It is almost exam time again. I am hoping that this website will provide some information on how to tackle the exam, and eventually help myself passing the exam.
The exam has three components:
1. Applied knowledge test (AKT)
2. Key Feature Problems (KFP0
3. OSCE
The followings are information about the fellowship exam and you can access this information from the Fellowship Exams Candidate Handbook
Applied knowledge test (AKT)
- To assess the breadth and application of contextual knowledge required for certification to enter unsupervised general practice.
- It contains 150 clinical questions with 2 questions types:
- Single best answer
- Extended matching questions
- Multiple choice test conducted online for 4 hours.
- Held twice per year.
- Must pass the AKR as a per-requisite to undertaking the OSCE. From 1January 2017, candidates must pass the AKT and KFP as a pre-requisite to undertaking the OSCE.
Key Feature Problems (KFP)
- To assess clinical decision making skills in general practice cases
- A key feature is a critical step in the resolution of a clinical problem in the context of everyday general practice. A KFT question consists of clinical case scenario followed by questions that focus only on those critical steps
- It contains 26 cases of equal value and 2 questions types
- Write in questions (short answer questions)
- Completion questions (select responses from a list)
- Each question specifics how many responses candidates should provide. For 'write-in' questions candidates will receive a weighted reduction in score in the overall exam for all extra responses they provide. For 'completion' questions candidate will be penalised for extra responses.
- It is a 3 and 1/2 hr exam.
OSCE
- To assess applied knowledge, clinical reasoning, clinical skills, communication skills and professional attitudes in the context of consultations, patient exams and peer discussions. This is a clinical consulting performance assessment.
- The OSCE includes 14 clinical cases of either 8 minutes or 19 minutes duration, with rest stations interspersed between the clinical stations. It takes around 4 hours to complete the exam.
- The 8 minute consultation stations require candidates to focus on one or two aspects of a consultation, these consultation stations are not intended to represent whole consultations.
- The 19 minute consultation stations resemble standard general practice consultations and usually require the candidate to focus on a number of tasks.
- RACGP Curriculum for Australian General Practice (RACGP Curriculum handbook)
- Frequency and patterns of problems in general practice (BEACH. Here is the link to a decade of Australian general practice activity from 2005 to 2015)
- Pre-exam courses
- Check program (access available as a financial member of the college)
- gplearning (access available as a financial member of the college)
- AKT and KFP online practice exams (available 1 month before the actual exam)
- 2014 Thursday evening pre-exam tutorial series on DVD (Can borrow from John Murtagh library if you are a member of the RACGP)
- Clinical Skills scenarios DVD - cases for GP educators or learners (The DVD can be purchased Here)
Some ideas on study topics using BEACH data:
Most frequently managed problems by categories
Most frequently managed problems from 2005 to 2015
Most frequently managed chronic problems from 2005 to 2015
Most Frequently prescribed medications from 2005 to 2015
Exam tips from various training providers and college:
Sturt Fleurieu exam tips
Valley to coast GP training exam tips
Exam resources from the college:
Candidate handbook
RACGP Curriculum
Beach data
Applied knowledge test Online revision for the MRCP Part 1, MRCGP Applied Knowledge Test (AKT), GP ST Stage 2 - Specialty Recruitment Assessment, Medical student finals, MRCP Part 2, Situational Judgement Test, PLAB, DRCOG. Revision questions in the current format to help you pass.
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