How to Audit Your MLA Content Map Coverage Before Exam Day
A practical checklist for auditing UKMLA AKT topic coverage against the GMC MLA Content Map — find gaps before exam day.
The GMC MLA Content Map is the examinable framework for the Medical Licensing Assessment. This page is a coverage audit method — complementary to our product explainer at MLA Content Map feature and the ethics deep-dive Professional Capabilities explained.
Always download/check the current official map on the GMC site; map versions are updated over time.
Why audit coverage (not only volume)
Doing thousands of questions in a few comfort specialties can still leave silent gaps. A pass strategy needs breadth across presentations/conditions plus enough depth to choose the next best step under UK guidelines.
30-minute audit method
- Open the official MLA Content Map areas you are responsible for (clinical presentations, conditions, professional capabilities).
- Mark each row: Covered in teaching / Practised in SBAs / Weak / Untouched.
- Sort Untouched + Weak to the top of your next two weeks.
- For every Weak management topic, attach one NICE/BNF/CKS source you will re-read.
- Re-audit 14 days before the exam.
Practical thresholds (study heuristic)
These are planning heuristics, not GMC rules:
| Signal | Action |
|---|---|
| Topic never practised | Schedule a focused block this week |
| Practised but accuracy soft | Weakness mock / spaced revisit |
| Strong and recent | Maintain lightly; do not over-polish |
Platform workflow
- Use the in-app content-map view to see attempts/accuracy by area
- Generate weakness-focused practice once you have a meaningful attempt history
- Confirm ethics/professional capabilities are not at zero attempts
Professional capabilities are part of coverage
Do not mark yourself “complete” if clinical specialties look green but consent, capacity, confidentiality, prescribing safety, and escalation scenarios are untouched. See MLA Professional Capabilities explained.
Re-audit cadence
| When | What to re-check |
|---|---|
| Every 2 weeks in dedicated prep | Untouched rows and <65% accuracy themes |
| 14 days pre-exam | Any area with thin attempt history |
| After each full mock | New miss clusters vs the map |
This article is an audit method. For exam structure, use Paper 1 vs Paper 2.
Related reading
Common questions
Where do I find the MLA Content Map?
It's published by the GMC as the official syllabus for the AKT. We maintain a navigable view inside the platform that shows your coverage and accuracy per specialty and presentation, so you can find your gaps in seconds rather than reading the PDF.
Are all 5,400+ questions tagged to the 2026 Content Map?
Yes — re-tagging completed in the Q1 2026 release. Every question, expert note, and personalised revision note carries its Content Map specialty and presentation tag, visible on the question card.
Will my med school's curriculum cover everything on the Content Map?
Most UK med schools align their final-year curriculum to the Content Map, but rarely with 100% coverage. Common gaps include: niche dermatology presentations, ENT, professional-standards stems with consent or capacity nuance, and prescribing-safety scenarios. The platform's coverage audit will surface anything your school missed.
Related updates
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