AMC Exam Syllabus Breakdown syllabus page
The Australian Medical Council (AMC) exam is for international medical graduates who wish to practice in Australia. This exam consists of two parts-
- AMC 1(CAT MCQ)
- AMC 2 (Clinical)
Passing these two exams means IMGs can register with the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) and become registered doctors.
About AMC MCQ Examination
The AMC MCQ examination is conducted as a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) and consists of 150 multiple-choice questions that are administered over 3.5 hours. At least 50% of the questions will be obtained from a pool of previously calibrated questions. The remaining questions will be fresh ones that have not appeared in the previous AMC MCQ examinations.
There will be five choices with one correct answer. The questions revolve around essential medical knowledge, including areas like the disease process, clinical examination and diagnosis, investigation, therapy, and management. The candidates are supposed to answer all 150 questions.
AMC CAT MCQ Structure
The MCQ examination operates as a pass/fail examination, with the pass mark set at the level of knowledge required by Australian medical schools for their final-year graduates.
AMC CAT MCQ Format
| Category | Details |
| Total Questions | 150 MCQs |
| Duration | 3.5 hours (single session) |
| Format | Computer-based (not available in paper format) |
| Question Type | A-type (each question or incomplete statement is followed by five suggested answers – A, B, C, D, E. The candidate must select the best response) |
| Scoring | No negative marking for incorrect answers |
What Does The AMC Exam Syllabus Include?
The MCQ examination is a comprehensive examination of applied medical knowledge and practice. The syllabus for this examination includes adult health (medicine and surgery), women’s health, child health, mental health, and population health.
The 150 MCQs selected for this examination are weighed in the following manner.
Adult Health (Medicine) – 30%
Adult Health (Surgery) – 20%
Women’s Health (Obs, Gyn) – 12.5%
Child Health – 12.5%
Mental Health – 12.5%
Population Health – 12.5%
The majority of the multiple choice questions are common clinical conditions in the Australian community. In order to achieve a satisfactory level of performance, a candidate will require a knowledge of:
- Pathogenesis
- Clinical features
- Investigative findings
- Differential diagnosis
- Management and treatment
Some questions in the AMC MCQ examination will test basic or essential knowledge and understanding of topics. Other questions will require more insight and will test the candidate’s capacity to distinguish between the correct diagnosis and plausible alternatives. Questions may contain images of
- X-rays
- Electrocardiograms (ECGs)
- Scans
- Clinical photographs
- Other visual material.
In general, the MCQ examination will test a candidate’s capacity for reasoning rather than rote learning. The MCQ examination includes questions that are regarded as critical to the safety or clinical outcome or threat to life for the patient or are based upon important common conditions and one of:
- Related to life-threatening illness; or
- Critical to safe practice (includes professionalism); or
- Successful clinical outcome or
- Important aspects of public health
AMC Clinical Examination
Examination Structure
The AMC Clinical Examination consists of 16 assessed stations and 4 rest stations. Candidates rotate through these stations, performing various clinical tasks.
Each station lasts 10 minutes, with:
- 2 minutes for reading the scenario
- 8 minutes for assessment
Assessments may involve simulated patients, video cases, charts, digital images, or photographs.
Assessment Areas
Stations evaluate clinical skills across medical, surgical, women’s health, paediatrics, and mental health in both hospital and community settings. Each station focuses on one of four key areas:
- History Taking
- Physical Examination
- Diagnostic Formulation
- Management, Counselling & Education
Preparation Strategies for the AMC Exam
- Study standard clinical textbooks and guidelines to build foundational knowledge.
- Practice case-based scenarios to improve decision-making and clinical reasoning.
- Stay updated with Australian healthcare regulations and ethical standards.
- Review real-world patient cases and diagnostic approaches for practical understanding.
- Use official study materials and sample cases to familiarize yourself with exam expectations.
- Review the Clinical Examination Specifications to understand the format, content, and required knowledge.
- Watch the Candidate Briefing Video for insights into the exam structure.
- Go through the suggested reading list to cover essential topics.
Additional Tips
- The AMC Clinical Examination evaluates both theoretical knowledge and its practical application in real-world scenarios.
- Strong clinical reasoning and decision-making skills are essential for success.
- Time management is crucial, as stations require quick interpretation of patient cases, medical data, and effective communication. Consistent focus is required on history-taking, examination, diagnosis, and management.
