The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) provides candidates with a public exam report released at the time of the results, reflecting on where candidates could have improved and the common errors made, providing valuable insights which can be applied to future exams. Normally it is recommended that you pay close attention to the advice given. However, you may be thinking that with the Key Feature Problem (KFP) format change for the 2025.2 sitting, the previous exam report is not relevant to the new format. You will be surprised to hear there’s lots to learn from this report. 

Here are our 5 key takeaways from the RACGP 2025.1 KFP exam report: 

1. Pay close attention to the key features of the case to help you formulate a problem representation in the KFP 

Read the clinical stem once through, then read it again to ensure you have identified the key features presented. Is it an urban, rural or remote setting? How old is the patient? Who are you in this scenario, a contractor GP, supervisor or practice owner? What are some pertinent key features that help define what the problem is being presented? The KFP exam is still designed to assess the clinical reasoning and clinical decision-making of candidates, a core competency for all clinicians. Therefore, when preparing for the 2025.2 multiple-selection-question format KFP exam, it will be important to note or highlight the key features as well as taking into account all information given in the stem. For example, being a paper exam, underline important key features with your pen to create a clear problem representation.   

2. Read the question carefully to understand what is being asked of you 

This is a common error in exams such as the KFP. As is often the case with each exam round, in the 2025.1 KFP exam, some candidates did not clearly read the question and understand the task, such as the “most important provisional diagnosis,” instead interpreting this as the “most likely provisional diagnosis”. Answers to these two questions will likely vary depending on the key features in the clinical stem and any red flag features. In one 2025.1 case, “specific initial management” was requested but according to RACGP, many candidates misread the question and managed the patient either as an emergency or answered with long-term changes to treatment. In another, some focused on subsequent rather than initial investigations. Another example RACGP pointed out was that though candidates were required to identify appropriate non-pharmacological management, candidates provided pharmacological answers such as medication adjustments. 

Consistent with patterns from previous rounds of the KFP, candidates who provided “blanket” responses instead of specific, clinical scenario-adapted ones tended to score lower. Though in the new format KFP the answer options will be provided, it is still very important to read the question and understand what you are being asked, as there will likely be several distractor generic answer options listed that may be tempting to select if you are not clear on what the question is asking. 

3. Review the number of answer options selected to avoid being penalised

Though being penalised for “over-coding” will no longer be relevant to the KFP 2025.2 exam, it is important to remember that you can still be penalised, and have marks deducted, in the new exam format.  

There is no negative marking for incorrect answers. However, it is in your best interest to select the correct number of answer options for each question (e.g. important to note how many answers are requested – each question could be different). In the 2025.2 multiple-selection-question KFP, candidates who select more answers than requested will sustain a 0.35% penalty per additional answer, deducted from their overall exam score. For some candidates, this could mean the difference between a pass or a fail!  

4. Select answer options specific to the case

In the 2025.1 report, RACGP states that many candidates provided responses that were too vague or generic to score marks in the KFP or gave answers that repeated features already given in the stem. Just as in clinical practice, it’s important to give tailored management such as for management of symptoms or lifestyle advice. For example, in one case, RACGP stressed the importance of tailoring management to the case by considering whether actions needed to be taken urgently or not. Secondly, it is important to take into account ALL the information presented in the case. This was a common error reported in the 2025.1 KFP exam. For example, RACGP point out that in one case, some candidates wanted to administer analgesia, despite the stem specifically stating this had already been given. This again highlights the need to carefully read all the information given in the stem. This will remain an important consideration for the 2025.2 exam. 

5. Take into account the curriculum, including common medicolegal dilemmas

The RACGP stress that the KFP exam is designed to assess all core units of the RACGP curriculum and evidence-based guidelines, including organisational systems and professional conduct to ensure patient safety. Candidates should ensure they consider the core curriculum units and the medical practice Code of Conduct for doctors in Australia in their exam preparation and include them in their study plan.  

Medicolegal and ethical dilemmas are often presented in KFP exams and these questions are commonly done poorly, including in the 2025.1 exam. It will likely continue to be a common topic examined in the 2025.2 KFP exam. Consider some of the common medicolegal topics such as those in the articles from Avant, MDA National, MIGA, MIPS and TEGO to become more familiar with the scope of possible medicolegal issues that may arise in RACGP exams.  

Summary

The RACGP 2025.1 KFP report highlighted several common themes of errors that remain important to consider when preparing for the 2025.2 KFP exam. RACGP suggest:  

  • Candidates must answer the question in the context of the clinical scenario, using all the information provided.  
  • It is important to ensure that the answers selected in the 2025.2 KFP are relevant to the key features of the case presentation, including the age, gender, comorbidities and other information provided. 
  • Provide only the number of answer options requested; providing additional answers will result in a penalty to candidates’ overall score. 
  • Be specific in the answer options selected. Non-specific answer options may not score. 
  • Ensure that the answers selected are appropriate to, and address the severity and acuity of, illness within the case presentation, as well as the location of the patient encounter. 
  • Because the cases are all developed in line with current guidelines, it is important that candidates are aware of current clinical guidelines relevant to the provision of primary care in Australia at Fellowship level. 

Despite the changes in the KFP format, upcoming exam candidates will gain valuable insights from the KFP 2025.1 report around the types of questions presented, common errors made, and RACGP examiners’ expectations about candidates’ familiarity with important core topics in Australian general practice. 

Reference: 

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. (2025). Exam report 2025.1 KFP. East Melbourne, Vic: RACGP