Study planning
UKMLA AKT Revision Plan: 16-Week Guide for Final Year
A realistic 16-week UKMLA AKT revision plan for final-year UK medical students — balance placements, finals overlap, two-paper pacing, and content-map coverage.
This 16-week UKMLA AKT revision plan is for final-year UK medical students balancing placements, university finals, and the Medical School Applied Knowledge Test (MS AKT).
Official format facts (Medical Schools Council):
- Two papers of 100 Single Best Answer questions each
- Standard timing 2 hours per paper (adjustments may apply)
- Papers are typically sat on sequential days
- Not negatively marked
- Blueprinted to the GMC MLA Content Map
Confirm your exact dates with your medical school. See also the UKMLA AKT roadmap and Paper 1 vs Paper 2.
Weeks 16–13 — coverage audit
- Open the MLA Content Map and mark presentations/conditions your curriculum has covered.
- Sit a mixed diagnostic block (about 40–50 SBAs). Ignore vanity scores — log guessed vs known items.
- Pick the lowest-coverage areas for daily short blocks.
- For every management miss, refresh the relevant NICE / BNF / CKS pathway before moving on.
Platform helpers: MLA Content Map feature, UKMLA AKT question bank, smart notes.
Weeks 12–9 — volume that respects placements
| Week type | Daily question target | Non-negotiable habit |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy placement | 30–40 timed SBAs | Full explanation review on wrong answers |
| Lighter placement / study week | 70–100 SBAs | One specialty deep-dive block |
| End of week 10 | One full Paper 1 mock (100 / 2h) | Debrief decision-error patterns |
If rotations dominate your diary, use how to revise for UKMLA in final year with rotations.
Weeks 8–5 — two-paper simulation
- Sit a full Paper 1 mock, then a full Paper 2 mock on the next day (matches sequential-day delivery).
- Compare accuracy and timing across the two papers.
- Keep ethics / professional capabilities in weekly rotation — do not leave them to the final fortnight.
- Repeat at least one more sequential Paper 1 → Paper 2 pair before week 4.
Use UKMLA AKT mock exams and the results / debrief workflow after every full paper.
Weeks 4–2 — weak-area lockdown
- Cap brand-new topic opening by week 3.
- Run weakness-focused blocks on your lowest content-map areas.
- Re-check guideline updates only for topics you actually missed.
- Protect sleep and recovery — stamina errors look like “knowledge fails” on paper 2 day.
Final week
- One last sequential paper pair 5–7 days out, then taper.
- Final 48 hours: light mixed SBAs or notes only — no new banks.
- Exam mornings: normal routine, arrive early, trust the process.
Checklist
- School AKT dates + resit window confirmed
- Content-map coverage audit completed
- At least two sequential Paper 1 → Paper 2 mock pairs completed
- Professional capabilities practised weekly
- Final week taper planned
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
How long should I prepare specifically for the AKT?
Many students need 8–16 weeks of structured SBA work on top of finals teaching. If your school’s teaching already tracks the MLA Content Map closely, you can compress; if you have large coverage gaps, keep the full 16 weeks.
Are the two AKT papers on the same day?
The Medical Schools Council describes the MS AKT as two 100-item papers sat on sequential days. Confirm your school’s exact timetable — do not assume a single-day double paper.
Should I separate AKT prep from finals revision?
Only partially. Reuse content-map coverage from finals, then add AKT-specific drills: timed 100-item papers, next-best-step stems, and professional capabilities.
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