AKT
Before the AKT
11.7. AKT trainees must arrive at the examination centre at the time specified by the RCGP. Trainees who arrive late will not be permitted to take the examination and will not normally be able to claim a refund of fees.
11.8. Where morning and afternoon sittings of the AKT take place on the same day at the same examination centre, morning trainees will be required to remain at the examination centre until released by the invigilators/duty marshals.
11.9. Trainees will be asked to provide officials at examination centres with proof of identity. The specific requirements for identification documents are set out in the AKT section of the RCGP website and in the email confirming an application to sit an examination. Original, documentary evidence of name changes must be provided - a marriage certificate, for example. If proof cannot be provided that meets the specific requirements, the trainee will not be permitted to take the examination and may forfeit their application fee. View the AKT identity requirements.
During the AKT
11.10. During examinations and when entering and leaving examination centres, trainees must not communicate with anyone except officials directly involved in administering/delivering the examination.
11.11. Ahead of the examination trainees will receive detailed instructions on what may be brought into the room where the examination will take place, and on how to conduct themselves during the examination. The examination centres are all covered by CCTV.
After the AKT
11.12. Examination material relating to the MRCGP is confidential and copyright and subject to non-disclosure requirements. It must not be placed on the internet or passed to or discussed with any unauthorised individual under any circumstances except with the express, written permission of the RCGP. Trainees who are found to have infringed these requirements will be penalised in accordance with the guidance on misconduct set out in the guide.
SCA
Before the SCA
11.13. SCA trainees must log on to the examination platform by the time specified by the RCGP. Trainees who arrive late will not be permitted to take the examination and will not normally be able to claim a refund of fees.
11.14. Where morning and afternoon sittings of the SCA take place on the same day, morning trainees will be required to remain logged into the examination platform until released by the invigilators.
11.15. Trainees will be asked to provide invigilators with photographic proof of identity. The specific requirements for identification documents are set out in the SCA section of the RCGP website and in the email confirming an application to sit an examination. Original, documentary evidence of name changes must be provided - a marriage certificate, for example. If proof cannot be provided that meets the specific requirements, the trainee will not be permitted to take the examination and may forfeit their application fee.
During the SCA
11.16. During examinations and when entering and leaving the examination environment, trainees must not communicate with anyone except officials directly involved in administering/delivering the examination.
11.17. Ahead of the examination trainees will receive detailed instructions on what may be brought into the room where the examination will take place, and on how to conduct themselves during the examination.
11.18. Trainees should note that the examination is being recorded throughout for quality control, security and marking purposes. The examination or contents must not be recorded or saved in any other way by the candidate. Violations of examination security may also be recorded and used as evidence in any subsequent action.
After the SCA
11.19. Examination material relating to the MRCGP is confidential and copyright and subject to non-disclosure requirements. It must not be placed on the internet or passed to or discussed with any unauthorised individual under any circumstances except with the express, written permission of the RCGP. Trainees who are found to have infringed these requirements will be penalised in accordance with the guidance on misconduct set out below.
11.20. Trainees must ensure that patients consent to the recording of the consultation, and that GDPR guidance is adhered to for each consultation.
11.21. Although recordings are of real consultations, the RCA is an examination and appropriate aspects of examination conditions apply. The trainee may make use of the normal resources available during a consultation but must not have advice, support or coaching from any third party during the consultation.
11.22. Trainees must not share the uploaded recordings of their RCA submissions or potential submissions with anyone outside their own Training Programme.
11.23. The use of any service to screen cases prior to submission to the RCA is expressly prohibited as this is not included in patient consent and the process would therefore be in breach of General Data Protection Regulations.
11.24. The recordings submitted must be real consultations; it is not permissible to ‘stage’ a consultation with someone who is not a real patient or to record a consultation including any element which has previously been rehearsed. Individual consultations must be recorded continuously; the camera should not be turned off during the consultation and the recording must not be edited.
WPBA
11.25. The use of dictation software to write entries within the Candidate Portfolio is permissible, however the content must be the candidate’s original work.
11.26. Fraudulent misuse of the Candidate Portfolio is an extremely serious offence. This would include any form of impersonation and making entries that are deliberately misleading or malicious, particularly those that relate to assessments.
11.27. All allegations of misconduct and fraudulent misuse will be dealt with in accordance with the Deanery’s Misconduct Procedures.
Allegations of trainee misconduct during an assessment
11.28. When misconduct is alleged during an examination the trainee will normally be allowed to complete that examination. A record of the allegation will be made by the invigilator, and a copy subsequently given to the trainee.
11.29. Results will be withheld whilst allegations of misconduct are investigated.
11.30. The Head of Examinations will collect evidence relating to the allegation. Allegations will not continue to be investigated where they lack substance or appear, upon investigation, to be malicious.
11.31. Where a case of misconduct is established which appears to be isolated or minor, the matter may be dealt with by the Head of Examinations. In all other cases, a misconduct panel will be convened. When a panel is convened all relevant parties, including the trainee, will be invited to comment on the evidence collected by the Head of Examinations.
11.32. Panels will have at least three members, none of whom will have been involved in the original examination process. They will conduct their business in accordance with the MRCGP Misconduct Policy and Procedure for AKT and SCA
11.33. Allegations of misconduct will normally be considered based on paper evidence only and oral hearings will not be held.
11.34. The panel will make its decision on the balance of probabilities. The decision will be communicated to the trainee in writing, with reasons, as soon as is reasonably possible and normally no more than six weeks after receipt of the allegation.
11.35. The panel may impose one or more of the following sanctions or any other sanction as it sees fit:
- formal written warning if a further offence is committed a more serious penalty may be applied
- withholding or annulling results for a particular examination
- withholding or annulling results for all examinations attempted
- being barred from taking an examination or examinations for a specified or indefinite period
- referral to the General Medical Council.
11.36. Depending on the circumstances the RCGP reserves the right to inform the deanery of any case of alleged misconduct proven or otherwise.
11.37. In certain circumstances it may be appropriate to inform the police.
Most, but not all, of the regulations in this section relate only to the AKT and SCA components of the MRCGP.