Candidates often share condensed revision summaries, sometimes called “keys and gems”, and lists of questions people remember after the exam, called “recalls”. They are very popular, and they carry real risk.
Revision notes and summaries
- Summaries can be a fast way to review, but you do not know who wrote them, when, or whether they are right.
- Check every clinical statement against NICE and the BNF before you learn it.
- Do not download notes from unofficial sites: files can contain malware, and copying paid material may breach copyright.
- The best notes are the ones you write from the guidelines. See the guidelines to learn.
Past recalls
Recalls are also unreliable: they are incomplete, often wrong and quickly out of date.
Safe alternatives that work
| Instead of | Use |
|---|---|
| Recalled questions | The GMC’s own sample and specimen questions |
| Unknown PDF summaries | Your own notes from high-yield topics |
| Guessing your level | Timed mock exams in a question bank or an SBA book |
Plan mocks into your study plan: one full 180-question, three-hour mock every one to two weeks in the final month.
Related guides
General education, reviewed 24 October 2026. Guidance changes: confirm with the official sources. Not medical, legal or immigration advice.