AKT and KFP information for candidates

Both the AKT and KFP will be delivered on paper. You will complete a multiple-choice answer sheet for both exams by shading the corresponding bubbles on computer-readable answer sheets. We’ll provide you with pens. You’re not permitted to use pencils or provide your own pens as these may not be visible to the scanning software.

The KFP consists of 70 multiple selection questions (MSQs) with clinical information provided, followed by a question and an answer grid. The questions require you to select between two and six answers. The question will tell you how many options to select.

There’s no negative marking for incorrect answers, therefore it's in your best interest to select the requested number of responses for each question.

Due to the difference in the number of responses requested per question, KFP questions contain variable marks that contribute equally to the final mark. Making each question worth 1.43% or 1/70 of your overall score.

However, it's important you read how many answers are requested. If you shade more options on the bubble sheet than you were asked for, each response will be marked, but a 0.35% penalty will be deducted from the overall mark of your paper, per additional bubble shaded.

Further information on marking and examples of questions and scoring can be found in the AKT and KFP Guide.

Exam preparation materials are being updated, with more to be released ahead of the 2025.2 exams.

• AKT and KFP Guide for information about each exam, including format, preparation, development, standard setting and results.
• Assessments and examinations candidate handbook for information about exam enrolments, special arrangement applications, withdrawals and exam day expectations.

• Exam Support Online (ESO) modules and Self-Assessment Progress Testing (SAPT) are available on gplearning using your RACGP member login details, and you can access them multiple times. Once logged in to gplearning, you can either:  

• go to the LMS Dashboard, scroll down to the Content Quick Search and click on Exams, or  
• go to the Browse tool in the main navigation bar and search for Exams

The ESO modules explain the AKT and KFP exams and walk you through examples. They advise how to approach and answer the exam questions, how to avoid common pitfalls and how to optimise your answers. Note: if you have previously undertaken this course, it will still appear as “completed”, however new 2025.2 labelled modules have been added for review.

The SAPTs contain practice AKT and KFP questions. The first SAPT with updated KFP format will be released in March. Previous releases can still be used for KFP study, as the content being assessed has not changed, only the structure of the questions. SAPTs can be accessed multiple times, so you are strongly encouraged to complete SAPTs throughout your training. The rationale provides detail about the clinical reasoning behind the correct answer as well as exam technique tips. The structure of the rationales provides a great way to approach your studies for the exams.

• A practice exam will be emailed to enrolled candidates approximately six weeks before the exam. Completing the practice exam will help you become familiar with the exam format, the types of questions and the exam timing. It consists of half the number of questions in the real exam and is designed to represent the different question styles.

No. There will be no change to your candidacy or existing exam results.

If you're enrolled and preparing for 2025.1 you’re encouraged to remain enrolled, to not lose a candidacy opportunity or extend training time unnecessarily. The change of format alone will not be considered grounds for a non-standard suspension for 2025.1.

If you haven’t already used your standard suspension, it can be applied, subject to the limitations of the Fellowship Exams Policy (AGPT, RVTS and FSP candidates) or the Fellowship Exam Attempts Policy (GPE pathway candidates). However, you cannot sit any exams if you have suspended the semester.

Should you wish to withdraw from the 2025.1 exams at least 20 business days before the scheduled exam date, the exam enrolment fee will be refunded, as per the Assessments and examinations candidate handbook.

The usual $100 withdrawal fee will be waived from the 2025.1 KFP, should you wish to withdraw due to the change in format.

You will receive a note paper booklet in your exam kit.

You may underline, circle or flag key information and may make notes in the question booklet if you wish to do so. However, other than shading in the selected bubbles, it is critical that you do not make any notes or other marks in the answer booklet (bubble sheet).

You can access your exam results and assessment statement by logging in to the RACGP website on the date the results are published. AKT and KFP pass marks will not be published on the RACGP website or provided to candidates. You’ll receive your results as a Pass or Fail mark, along with the score band (ranging from F4 – P4). P1 is the first band above the pass mark, and P4 is the highest band. F1 is first band below the pass mark, and F4 is the lowest band. Individual scores are not provided. This is in line with recent changes to how results are provided for the CCE.

The AKT and KFP are auto-marked. The pass mark for each AKT and KFP is determined by actively practicing Fellows who set the standard for each exam, using an internationally recognised standard setting methodology. For more information about marking and standard setting, refer to the AKT and KFP guide.

Bubble answer sheets are scanned, and your answers will be digitally recognised. Where the computer cannot confidently identify your answer, human intervention is used to recognise your intent – this is most common when you’ve had to cross out an answer.

