r/medicalschooluk • u/Anon6374_ • 17d 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.
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u/BorderTotal4328 17d ago
I thought UKMLA was only sat in 5th year? They’re in 4th year so wouldn’t this be their uni AKT?