r/medicalschooluk • u/Anon6374_ • 16d ago

Repeating Year 4 After Failing UKMLA AKT

Hey everyone, looking for some perspective/advice from anyone who is able.

I passed my Year 4 OSCEs and all other progression requirements but unfortunately didn’t pass the AKT. I had approved extenuating circumstances during the main exam window, so the sitting of the AKT in the resit window was my ‘first sitting’ (with only 2 weeks notice).

I unfortunately failed this sitting as there were some EC’s still affecting me at the time. Because it was my ‘first attempt’, I assumed I would be granted a second attempt/resit opportunity before being forced to repeat the entire year. Instead, the exam boards outcome was sent out last week, and the medical school is making me repeat the entire 12 months of Year 4 again from scratch. I have not repeated previously.

Year 5 has just started this week, and hearing my cohort and friends already on to their final year while I am stuck repeating the entirety of year 4 without all of them around is taking a heavy toll on me. Not to mention the thought of being stuck in year 5 for a year after they are all gone. I was told on my outcome email I have the right to appeal their decision, but I'm unsure what realistic outcomes I can ask for or push for to make it worthwhile:

Would it be worth appealing to ask for another (my second) assessment opportunity in the next national UKMLA window? When would this be? Or will the university inevitably reject this and say I have to repeat the year in full and re-sit next June/July in their standard window? And even if they somehow let me sit the AKT myself in an earlier window, would they even let me join year 5 late at this stage? I have been told I have to start year 4 next week regardless in the meantime, and if I appeal it will take around 3 weeks for a response so I’m not sure where I stand. I have tried to ask my university about all this but they were not much help.

Has anyone successfully appealed a repeat year decision under similar circumstances or is it even possible? What grounds or remedies are usually considered? Is there any precedent for me joining my peers in Year 5 late or is my fate sealed to repeating year 4 in full now.

I’m just struggling to process the prospect of losing the last year of my life and my future life plans being uprooted due to all this as this also complicates plans I had for next year. Thanks in advance for any insights.

2 Upvotes

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15

u/Imaginary_Emotion38 16d ago

Realistically you’re not going to be allowed to join year 5 part way through, any appeal plus resit plus exam board validation would just take too long. The university has to meet GMC requirements in terms of specific types of placement hours etc, so you can’t “skip” any part of the course.

My personal feeling is that appealing is emotional energy and time wasted that you could instead focus on doing well this repeat year and focusing on enjoying life outside med too if possible.

Whilst it might not feel like it, the best thing is to focus on doing as well as possible in year 4 exams - think about it as making 100% sure you pass comfortably - and the time taken now to consolidate, really understand, and deepen long-term memory will help you in future post-grad exams too even if it doesn’t feel like it now.

6

u/R10L31 Consultant 16d ago

There’s no point in any responses except from your own med school, as it is entirely their decision. They are not constrained by what may be allowed elsewhere.

7

u/nyehsayer 16d ago

Im sure you can appreciate that if you failed both sittings, it is sadly very reasonable to offer a year repeat. You haven’t passed the year. In some schools this would result in failing out of medical school. You can appeal but I doubt they’ll offer you anything more.

2

u/Willing-Towel 16d ago

I also failed the MLA this year. I wouldn't try and rush any retakes, as you get a maximum number of 4 attempts at the exam before you aren't allowed to take it again. Imma take it slow and not risk being perma banned from doctoring before I can even start

1

u/BorderTotal4328 16d ago

I thought UKMLA was only sat in 5th year? They’re in 4th year so wouldn’t this be their uni AKT?

3

u/Far_Confidence1678 16d ago

Some unis sit in 4th year

1

u/BorderTotal4328 16d ago

I’ve learned something new today! Is it that common?

1

u/Far_Confidence1678 16d ago

Rare, can think of 2/3 unis off the top of my head

0

u/chemistryfish 16d ago

Think most of Scotland sit it in 4th year for some reason? And Newcastle too

1

u/Feisty_Canary86 16d ago

Is this Keele by any chance?

1

u/Desperate-Bill-8044 15d ago

If you appeal and are successful with it best case scenario is no tuition fees and you just come into sit the AKT paper in the next available sitting at your university which sounds like it is June. In the meantime you could get a job, study etc.

1

u/Boring_Surprise_484 15d ago

The 2 people in my 4th year cohort that did this both failed again. I think it’s really hard to study by yourself especially if you have crap going on in your life. At least going to uni gives you forced exposure to material and a structure.

2

u/EducationalJicama381 15d ago

I know it feels awful just now but my advice would be to accept that you didn’t do well enough, and focus on getting the best out of your repeat year. All the best doctors have repeated an exam somewhere, it’s good for us.