What is SPEX AKT
The SPEX AKT course is a one day course run online. The morning is run by the RCGP and the afternoon by the SPEX team.
Throughout the course there will be discussion about revision techniques, exam techniques, question formats, learning needs and support. This is a course offered to:
- all DiT who are enrolled on the SPEX courses.
- any DiT that has had a previous unsuccessful attempt at AKT
For repeated attempts at the AKT, the SPEX AKT course can be repeated up to 3 times if it is felt this will be helpful.
All DiT who are on their 4th or 5th attempt at the AKT will be offered an AKT 1:1 with one of the SPEX team in addition to their meetings with their patch TPD/AD. The focus will be on their individual situation and adapting advice accordingly as well as looking at previous attempts and where to focus.
All DiTs on the AKT course will receive a copy of the AKT package, unless you already have the Trainee Complete Licence.
AKT Hints and Tips
Preparation
- Allow plenty of time to revise (most candidates allow 16-24 weeks to prepare with two to three evenings a week and some weekends set aside for revision).
- Calculate how many quality hours of revision you need to do and create a revision timetable
- Apply for the AKT at a good time for you (quieter jobs, good time in personal life)
- Complete the Self Assessment Tool - this will help identify specific revision areas.
- Use RCGP curriculum headings on website to plan learning-their curriculum guides have dropdowns clearly showing what knowledge is needed and examples of what might be asked in AKT
- Use two (or more) question banks eg Pass Medicine and GP self tests.
- Aim to go through all questions at least twice.
- How long do you work for? We are unable to concentrate fully for >20 minutes at a time. Every 20mins have a pause, drink etc. If making notes, after 20mins try and recall/self-test yourself as these are manageable chunks, pause, and then go onto the next chunk. 2 hours is the maximum time you can be spent in this mode. Then you need at least 45 minutes off.
- Long term memory is only embedded by repetition. Therefore, try and recall learning points from last period of revision and then again 1 week later. It is known that if you revise a piece of information several times in a short period, the retention of the knowledge is less than if you space the revisions in a longer interval – ‘spacing effect’ – hence 4-6 months of preparation time
Knowledge
- ‘Focus your revision of core GP knowledge such as hypertension, asthma, COPD, diabetes and IHD
- Use the RCGP condensed curriculum guides
- Read BNF Therapeutics areas
- During clinical practice, identify PUNS and DENS and revise topics
- There are useful check lists for high yield topics
- Towards the end of revision ensure data interpretation and admin are fresh in your mind
- BMJ learning modules can be used to focus around areas of weakness/lower knowledge
- 14 Fish video module packages are helpful
- ANKI cards/flashcards may help, you can create your own deck
- Examiners report review. Focus on the topics that have been done poorly. Seems to be a high chance that these topics are repeated in future exams
- Listen to the ACE GP training podcast – “How to start preparing for the AKT”
Question Banks
- Use question banks to identify areas of knowledge that you need to revise.
- Do 10-20 questions at a time and learn around the topics.
- Identify questions that repeatedly come up and learn the topic.
- Avoid doing too many questions at once and not learning from your incorrect answers.
- Towards the end of revision do 2-3 complete exams to practice time management.
Technique
- Read the question before the vignette and identify key words.
- Cover Test – after reading the question, cover the answers and if you know the answer then pick the option that matches
- Try not to change your answers unless you have a ‘light bulb moment’.
- Try to think as a GP, rather than answering the questions like a hospital Dr. e.g. what is the next thing you are going to do….this would differ as a GP compared to a hospital Dr.
- The night before the exam - don’t learn anything new, get in the right frame of mind, don’t cram, try to get a good nights sleep
Guidelines
- Do some questions first, then read guidelines. Establish the common themes in the questions.
- Discuss topics with your Educational Supervisor especially practice organisation
- Innovait and RCGP are useful resources
Involve partner, family, and colleagues
- Establish a revision pattern.
- Organise a revision group either in person or virtual.
- Divide up topics between you to share with all.
- Focusing on a tricky topic and then teaching to others is an excellent way to learn.
- Learning as a group is active learning and helps embed to memory.
- Write your own MCQs having read up on a topic.
- Discuss cases/make up cases to use as a memory aide.
Useful resources
BNF summaries
NICE CKS
NICE guidelines related to GP
BMJ best practice
RCGP EKU, self test & InnovAiT
14F AKT package
AKT summary report webpage
Pearson view test centre information
MRCGP Exams Archives - GP Training Support
GP curriculum
ACE GP training podcast – Ep 6: Preparing for the AKT
ANKIcards