Exam planning: start here!

The RACGP offers support to all Fellowship exam candidates.  

Exam planning: start here!

The RACGP offers support to all Fellowship exam candidates.  

Education > Resources to assist in exam preparation > Preparing for Exams > Exam planning: start here!
Last updated 19 April 2024

Exam support program

The RACGP offers support to all Fellowship exam candidates.   

The Exam Support Program brings themes and components of individual feedback into enhanced resources that are available for all candidates.  
 

RACGP Exam Journey

 
  • Get to know your practice and your patients.   
  • Reflect on your consults to identify learning goals. 
    • Patient demographics – age, gender, ethnicity 
    • Presenting complaints and red flag presentations 
    • Contextual units – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, Rural context 
  • Direct Observation - sit in with a supervisor / GP mentor or colleague and get them to sit in with you. 
  • Become familiar with common general practice resources – see the RACGP Curriculum and Syllabus for details.
  • Start doing the Self Assessment Progress Tests (SAPTs) via gplearning.
  • Meet with your local medical educator / GP supervisor or colleague for feedback and to plan your learning.  
  • All candidates have six semesters to complete all assessments, candidacy starts in the semester in which you enrol in and sit your first exam.  For AGPT registrars, it is your responsibility to enrol for your exams and successfully complete all exam segments by the end of your training time.  See the exam enrolment page for information regarding enrolments, policies and special exam conditions. 
  • Consider applying for special exam arrangement if you have a medical condition or life circumstance that would have an impact on your performance in the exam.
  • Continue to reflect on your consults, identifying and filling knowledge gaps either at point of care or through at home study and follow up.  Ensure you review your ECT visit or direct observation reports and follow through on learning plans made. 
  • Strengthen your clinical reasoning skills 
    • Random Case Analysis and Case Based Discussion with your supervisor 
    • Clinical reasoning modules on GPlearning  
  •  Prepare your learning plan.
  • Access and use RACGP Curriculum and Syllabus to structure your plan and identify resources. 
  • Exam Support Program modules on GPlearning: Learning plans and study skills, and KFP exam technique modules. 
 
  • It is recommended that you participate in a study group to help with case discussion, challenging questions, structured support and encouragement to keep studying! 
  • Ensure any SAPTs are done under exam conditions.  Spend time reflecting on the feedback provided.  It is important that you identify knowledge gaps as well as clinical reasoning deficits or exam technique issues.  
  • Consider applying for special exam arrangement if you have a medical condition or life circumstance that would have an impact on your performance in the exam.   
  • Do not wait for your written exam results prior to starting to prepare for the Clinical Competency Exam.  See here for more information about preparing for the CCE.  

Exam preparation dates for 2024

Activity 

Date & Time 

Information 

Eligibility  

 

Release of Self-Assessment Progress Tests (SAPTs) online 

11 March
13 May
9 September
11 November

Each SAPT consists of 50 AKT questions and 8 KFP cases from previous exam papers and, on completion, feedback including rationale, curriculum link and further study suggestions can be viewed. 

All registrars on AGPT, FSP and RVTS. 
All Post-PEP participants.
National Clinical Competency Exam (CCE) information webinar 27 March @ 8pm AEDT Dr. Rebecca Lock, the CCE National Assessment Advisor will discuss the format and approach to the CCE, how to best use the resources available and study tips. Specifically for all enrolled in the June CCE but open to all.

National Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) & Key Feature Problem (KFP) information webinar

1 May @ 7.30pm AEDT

 Dr Sharnti Caulley, the AKT National Assessment Advisor and Dr Emilie Pitter, the KFP National Assessment Advisor will discuss format and approach to RACGP written examinations. Specifically for all enrolled in July AKT & KFP but open to all.
National Clinical Competency Exam (CCE) information webinar 4 September @ 8pm AEDT Dr. Rebecca Lock, the CCE National Assessment Advisor will discuss the format and approach to the CCE, how to best use the resources available and study tips. Specifically for all enrolled in the November CCE but open to all.
National Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) & Key Feature Problem (KFP) information webinar 13 November @ 8pm AEDT Dr Sharnti Caulley, the AKT National Assessment Advisor and Dr Emilie Pitter, the KFP National Assessment Advisor will discuss format and approach to RACGP written examinations. Specifically for all enrolled in February AKT & KFP but open to all.

For AGPT registrars, your training coordinator will be in contact regarding regional and local specific exam preparation activities.  Further details can also be found on the Education calendar 2024.

General information regarding exam resources

There is a suite of free, high quality resources available to trainees for exam preparation.  

Exam information

Self Assessment Progress Tests (SAPTs)

  • Trainees are automatically enrolled in these modules 4 times a year – March, May, September and November 
  • Features previous exam questions with full answer grids and explanations 
  • After the SAPT in May and November, there will be a regional delivery for AGPT trainees sitting in the next exam cycle.  This workshop will be to discuss exam technique detail illustrated by SAPT questions. 

Knowledge sources

  • RACGP Curriculum and Syllabus – a comprehensive guide for understanding the breadth and depth of knowledge and skill to function as a GP.  A curated list of Australian specific resources is included under the learning resources tab for each Unit.  
  • Therapeutic Guidelines is available through the Training Management System (TMS) for AGPT registrars. 
  • Australian based guidelines and the Australian Journal of General Practice (AJGP).  

Online modules (via GPlearning)

  • Exam Support Online (ESO) – an in depth look at each of the exams as well as practice cases 
  • Exam Support Program (ESP)  
    • Learning plans and study skills – how to structure and make the most of your study time 
    • KFP exam technique – in depth information and practice for the KFP paper 
  • Clinical reasoning – two modules dealing with avoiding cognitive biases and differential diagnosis generation. 
  • Introduction to the RACGP Clinical Competency Exam (CCE) for candidates  

Practice exam

  • These will be distributed to all enrolled candidates approximately 4 weeks prior to the exam.  If the exam is to be on paper, a PDF of the exam paper will be distributed.  If the exam is to be online, the practice exam will be an opportunity to experience the online exam platform.  

What happens if I fail?

If you are unsuccessful in an exam attempt, there is support available to you. 

Take time to reflect on your experience and practise self care principles: 

  • Constructive reflection (maybe with the help of a colleague or a medical educator) can help you identify key supports needed for another exam attempt.  Reviewing the exam report may help structure this reflection. 
  • Good mental and physical health is crucial for effective study and exam performance as well as function in your work as a doctor.  Check in with your own GP if this an area you need help with.  
  • Reach out to your medical educator,  GP supervisor or colleague or your supervisor to let them know and to seek support to move forward.  
  • If you are an AGPT registrar, your medical educator will be in contact with you to discuss your options. 
  • Talk with your learner colleagues and re-engage with study groups for support 

Consider what this means both for your training and for another attempt at the exam. 

  • Talk to your medical educator about placements, extensions and candidacy concerns.  

There is stepped support for AGPT registrars following a non successful exam attempt.  Accessing these resources is through your local or regional ME team, rather than directly with the RACGP Assessment or Exam Support teams. 

Exam support webinars

National AKT/KFP information webinar