The AKT 51 exam was held on 24 th April 2024 and was taken by 1693 candidates. This exam feedback report provides a summary of the April 2024 exam, including important statistics, areas of strength and difficulty for candidates, and advice for candidates looking to prepare for future AKT exams. If you would like to review other feedback reports for previous AKT examinations, please click on any of the below for more information:
The scores for this AKT exam ranged from 85 to 191 out of 199 questions, with a mean overall score of 147.42 marks (74.08%). The pass mark was set at 139, with 68.16% of all candidates passing this exam. The mean score for each of the three subject areas was as follows:
For the April 2024 AKT exam, candidates performed better than previous exams in questions that related to:
Summary of areas causing difficulty in AKT49:
This is an area which frequently causes difficulties and which we often provide feedback on. In AKT 51, candidates struggled with knowledge around death certificate legislation. It is important that candidates are aware of the legal requirements around death certificate completion, and what would constitute a coroner/procurator fiscal referral. We ensure that questions conform with legislation applicable across all four nations and update them when any new processes are introduced.
Candidates struggled with questions around problems presenting in the neonatal period (babies aged less than 28 days old). Some of these can indicate serious underlying illness requiring urgent action, and candidates should be able to recognise these presentations, as well as being familiar with common problems and “normal” in this age group.
In AKT 51, candidates had difficulty with issues around the management of raised blood pressure. Candidates should be very familiar with national guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of this common problem. A theme which causes difficulty more generally for candidates, is knowing when “no treatment” is the appropriate response.
Candidates had some difficulties with knowledge around symptom control in palliative care for problems such as pain, nausea, breathlessness, agitation and constipation. Providing high-quality end-of-life care, often as part of a team, is an important part of being a GP. Home visits and nursing home visits are good opportunities to gain experience of this area.
Although performance in some dermatological areas had improved, candidates found difficulty in the treatment of common dermatological symptoms. Candidates are reminded of the importance of appropriately managing skin symptoms, which can very debilitating, as well as managing the overall dermatological condition.
We frequently feed back on this area which is an important part of general practice. In AKT 51, candidates struggled to recognise the underlying cause of neurological symptoms. We test on a broad range of neurological conditions, including acute conditions, chronic neurological disease and medically unexplained symptoms. We expect candidates to recognise these common presentations.
After each of the last three sittings of the AKT exam, we have highlighted a need for improvement regarding:
After two of the last three sittings of the AKT exam, we have highlighted a need for improvement regarding:
The feedback concerned drug side effects, safe prescribing of drugs used in long-term conditions, controlled drugs, quality improvement methodologies, and pathology results.
Doctor/patient relationship breakdown, death certificate legislation.
Interpretation of symptoms and signs including acute presentations.
It is crucial for candidates to stay vigilant and scrutinise relevant guidance in their AKT exam preparation, which will help to improve their chances of success. The GP curriculum serves as a robust blueprint for exam readiness, and the knowledge and skills sections of each topic guide offer a valuable resource for those striving to make certain they've encompassed all critical topics. Additionally, regularly reviewing the scenarios in the AKT exam with caution and completing an online MRCGP AKT question bank and mock exam is highly recommended.