MRCGP AKT Eligibility: When You Can Sit It and How Many Attempts You Get
Published Oct 18, 2026
The AKT is part of GP specialty training in the UK, so eligibility depends on your training stage. Here's what the RCGP's AKT pages (https://www.rcgp.org.uk/mrcgp-exams/applied-knowledge-test/akt-introduction) say.
You can take the AKT during or after the ST2 stage of GP training. The RCGP's applications page puts it as the ST2 or ST3 year for the AKT, while the SCA is for the ST3 year only.
The attempt limit depends on when you started GP training. A maximum of four attempts is allowed if you were already in training on 1 August 2023. A maximum of six attempts is allowed if you entered GP specialty training for the first time on or after 2 August 2023.
Before you book, your MRCGP membership must be active and your training records must show the correct training year. If you are on leave, you may need an override to book; the applications page explains how.
The AKT is one part of the MRCGP. The others are the Simulated Consultation Assessment (SCA), which assesses how you integrate clinical, professional and communication skills, and Workplace Based Assessment (WPBA), which covers the areas best tested in the workplace.
Study takeaway: attempts are limited, so sit the AKT when your practice scores are consistently strong across clinical knowledge, evidence-based practice and practice administration, not simply as soon as you reach ST2.