GP Training Selection Criteria 2027 — What You Need to Know

The SJT is the only selection criterion

Since the 2025 intake, the GP Situational Judgement Test (SJT) has been the sole selection criterion for entry into AGPT training through both the RACGP and ACRRM. This represents a fundamental shift from the previous multi-component system that included structured interviews, portfolio assessments, referee reports, and academic transcripts.

The rationale behind the change was to create a fairer, more standardised selection process. The previous system was criticised for favouring candidates with access to interview coaching, polished CVs, and professional networks — factors that correlate more with socioeconomic advantage than with the qualities that make a good GP. The SJT aims to assess the personal and professional characteristics that predict success in general practice, independent of background.

How the SJT is scored

Understanding the scoring system helps you focus your preparation on what actually matters. Here is how the process works from your test sitting to your final ranking:

Individual question scoring

The SJT consists of 11 scenarios with 22 questions total (2 questions per scenario). Each of your 22 responses is scored independently by a different human rater. No single rater sees more than one of your answers. Raters assign a quartile score from Q1 (bottom 25%) to Q4 (top 25%) based on a holistic assessment of your response against the competency framework.

Raters are trained assessors — typically practising GPs, medical educators, or professionals with expertise in communication and interpersonal skills. They review 40–70 responses per hour and form their impression quickly, which is why your opening sentence carries disproportionate weight. For strategies on maximising your impact within the time constraint, read our typed response strategy guide.

Aggregate score and ranking

Your 22 individual quartile scores are aggregated into an overall score. The exact aggregation method is not publicly disclosed, but it functions as a weighted average of your quartile placements across all questions. This aggregate score is used to rank all candidates who sat the assessment in a given year.

Importantly, your ranking is relative — it depends not just on how well you performed, but on how well everyone else performed. A strong cohort raises the bar. This is why consistent Q3–Q4 performance across all 22 questions matters more than achieving Q4 on some questions while scoring Q1–Q2 on others.

How places are allocated

Once all candidates have been scored and ranked, the allocation process matches candidates to training positions based on two factors: your SJT ranking and your stated training region and pathway preferences.

1. Submit preferences — after receiving your SJT results, you rank your preferred training regions (and, if applicable, RACGP vs ACRRM pathways) in order of preference
2. Score-based matching — candidates are matched to positions in order of their SJT ranking. The highest-ranked candidate gets their first preference, then the next highest, and so on
3. Offer rounds — offers are made in waves. If a candidate declines an offer or does not respond, their place goes to the next candidate on the waitlist
4. Waitlist — candidates who are not offered a place in the initial rounds remain on a waitlist. Offers can continue rolling out through the start of the training year as positions become available

This preference-matching system means that a slightly lower SJT score does not necessarily exclude you from training — it may simply mean you receive your second or third preference rather than your first. Less competitive training regions (typically those in rural or remote areas) are more accessible to candidates lower in the ranking.

Eligibility requirements

Eligibility is assessed before you are permitted to book your SJT sitting. The requirements are deliberately straightforward — the AGPT program aims to be accessible to any doctor who meets the baseline criteria:

• General registration with AHPRA, or eligibility for general registration by the training commencement date
• Postgraduate experience — minimum PGY2 (completed internship) by the training start date
• AMC certification — international medical graduates must hold AMC certification or be on the competent authority pathway
• Working rights — unrestricted right to work in Australia for the duration of training (or a visa that permits it)
• No existing fellowship — candidates who already hold FRACGP are generally ineligible for RACGP AGPT (and similarly for FACRRM and ACRRM AGPT), with some exceptions for cross-college pathways

If you are uncertain about your eligibility, contact the RACGP or ACRRM training teams directly. Edge cases (part-time internship, interrupted training, overseas qualifications) are assessed on a case-by-case basis. For the full application process, see our AGPT 2027 application guide.

How this compares to the old system

If you applied for AGPT before 2025, the current system will feel radically different. Here is how the selection criteria have changed:

The new system is simpler and arguably fairer, but it places enormous weight on a single assessment. Candidates who previously relied on strong CVs, interview skills, or professional networks now need to demonstrate their qualities entirely through the SJT. This is why targeted preparation matters — your SJT performance is quite literally the only thing that determines whether you get into GP training.

What if you do not get an offer?

Approximately 37% of candidates do not receive an offer in any given cycle. If this happens to you, there are several important things to know:

• Waitlists are active — places become available throughout the allocation period and into the early months of the training year as other candidates decline offers or defer. Remaining on the waitlist is worthwhile
• No penalty for reapplying — only your most recent SJT score is used. There is no record of previous attempts and no stigma attached to reapplication
• Most candidates improve — with targeted preparation addressing specific weaknesses, the majority of reapplying candidates improve their SJT score significantly
• Alternative pathways exist — ACRRM RGTS places, non-training registrar positions, and other entry points into GP training are available. Missing out on AGPT does not mean the end of your GP career aspirations

For a detailed action plan after an unsuccessful application, read our guide on what to do if you did not get into GP training. It covers emotional support, practical next steps, and a preparation timeline for your next attempt.

Preparing for success

Given that the SJT is the sole selection criterion, your preparation strategy should be focused and deliberate. The most effective approach combines understanding the assessment framework with extensive timed practice and reflective review. Start by understanding what separates a Q4 answer from a Q2 answer, then work through practice scenarios under timed conditions.

Our comprehensive preparation guide provides a step-by-step strategy covering format familiarisation, competency development, typing speed improvement, and structured practice schedules. Whether you have 8 weeks or 2 weeks before your sitting, there is a preparation approach that fits your timeline.