Auzziemed Prep
Study Guides

About the AMC MCQ Examination

Understanding the structure, content, and requirements of the Australian Medical Council Multiple Choice Question examination.

9/28/2025 · 12 min read

Tags: AMC MCQ, EXAM STRUCTURE, STUDY GUIDE, EXAM REQUIREMENTS

The AMC MCQ Examination: Format, Scoring & Content Breakdown

The AMC MCQ examination (Australian Medical Council Multiple Choice Question exam) is a crucial step for international medical graduates seeking to practice in Australia. This AMC MCQ computer adaptive test (CAT) comprises 150 multiple-choice questions administered over 3.5 hours. The required pass mark is 250 out of 500, however, the exam is adaptive and the difficulty level of the questions will change based on the candidate's performance.

It is also important to note that:

  • Once a question has been answered, a candidate cannot go back to a previous question and change a response.
  • Marks will not be deducted for incorrect answers.

AMC MCQ Exam Overview

The MCQ examination is a test of the principles and practice of medicine in the fields of Adult Health - Medicine, Adult Health - Surgery, Women's Health - Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Child Health, Mental Health and Population Health & Ethics. The majority of the multiple-choice questions reflect 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 MCQ examination will test basic or essential knowledge and understanding of topics covered by the examination. Other questions will require higher-level cognitive skills and will test the candidate's ability to interpret clinical data and make diagnostic, investigative or management decisions. Questions may contain images of X-rays, electrocardiograms (ECGs), scans, clinical photographs and other visual material.

Structure and content of the MCQ Examination

At least half of the questions are taken from a pool of previously calibrated questions. The remainder of the questions are new questions, i.e., questions that have not previously been used in an AMC MCQ examination. These new questions and candidate responses are inspected and calibrated before being used for scoring.

The 150 questions are presented in the following way:

  • 30% Adult Health - Medicine field
  • 20% Adult Health - Surgery field
  • 12.5% Women's Health - Obstetrics & Gynaecology field
  • 12.5% Child Health field
  • 12.5% Mental Health field
  • 12.5% Population Health & Ethics field

Important Note: The AMC doesn't publish an exhaustive list of every condition. They test clinical reasoning, diagnosis, investigation, and management of common and critical conditions relevant to Australian practice, often integrating knowledge across disciplines. Here's a likely breakdown of subtopics:

Adult Health - Medicine and Surgery fields (50%)

These fields cover a broad spectrum of adult health and aged care, requiring a solid foundation in medical sciences (physiology, biochemistry, anatomy, pharmacology) and an understanding of pathobiology and pathophysiology. Questions assess developed clinical skills, including communication, history taking, physical examination, and counseling, as well as knowledge of treatment principles and familiarity with current management strategies.

Medicine (30%) includes:

  • Cardiology: Ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, hypertension, valvular disease, ECG interpretation
  • Respiratory: Asthma, COPD, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, lung cancer, tuberculosis
  • Gastroenterology: GORD, inflammatory bowel disease, GI bleeding, liver disease, pancreatitis
  • Endocrinology: Diabetes mellitus, thyroid disorders, adrenal disorders
  • Nephrology: Acute and chronic kidney injury, electrolyte disturbances
  • Neurology: Stroke, seizures, headache, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, dementia
  • Haematology: Anaemia, bleeding and clotting disorders

Surgery (20%) includes:

  • General Surgery: Acute abdomen, hernias, GI bleeding, colorectal cancer, trauma management
  • Orthopaedics: Fractures, dislocations, arthritis, joint conditions
  • Urology: BPH, renal calculi, urinary retention, urological cancers
  • Vascular: Peripheral arterial disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm
  • Pre & Post-operative Care: Assessment, fluid management, complications

Women's Health - Obstetrics & Gynaecology field (12.5%)

This field encompasses women's healthcare, including gynaecology and obstetrics, with an understanding of reproduction and the effects of pathobiology on pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postnatal period.

Obstetrics:

  • Antenatal care and routine screening
  • Medical conditions in pregnancy (diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders)
  • Early pregnancy complications (miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy)
  • Later pregnancy complications (pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, antepartum hemorrhage)
  • Labour, delivery, and postpartum care

Gynaecology:

  • Menstrual disorders and contraception
  • Pelvic pain (endometriosis, PID, ovarian cysts)
  • Sexually transmitted infections
  • Menopause and hormone replacement therapy
  • Gynaecological malignancies and screenings
  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome

Child Health field (12.5%)

This field focuses on developmental aspects of children's health from fetal development to adolescence, including growth, physical development, and intellectual development in both normal and abnormal contexts.

Key areas include:

  • Neonatology: Newborn assessment, jaundice, respiratory distress syndrome
  • Growth & Development: Developmental milestones, growth monitoring, failure to thrive
  • Common Illnesses: Fever assessment, respiratory infections, gastroenteritis, UTIs, asthma
  • Vaccinations: National Immunisation Program schedule
  • Emergencies: Recognition of the seriously ill child, seizures, anaphylaxis, non-accidental injury
  • Other Conditions: Constipation, reflux, food allergies, eczema

Mental Health field (12.5%)

This field involves the assessment, diagnosis, and management of psychological, behavioral, and mental disorders across all age groups based on bio-psychosocial and cognitive principles.

Key areas include:

  • Mood Disorders: Major depressive disorder, bipolar affective disorder
  • Anxiety Disorders: GAD, panic disorder, OCD, PTSD
  • Psychotic Disorders: Schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, brief psychotic disorder
  • Substance Use Disorders: Alcohol, opioid, stimulant use disorders
  • Other Disorders: Personality disorders, eating disorders, somatic symptom disorders
  • Assessment & Management: Mental state examination, suicide risk assessment, capacity assessment, psychopharmacology

Population Health & Ethics field (12.5%)

This field addresses population health strategies aimed at improving health of targeted populations and covers ethical and legal issues in healthcare practice.

Key areas include:

  • Epidemiology & Biostatistics: Study designs, disease frequency measures, screening tests, statistical concepts
  • Public Health: Prevention principles, national screening programs, immunisation, health promotion
  • Australian Healthcare System: Structure, Medicare, PBS, health professional roles
  • Specific Populations: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, rural health, refugee health
  • Medical Ethics & Law: Ethical principles, consent, confidentiality, end-of-life care, professionalism

Useful References

  • Official AMC Website
  • Official AMC Exam Specifications
  • Official AMC MCQ Examination Specifications (PDF)

Note: All information provided is based on official AMC documentation. Please refer to the official resources for the most up-to-date information.