCGP AKT, SCA, MSRA, PLAB 2 and PLAB 1, I understand the challenges you face and the strategies needed to overcome them. Through personalised face-to-face sessions, engaging online courses, mocks, audio and a vibrant social media community, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
Whether you’re looking to pass crucial exams or take the next big step in your medical career, we’re here to help you succeed. Feel free to get in touch with any thoughts, questions, or ideas — I look forward to working with you and being part of your journey.
Dr Pooja Arora - Senior AKT Tutor
Dr Pooja Arora is a GP with a background in Medical Politics, where she passionately focuses on improving the opportunities and working conditions for junior doctors. She is proud to hold FRCGP (Fellow of Royal College of General Practitioners).
You can find out more about Pooja’s previous roles and qualifications here.
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