100+ Free UKMLA AKT Practice Questions
Pass your UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
A 9-year-old boy has a known diagnosis of asthma. He uses a salbutamol inhaler more than three times a week and has nocturnal symptoms. He is not currently on any preventer. Which is the single most appropriate next step in management?
Explore More UK Medical Licensing (PLAB & UKMLA)
Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.
Sample UKMLA AKT Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your UKMLA AKT exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1A 63-year-old man has 2 hours of severe tearing chest pain radiating to his back. He has hypertension and a 60 pack-year smoking history. Pulse is 98 bpm; blood pressure is 192/94 mmHg in the right arm and 156/74 mmHg in the left. Which is the single most appropriate investigation to establish the diagnosis?
2A 24-year-old woman presents with sudden breathlessness and pleuritic chest pain 10 days after a long-haul flight. She takes the combined oral contraceptive pill. Heart rate is 112 bpm, respiratory rate 24, and oxygen saturation 93% on air. Her chest X-ray is normal. Which is the single most appropriate next step?
3A 19-year-old man is brought to the emergency department after a collapse at a music festival. He is drowsy with a temperature of 38.9°C, heart rate 130 bpm, blood pressure 88/50 mmHg and a non-blanching purpuric rash. Which is the single most important immediate management step?
4A 30-year-old woman with known asthma presents acutely breathless. She is unable to complete sentences, has a respiratory rate of 28, heart rate 122 bpm and a peak expiratory flow rate that is 40% of her predicted best. Which feature, if present, would reclassify this as life-threatening rather than acute severe asthma?
5A 55-year-old man collapses on a ward. He is unresponsive and not breathing normally. The cardiac monitor shows ventricular fibrillation. CPR is in progress and a defibrillator is attached. Which is the single most appropriate immediate action?
6A 28-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes presents unwell. She is drowsy, breathing deeply, and ketotic. Blood glucose is 28 mmol/L, blood ketones 5.2 mmol/L, pH 7.18 and bicarbonate 12 mmol/L. Which is the single most appropriate first treatment?
7A 40-year-old man is brought in after a paracetamol overdose. He took 30 tablets (500 mg each) as a single ingestion 6 hours ago. He weighs 70 kg. Which is the single most appropriate management decision?
8A 70-year-old woman presents with sudden severe central abdominal pain that is out of proportion to her examination findings. She is in atrial fibrillation and has a raised lactate of 5 mmol/L. Which is the single most likely diagnosis?
9A 35-year-old man develops widespread urticaria, lip swelling, wheeze and hypotension minutes after eating peanuts. Which is the single most appropriate first drug, and by which route?
10A 22-year-old woman is found unconscious with a respiratory rate of 6 and pinpoint pupils. Her friends say she uses heroin. Which is the single most appropriate immediate pharmacological treatment?
About the UKMLA AKT Exam
The Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) is the written component of the UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA). It comprises 200 single-best-answer questions over two 100-item papers sat on consecutive days, each lasting two hours. Every item is blueprinted to the GMC MLA content map across 24 areas of clinical practice and 12 areas of professional knowledge.
Assessment
Two computer-based single-best-answer papers of 100 questions each (200 total), sat on consecutive days, each with five answer options and no negative marking.
Time Limit
2 hours per paper (4 hours total across two days)
Passing Score
Pass/fail; no fixed percentage. Each paper is independently standard-set so the cut score varies with question difficulty.
Exam Fee
No separate fee for UK medical students (sat as part of degree finals). International medical graduates take the MLA-compliant PLAB; PLAB 1 costs GBP 283 from 1 April 2026. (General Medical Council (GMC) / Medical Schools Council)
UKMLA AKT Exam Content Outline
Acute and Emergency
Resuscitation, sepsis, anaphylaxis, poisoning and the management of acute cross-system presentations.
Cardiovascular
Acute coronary syndromes, heart failure, arrhythmias, hypertension and valvular and vascular disease.
Respiratory
Asthma, COPD, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, tuberculosis and interstitial lung disease.
Gastrointestinal including Liver
GI bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, liver disease and colorectal red flags.
Neurosciences
Stroke, headache, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and neuromuscular disorders.
Endocrine and Metabolic
Diabetes, thyroid and adrenal disorders, calcium homeostasis and metabolic emergencies.
Child Health
Paediatric infection, respiratory disease, surgical presentations, oncology and safeguarding.
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Early pregnancy problems, pre-eclampsia, intrapartum care, contraception and menopause.
Renal and Urology
Acute kidney injury, glomerular disease, hyperkalaemia, urinary tract disease and stones.
Infection
Meningitis, malaria, sexually transmitted infections, antimicrobial choice and tropical disease.
Musculoskeletal
Inflammatory and crystal arthropathies, fractures, back pain red flags and connective tissue disease.
Cancer and Palliative Care
Suspected cancer pathways, staging, oncological emergencies and palliative symptom control.
Mental Health
Depression, psychosis, bipolar disorder, suicide risk and the Mental Health Act.
Clinical Haematology
Anaemias, leukaemias, sickle cell disease and clotting disorders.
Dermatology
Eczema, skin cancers, shingles and common rashes.
Ethics, Law and Professionalism
Consent, capacity, autonomy, the duty of candour and the Fraser guidelines.
Ophthalmology
Acute red eye, glaucoma, visual loss and macular disease.
Ear, Nose and Throat
Hearing loss, vertigo, Meniere's disease and ENT red flags.
Medicine of the Older Adult
Delirium, falls, frailty and polypharmacy review.
Prescribing and Clinical Pharmacology
Safe prescribing, interactions, drugs in pregnancy and adverse effects.
Population Health and Research Methods
Evidence appraisal, screening, diagnostic accuracy and number needed to treat.
How to Pass the UKMLA AKT Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Pass/fail; no fixed percentage. Each paper is independently standard-set so the cut score varies with question difficulty.
- Assessment: Two computer-based single-best-answer papers of 100 questions each (200 total), sat on consecutive days, each with five answer options and no negative marking.
- Time limit: 2 hours per paper (4 hours total across two days)
- Exam fee: No separate fee for UK medical students (sat as part of degree finals). International medical graduates take the MLA-compliant PLAB; PLAB 1 costs GBP 283 from 1 April 2026.
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
UKMLA AKT Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the UKMLA AKT and how long is it?
The AKT has 200 single-best-answer questions delivered as two 100-question papers on consecutive days. Each paper lasts two hours, giving roughly 72 seconds per question, and there is no negative marking.
What is the pass mark for the AKT?
The AKT is pass/fail with no fixed percentage. Each paper is independently standard-set by assessment experts, so the cut score varies between papers to account for differences in question difficulty.
Is there a fee to sit the UKMLA AKT?
UK medical students do not pay a separate fee because the AKT is embedded within their degree finals. International medical graduates meet the same standard through the GMC's PLAB test, with PLAB 1 costing GBP 283 from 1 April 2026.
Who has to pass the AKT?
All students graduating from UK medical schools in 2024-25 or later must pass the AKT and the Clinical and Professional Skills Assessment (CPSA) before joining the GMC register. International medical graduates demonstrate the standard via the MLA-compliant PLAB.