MRCGP exam key dates and applications

To contact the examinations team, please use the RCGP member helpdesk.

Candidates who intend to make an application for the AKT or SCA will be unable to do so if their membership or training records do not meet the criteria for eligibility. 

Prospective candidates should ensure the following in advance of a booking window:

  • MRCGP membership must be active. Resigned, lapsed or suspended MRCGP membership will prevent booking. Prospective AKT or SCA candidates who are not current members of the College should contact the membership department to discuss having their membership reinstated (membership@rcgp.org.uk).

  • Training records must state that candidates will be at the correct point in their training at the time of booking an assessment. For AKT this is either ST2 or ST3 year and for SCA this is ST3 year only. Both training posts and training years should be added to training records – gaps in information will prevent booking. Candidates are advised to check their FourteenFish portfolio regularly to ensure that it is up-to-date and to contact their Educational Supervisor if this isn’t the case, as they will be able to update it. Candidates in their ST1 during a booking window will need to evidence that they will be in ST2 by the test date. Candidates in this situation are advised to contact the Exams team in advance of the booking window, as a system override badge will need to be applied to their account in order to enable them to book.

  • Out-of-training candidates may need to contact the exams team prior to application (exams@rcgp.org.uk). Candidates on maternity or sick leave or in an extended period of training who are eligible to sit the test (i.e. at the correct point in their training (as stated above) and authorised to do so by their deanery and the RCGP) will require a system override to be added to their RCGP record; for maternity leave and training extensions this is usually automatically applied, however candidates are advised to contact the exams team if experiencing booking issues. Candidates on leave for any other reason will need to have a badge manually added and should contact the exams team in advance of a booking window. Evidence of eligibility may be required.

  • Candidate personal details within RCGP membership accounts should not contain special characters (specifically a comma, greater-than sign [>], or quotation marks [“] within a name or address). Pearson VUE have informed us that this may result in booking / testing issues. Candidates are advised to check their membership details and update them if needed.

Booking notes:

  • Google Chrome is the preferred web browser for AKT and SCA applications
  • American Express is not an accepted method of payment at present

AKT candidates please note: during a booking window all enquiries must be made via email (the exams team phone lines are closed). This is to ensure maximum efficiency in dealing with booking enquiries. Please do not call other departments in the College with exams-related queries as they will have limited ability to help.

Improvements to payment system for examination bookings from April 2026

From 1 April 2026, we will be introducing a staged payment system for Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) and Simulated Consultation Assessment (SCA) examination bookings. Instead of paying the full fee at once, candidates will be able to spread the cost across two earlier instalments.

You will be asked to pay 25% of the examination fee six months before the examination or at the point of making a reservation, if this is between six months and twelve weeks before the examination. You will then need to pay a further 25% of the fee 12 weeks before the examination. Both payments are refundable if you change your plans before the final booking deadline.

How the new payment system works

Payment stageAmountDue dateRefundable until
Deposit25% of examination fee6 months before the examination (or at reservation if later)Up to final booking deadline
Second payment25% of examination fee12 weeks before the examUp to final booking deadline
Final balance50% of examination feeAt final booking deadlineNot refundable

Key benefits

  • Staged payments: Up to three separate payments from the point you reserve your examination until you make your final booking.
  • Flexibility: Spreading the initial cost into refundable instalments gives candidates more options when planning.
  • Assurance: Reserved places are more likely to be maintained, supporting fairer access for everyone.

You will see an update to the current booking system in the coming months. We’ll provide full instructions well in advance of these payment changes taking effect. If you have booked an examination taking place between 1 April and 1 October 2026, we’ll also let you know about any payments that are due after 1 April.

Applied Knowledge Test (AKT)

Simulated Consultation Assessment (SCA)

Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) dates and booking

Request reasonable adjustments for the AKT

Reserve your place to sit the AKT

Confirm your booking of the AKT*

*Only reserved candidates are able to confirm a booking.

AKT dates 2025-26

 


Reasonable adjustments deadlinesReservations closeBooking periodAKT test date Results published* (all 17:00 hours)
AKT October 202519 August 20252 September 2025 (reservations close 23:59)10 - 12 September 202528 October 202527 November 2025
AKT January 202612 November 202525 November 2025 (reservations close 23:59)3 - 5 December 202526 January 202626 February 2026
AKT April 2026
18 February 20262 March 2026 (reservations close 23:59)11 - 13 March 202627 April 202628 May 2026
AKT July 2026
5 May 202619 May 2026 (reservations close 23:59)27 - 29 May 20267 July 20266 August 2026

We provide reasonable adjustments for the following:

  • neurodivergence
  • physical disabilities (including visual, hearing and speech impairments)
  • pregnancy at 32 weeks or over at the time of the examination1
  • pregnancy under 32 weeks at the time of the examination, for those experiencing other pregnancy-related symptoms
  • breastfeeding

For more information about how to request reasonable adjustments and what supporting evidence is needed, please visit the reasonable adjustments page.

All dates and times may be subject to change. Appropriate notice of any changes will be given at the earliest opportunity.

Updates around these examinations are available on the main AKT page. Specific information about the changes to the format of the AKT from October 2025 is available on our website.

Non-mainland UK candidates

Please contact the examinations department as soon as possible, before a booking window to discuss test centre options. Sitting the AKT in a non-mainland UK location isn’t guaranteed, as is dependent on Pearson VUE third-party test centre availability.

Updates around these exams are available on the main AKT page.

Simulated Consultation Assessment (SCA) dates and booking

Request reasonable adjustments for the SCA

Reserve your place to sit the SCA

Confirm your booking of the SCA*

*Only reserved candidates are able to confirm a booking.

SCA dates 2025-26

 


Reasonable adjustments deadlines
Reservations closeBooking periodSCA test dateResults published* (all 17:00 hours)
SCA September 202516 June 202529 June 2025
7 - 11 July 20252 - 4 September 20257 October 2025
SCA October 202514 July 202527 July 2025
4 - 8 August 202530 September - 2 October 20254 November 2025
SCA November 202515 August 202531 August 2025
8 - 12 September 20254 - 7 November 20259 December 2025
SCA January 202620 October 20252 November 2025
10 - 14 November 20256 - 9 January 202610 February 2026
SCA February 202617 November 202530 November 2025
8 - 12 December 20253 - 6 February 202610 March 2026
SCA March 202610 December 202528 December 2025
5 - 9 January 20263 - 6 March 20269 April 2026
SCA April 202619 January 20261 February 2026
9 - 13 February 20267 - 10 April 202612 May 2026
SCA May 2026
16 February 20261 March 2026
9 - 13 March 20265 - 8 May 20269 June 2026
SCA June 2026
13 March 202629 March 2026
7 - 10 April 20262 - 5 June 20267 July 2026

We provide reasonable adjustments for the following:

  • neurodivergence
  • physical disabilities (including visual, hearing and speech impairments)
  • pregnancy at 32 weeks or over at the time of the examination
  • pregnancy under 32 weeks at the time of the examination, for those experiencing other pregnancy-related symptoms
  • breastfeeding

For more information about how to request reasonable adjustments and what supporting evidence is needed, please visit the reasonable adjustments page.

All dates and times may be subject to change. Appropriate notice of any changes will be given at the earliest opportunity. We currently allocate four examination days per diet, although this may vary depending on candidate demand. While the average is three days, in exceptional cases, examination dates may extend into the following week.

Updates around these examinations are available on the main SCA page.

Find out more about the MRCGP