Both the AKT and KFP will be delivered on paper. You will complete a multiple-choice bubble answer sheet for the AKT, and you’ll complete the KFP by writing short answers and shading the bubbles for multiple-choice options on computer-readable answer sheets. We’ll provide you with pens. You’re not permitted to use pencils or provide your own pens as these may not be visible to the scanning software.

Please take your time when completing the exam paper and try your best to write as neatly as possible.

KFP answers do not require full sentences, and you do not need to provide the rationale behind your answer unless it is specifically asked for. The answer booklet contains more than sufficient room to write answers of the appropriate length.

For the AKT:
You will receive a note paper booklet in your exam kit.

You may underline, circle or flag key information and may make notes in the question booklet if you wish to do so. However, other than shading in the selected bubbles, it is critical that you do not make any notes or other marks in the answer booklet (bubble sheet).

For the KFP:
You will receive a note paper booklet in your exam kit.

You may underline, circle or flag key information, but we urge not to make notes in the exam booklet to ensure clarity for our markers. Noting that over coding penalties still apply in the KFP (refer to the AKT and KFP Guide), we suggest candidates do not write anything on the page that they do not intend to be considered as part of their exam answer.

Candidates are not required to provide drug doses within the AKT, KFP and CCE. Candidates may still be required to provide route of administration or frequency of administration.

You can access your exam results and assessment statement by logging in to the RACGP website on the date the results are published. AKT and KFP pass marks will not be published on the RACGP website or provided to candidates. You’ll receive your results as a Pass or Fail mark, along with the score band (ranging from F4 – P4). P1 is the first band above the pass mark, and P4 is the highest band. F1 is first band below the pass mark, and F4 is the lowest band. Individual scores are not provided. This is in line with recent changes to how results are provided for the CCE.

The AKT is auto-marked. For the KFP, multiple-choice questions are auto-marked and written responses are marked by our examiners, who are trained Fellows of the RACGP. The pass mark for each AKT and KFP is determined by actively practicing Fellows who set the standard for each exam, using an internationally recognised standard setting methodology. For more information about marking and standard setting, refer to the AKT and KFP examination guide.

Bubble answer sheets are scanned, and your answers will be digitally recognised. Where the computer cannot confidently identify your answer, human intervention is used to recognise your intent – this is most common when you’ve had to cross out an answer.

Answer sheets are professionally scanned, so there should not be problems with the digital version of your answers being hard to read. If a scan is low-quality, the original paper exam can be retrieved and reviewed.

Because our markers are Fellows of the RACGP, they understand the medical terminology and will work to interpret what you have written. Markers can refer difficult-to-read handwriting to other RACGP Medical Educators if they are unsure of your intent.

So long as we can understand your intent, marks will be awarded appropriately. The only time you will be penalised for messy handwriting or poor spelling is if your answer cannot be understood at all.

Both the AKT and KFP will be held at 11am (local time) in each venue. There are not multiple sessions.

Both exams have a duration of four hours.

A full list of exam locations is available here. You will be asked to list your preferred location when enrolling.

All enrolled candidates will receive an exam venue confirmation email approximately six weeks prior to the exam. You are advised to wait until your venue has been confirmed before making travel arrangements.

If you have not received your venue confirmation after this week, please contact examinations@racgp.org.au.

Candidates are permitted to bring the following items into the exam room without an approved special arrangement:

      Medicine and medical devices

• Medication – if in original pack
  • EpiPens
  • inhaler
  • simple analgesia
  • prescription medications where doses are required during the exam time
  • insulin
• Diabetes / blood glucose monitoring devices or insulin pumps. You can bring your blood glucose monitor as well as your insulin to help maintain your blood sugar levels. If your phone is required, it must be on flight mode with all sounds disabled and must be placed on your desk in view of the invigilators.
• Eye drops
• Ear drops
• Nasal spray
• Hearing aids

      Food and water

• A small amount of food such as a muesli bar or lollies. Please note the food must be of a type that creates minimal disruption to other candidates and minimal noise when consumed (no plastic wrappers). Hot food or food with nuts or strong odour is not permitted. Food should be in a clear zip lock bag.
• Water in up to two (2) clear, colourless plastic bottles – the bottles can’t have any writing on them, labels must be removed, and you should place these bottles on the floor or beside your chair only (not on your desk) during the exam

      Comfort aids

• Prescription / reading glasses (can be in case with cleaning cloth)
• Lip balm
• Feminine hygiene products – in plain, unlabelled packaging and placed in a clear zip lock bag
• Tissues – a small pack in their original packaging
• Hand towel
• Ear plugs – non-electronic earplugs (rubber, foam, plastic etc). If you choose to use earplugs, it’s your responsibility to ensure you can hear any announcements the invigilator makes.
• Face mask
• Pen grip
• Cushion
• Clear ruler
• Small tube of hand cream

All items must be reviewed at registration and may not be allowed in the exam if they don’t meet the requirements. Ear plugs and tissues will be provided at all venues.

