Overview of Fellowship exams
The RACGP Fellowship exams assess your competency for unsupervised comprehensive general practice anywhere in Australia.
There are three summative assessments you need to complete as part of the RACGP’s requirements for Fellowship. Each has a unique and targeted approach to assessing knowledge and ability. The exams are developed by GPs for GPs and are based on clinical presentations typically seen in an Australian general practice setting.
We deliver the Fellowship exams in locations across Australia and work in a continuous improvement model to ensure they stay relevant to the changing context of general practice.
The Applied Knowledge Test
The Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) tests your application of knowledge in the clinical context of Australian general practice, rather than just testing knowledge per se.
Questions in the AKT are based on clinical presentations typically seen in general practice. There are two types of multiple-choice questions: single best answer (SBA) and modified extended matching (MEMQ). Both consist of a stem, a lead-in statement, and a set of answer options. There are 150 questions of equal value, and no negative marks are given for incorrect answers.
For more information about the AKT and to see example questions, refer to the AKT and KFP examination guide.
The Key Feature Problem exam
The Key Feature Problem (KFP) exam assesses clinical reasoning and clinical decision-making. It looks at how you assess a patient in the context of a given scenario and consider the key features/critical steps that are needed to resolve the clinical problem.
The exam consists of 26 cases, each with several questions. Each case contributes equally to the overall score.
You must analyse each case, considering the initial information and additional information as the case progresses, and answer questions about the context of the clinical scenario. Some questions require a written response (a few words or a sentence) and others require a choice from a list of possible answers.
The format of the KFP exam may seem unfamiliar. It’s not a simple short-answer paper; the answers need to consider the context of the case, including elements such as the age, gender and location of the patient (the question will specify if the case is in a rural, regional or urban location).
For more information about the KFP and to see example questions, refer to the AKT and KFP examination guide.
The Clinical Competency Exam
The Clinical Competency Exam (CCE) assesses your clinical competence and readiness for independent practice. The exam assesses how you apply knowledge and clinical reasoning skills to a range of clinical scenarios and allows you to demonstrate your abilities in a range of competencies mapped to the RACGP Curriculum and syllabus.
You need to demonstrate application of clinical skills and communication skills, including inter-professional and patient-centred communication and professional attitudes in the context of each case.
The exam consists of nine clinical cases. Each case takes 15 minutes plus reading time. Four cases are in the format of a case discussion with an examiner and five are clinical encounters where candidates interact with a role player whilst the examiner observes.
It is a prerequisite of sitting the CCE that you have received a pass in both the AKT and KFP.
For more information about the CCE, including study resources and practice cases, visit the CCE webpage.