RACGP KFP Exam – Tips from RACGP

Tips for answering KFP questions

Read the scenario carefully – key information is often at the end of sentences and can be easily missed.

Look at context– are you in a rural clinic, an emergency department, a city clinic? Is it after hours or on a weekend? If it is not stated, you can assume you’re in a metropolitan general practice.

Look at patient characteristics, such as age, gender, occupation, ethnicity, risk factors, past medical history, medications, substance use. Characteristics that are not stated can be assumed to be not relevant, for example, if smoking status isn’t given, you can assume the patient is a non-smoker.

Consider the key features of the scenario. All information is there for a reason; take note of positives and significant negatives.

Read the question/lead-in carefully

  • What are you being asked to do (i.e. the action)?
  • What are the qualifiers ie MOST important diagnosis (cancer/sepsis) is different from MOST likely?  
  • You may be being asked for the most appropriate diagnosis, investigation, or initial management?
  • Don’t look at the answers yet!

Create a 1–2 line problem representation in medical language from the scenario. It should include time course, key features, signs and symptoms, risk factors.

  • If this is a diagnostic case, write a differential diagnosis.
  • If this is a management case, write a problem list.

Consider the common mistakes in answering:

  1. Have you been specific?
    1. Vague responses that could have been written by a lay person, such as ‘reassurance’, ‘explanation’, ‘follow up’ are unlikely to receive marks.
    2. Name the specific abnormal finding you are looking for on examination. For example, presence of hypotension, fever of over 38°C.
    3. Follow-up instructions should be clear, indicating the timing and reason for follow-up to demonstrate specificity.
  2. Does your response match the information in the scenario?
    1. Don’t assume information that isn’t provided, and conversely,
    2. Do assume that the information given is true.
  3. Does your response answer the question asked?
    1. If you’re asked for symptoms, don’t provide signs;
    2. If asked for non-pharmacological management, don’t provide pharmacological options.
  4. Have you avoided over coding, that is, giving too many answers?
    1. If you’re asked for four investigations, don’t give six!
    2. If giving an example, only ever give one.
  5. Have you avoided giving responses that consist of information provided in the scenario?
  6. Have you avoided abbreviations?
  7. Check that your response relates to the key information in the scenario and answers the question asked.

Review the AKT and KFP Exam resources screen for more helpful information, including:

  1. ‘How to prepare for the KFP exam’, which can be found in the AKT and KFP guide.
  2. Common errors in answering questions are included in the KFP public exam reports.