Candidates are not permitted to bring the following items into the exam room:

• Pens, pencils, or other writing devices or stationery of any kind (pens will be provided in all examinations)
• Paper including blank notepaper, notes, books or notebooks
• Mobile phones
• Watches of any type
• Timing or recording devices, calculators, computers, iPads, iPods, tablets, organisers or electronic devices of any type
• Electronic or active earplugs or headphones or ear muffs
• Non-religious headwear, hats or hooded jackets/jumpers/tops
• Any bags or other personal belongings. Your invigilator will advise where to place your belongings. This may be in a dedicated space or within the exam room where they are not to be accessed.

Check that you don’t have any of these items on you before you start your examYou may be asked to pat yourself down (eg along the arms, legs and waistline) to show that you are not concealing banned items.

You may also be asked to turn out your pockets so exam staff can verify that they are empty.

You need to bring photo identification (ID) to your exam. This must be a current (not expired), original document. Digital IDs (IDs on a mobile phone app), scans or copies are not accepted. Accepted forms of ID are:

• passport
• Australian driver’s licence
• proof-of-age or identity card issued by an Australian state or territory
• Australian student identity card
• any other Australian entitlement or identity card issued by the Australian Federal Government or a state/territory government that includes a photograph.

The name on your ID must match your name in our records. If your ID doesn’t match our records, contact examinations@racgp.org.au at least 48 hours before your scheduled exam time. Middle names are not considered, only first and last names. If we can’t confirm your identity before your exam, you may not be permitted to sit.

No. You must use the black ball-point pen you are provided with on exam day to ensure your paper can be scanned by our exam vendor.

Inks from fountain pens, markers, and other types of pens are prone to smudge, bleed, or run, which could make your answers harder to read, or may not be compatible with the scanning process. We will have ample spare pens at each venue in case your pen stops working. However, you are welcome to bring your own pen grip. See “What can I bring into the exam room” for full list of permissible items.

If you make a mistake in a multiple-choice question, place a cross through the circle you want to remove and shade a new choice. To re-select a crossed-out answer, circle your choice and make sure to cross out any unwanted choices. If there is any doubt, a human examiner will review your answer.

If you need to change a response to a written question, cross it out and re-write it nearby. Ensure it is obvious which question your answer applies to.

Every venue will have a small number of spare papers available if a candidate’s original paper is damaged during the exam.

All candidates enrolled in the AKT or KFP will receive a PDF copy of the paper-based practice exam. The practice exam format is the same as the real exam format. The exam booklets on exam day are printed and bound, not loose-leaf.

The RACGP has well-established procedures for handling incidents in exam venues. If there is an interruption, please follow the instructions provided by staff at the venue.

Make sure you record the correct enrolment and exam dates in your calendar. Please refer to  Enrolment Dates for further details.

Requests for late enrolment will no longer be accepted outside the enrolment period.

Refer to Part 2: RACGP Fellowship Examinations, Section 3 Withdrawing from an examination of the Assessments and Examinations Candidate Handbook.

If you request to withdraw from the AKT or the KFP more than 20 business days before the scheduled exam, you will receive a refund of the enrolment fee, minus a $100 withdrawal fee per exam segment.

If you request to withdraw less than 20 business days before the scheduled exam date, you will not receive a fee refund. For further details, please refer to the Exam results, marking and dates section above.

Check your eligibility criteria on the policy framework.

The RACGP audits all exam enrolments to ensure candidates are eligible to sit the Fellowship examinations and provides enrolment information to all RTOs for the purposes of validating eligibility. If you are found to not meet the eligibility requirements, you will be automatically withdrawn from the exam segment and will be subject to a $100 withdrawal fee per exam segment.

Remember, you must tell us of any restrictions, conditions, suspensions and/or undertakings on your medical registration as soon as possible. This will help us support you appropriately on your journey to Fellowship.

Subject to the limitations of the Fellowship Exams Policy (AGPT, RVTS and FSP candidates) or the Fellowship Exam Attempts Policy (GPE pathway candidates), you can apply for suspension of your candidacy in any semester in which you do not sit an exam.

You cannot sit exams if you have suspended the semester.

Following the exam/s, you will have the opportunity to provide feedback about your experience via an online survey sent to your email. The evaluation findings are used to inform quality assurance and continuous improvement initiatives (guided by the RACGP Monitoring and Evaluation Framework), thereby ensuring processes for future exams are of the highest quality. All feedback gathered is confidential (see the RACGP Privacy Policy ). We would greatly appreciate you taking the time to complete the survey!