4. Sitting the exams

Candidates who present at an exam are presumed to be fit to sit the exam. Marks are based solely on your performance in the exam and can’t be changed based on personal circumstances surrounding the exam.

If you are unwell or have any other extenuating and unforeseen circumstances that prevent you from attending an exam or performing to the best of your ability, you must notify us by emailing examinations@racgp.org.au as soon as possible to discuss late withdrawal options.

If you become suddenly ill during an exam, you must notify exam staff immediately to discuss what options are available.

Note: Presumption of fitness to sit applies to all candidates, regardless of whether you have an approved application for special arrangements.

It’s important that you follow the rules listed below to ensure that the exam runs smoothly, that no candidates are disadvantaged, and to protect the integrity of the exam environment. Read the following information carefully and ensure you understand what is expected of you. If you require any clarification, please contact the RACGP.

1. Registration:
   1. For the AKT and KFP, we recommend that you arrive 60 minutes before the scheduled commencement time. Registrations close 30 minutes before the scheduled commencement time. If you arrive after this time, you won’t be permitted entry into the exam and your attempt will be forfeited.
   2. For the CCE, you must log in to the exam using the appropriate link 30 minutes before the scheduled commencement time. If you log in after this time, you won’t be permitted to sit the exam and your attempt will be forfeited.
   3. We will not accept bad weather or traffic experienced on the way to the exam venue as valid reasons for late arrival. We encourage you to plan ahead and ensure you are early for the exam.
2. Please present photo identification to exam staff when you arrive for the exam. Accepted forms of identification include the following original documents:
   1. current Australian or foreign passport
   2. current Australian driver’s licence (digital ID not accepted)
   3. proof of age or identity card issued by an Australian state or territory (digital ID not accepted)
   4. current Australian student identity card (with photograph)
   5. any other current Australian entitlement or identity card, issued by the Australian Government or a state or territory government, that includes your photograph.

If your proof of identity document is in a different name to the name registered with the RACGP, contact examinations@racgp.org.au at least 48 hours before the exam. You’ll need to provide evidence to support the name discrepancy, and this must be approved prior to the exam day.

3. For the AKT and KFP, only items listed in the section, Items permitted in the exam, are permitted in the exam room. You must present your mobile phone and other personal belongings when you arrive. The invigilator will instruct you where to place them for the duration of the exam; you’ll be able to retrieve your belongings once you are released from the exam.
   
   You may be asked to pat yourself down (eg along the arms, legs and waistline) to show that you have nothing hidden on your body. You may also be asked to empty any pockets so that staff can verify that they are empty. You must comply with these requests or you’ll be investigated in line with the Academic Misconduct Policy.

For the AKT and KFP, 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 odours is not permitted. Food should be placed in a clear zip lock bag.
• water in up to two 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 a case with a 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 – disposable foam earplugs in their original, sealed packaging only. if you choose to use earplugs, it’s your responsibility to ensure you can hear any announcements the invigilator makes.
• face mask (if not mandatory by state/venue).

All items must be reviewed at registration and may not be allowed in the exam if they don’t meet the requirements. 

You must not bring the following items into the AKT or KFP 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 or description
• timing or recording devices, calculators, computers, iPads, iPods, tablets, organisers or electronic devices of any type
• electronic or active earplugs or headphones, earmuffs or earplugs not in their original sealed packaging
• non-religious headwear, hats or hooded jackets/jumpers/tops
• any bags or other personal belongings. Your invigilator will advise where to place your belongings.

CCE candidates completing the remote/online portion of their exam may use a pen and blank paper to take notes and may have their phone with them on silent in case they need to be in contact with the RACGP.

If you bring a prohibited item into the exam room, you’ll be investigated in line with the Academic Misconduct Policy.

At RACGP-arranged venues, we’ll provide you with paper to take notes during the exam. You must leave all paper in the exam venue after completing the exam.

For the CCE, you may bring your own blank paper and pen into the exam. Notes must be torn up at the end of each exam case.

If you don’t comply with these rules you’ll be investigated in line with the Academic Misconduct Policy.

Candidates who fail to comply with these rules will be investigated in line with the Academic Misconduct Policy.

You must follow all written and verbal instructions before and during the exam.

During an exam, you must not:

• smoke in the venue
• disturb any other candidate (eg mumbling, talking)
• communicate with or help any other candidate
• accept assistance from any other candidate or person in the room
• look at another candidate’s computer screen or exam paper for any purpose
• permit any other candidate to read or copy from your computer screen or exam paper
• disturb the exam proceedings in any other way.

If you need to leave the room during an exam, you must be escorted by an invigilator or marshal. You won’t be re-admitted into the exam room unless an invigilator supervises you while you are out of the exam room.

During the AKT and KFP, you must not leave the exam room during the first 30 minutes or the last 15 minutes of the exam.

All exam materials are confidential and you must not disclose the details of exam questions and cases after the exam.

By enrolling in an exam, you agree that you will not disclose confidential exam material to peers, colleagues, external groups, companies or entities, or on any social media platform.

If you breach confidentiality you’ll be investigated in line with the Academic Misconduct Policy.

As per the Fellowship Exams Policy, candidates are permitted to enrol in Fellowship exams in up to six semesters over a maximum of three years, subject to granted periods of leave or suspension. If a candidate does not attend an exam in which they are enrolled (without having their withdrawal from the exam sanctioned by the RACGP), the exam attempt is still recognised. For example, a candidate enrolled in and sat the 2021.1 and 2021.2 AKT, and enrolled but did not attend the 2022.1 AKT. The RACGP recognises three attempts at the AKT.

A candidate may apply for a special exemption to have their withdrawal sanctioned by the RACGP, by submitting the Special Exemption Application Form to education.appeals@racgp.org.au. If granted, their non-attendance at the exam will not be considered as an exam attempt. Applications for special exemption are considered on a case-by-case basis, and granted at the RACGP’s discretion.

Regardless of whether the non-attendance at an exam is counted as an exam attempt, if a candidate sat another exam within that same semester, their exam candidacy cannot be suspended. To continue the example above, a candidate does not attend the 2022.1 AKT but does go on to sit the 2022.1 KFP. Even if their non-attendance at the 2022.1 AKT was then sanctioned, the RACGP cannot suspend their exam candidacy for the 2022.1 semester. This is because they have sat the KFP in that same semester.