Cranial nerve questions in the AKT are about more than remembering which nerve does what.

These 10 questions focus on

• interpreting clinical findings,

• identifying the most likely underlying cause

• and deciding what needs to happen next.

They cover common and important presentations including diplopia, facial weakness, facial pain, visual field abnormalities, hearing loss, anosmia, bulbar symptoms and multiple cranial nerve abnormalities.

Test your knowledge

Work through each question and choose your answer. Once you’ve answered, the explanation will be revealed. The aim is not simply to get the answer right, but to recognise the clinical clues that should influence your diagnosis or management.

Keep going

Cranial nerve findings become much easier when you move beyond trying to memorise twelve separate nerves.

Think: What is the pattern? → What could cause it? → Why does it matter? → What do I need to do?

These are original GP Fluency learning questions designed to support applied clinical learning and AKT preparation. They are not recalled MRCGP examination questions and are not produced or endorsed by the RCGP.