The AMC CAT MCQ Exam/Computer Adaptive Test is a computer-administered fully integrated multi-choice question examination delivered in one 3.5-hour session in examination centres worldwide.
The examination consists of 150 A-type MCQs (one correct response from five options)
It focuses on essential medical knowledge involving understanding of the disease process; clinical examination and diagnosis; and investigation, therapy and management.
You are expected to complete all 150 items.
Failure to complete all 150 scored items in the examination may lead to insufficient information for a reliable determination of your ability and therefore a result on the AMC adaptive scale.
The examination result is recorded as ‘Fail —Insufficient data to obtain result’.
The content blueprint (the number of questions on each patient group) for the examination is as follows:
PATIENT GROUPS
AMC CAT MCQ BLUEPRINT
Adult Health (Medicine)
Adult Health (Surgery)
Women’s Health(Obs)(Gyn)
Child Health
Mental Health
Population Health
TOTAL
ITEM TOTALS
30%
20%
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
12.5%
150
The MCQ Examination Specifications booklet gives more information on the computer adaptive testing (CAT) blueprint and format.
MCQ application and scheduling process summary
How to apply for the MCQ examination
You apply to the AMC for authorisation to schedule for a MCQ examination event, either online or by requesting a paper form. You will be issued with a 12-month authorisation to schedule for one MCQ examination event covered in that 12-month period.
Request a MCQ Examination Form via our Contact Form.
Download the step-by-step guide on how to apply for the AMC MCQ Examination (PDF 328 kb).
Access to AMC computer-administered examinations
The AMC computer-administered MCQ examination is delivered in Australia and in authorised centres internationally by the computer vendor—Pearson VUE. As a United States–registered company, Pearson VUE must comply with the economic and trade sanctions administered and enforced by the United States Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
A number of countries are subject to economic and trade sanctions administered and enforced by OFAC. Residents from these sanctioned countries are in some cases not allowed to schedule or sit for the AMC MCQ examination unless they can provide proof of primary residency in a non-sanctioned country.
For the latest information, please refer to theOFAC website.
MCQ examination preparation
The AMC has produced several publications, not only to assist international medical graduates to prepare for the AMC examinations, but also as an essential tool for clinical practice.
You can purchase AMC textbooks from our online store and view other helpful publications in the suggested reading list.
As part of your preparation for the MCQ examination, you should:
The MCQ Trial Examination includes a selection of 50 multiple-choice questions from theHandbook of Multiple Choice Questions. The standard of the examination is set at the level of a graduating Australian medical student.
The AMC is developing new software to improve the current online MCQ Trial Examination.
During this development period, the AMC is waiving the fee of $25 for the online MCQ Trial Examination and making the trial free.
When completed, features of the new system will include:
Inclusion of new questions with frequent updates
Improved feedback to users following answer selection
The ability to access the Trial Examination using mobile devices
Further information regarding the implementation of the new system will be notified on the AMC website when available.
The AMC hopes the initiative of making the current online MCQ Trial Examination free, and developing improved trial examination software will be of benefit to AMC candidates and other users.
The requirements for the MCQ Trial Examination are:
You must complete this examination within 83 minutes allocated
You cannot close the browser window once you begin
You cannot pause the examination process once you begin.
Standard secondary ID documents (signature) include:
credit card, bank/ATM card
US social security card
any primary ID as listed above.
Both your primary and secondary ID documents must contain your signature and your primary ID document must also contain your photograph.
You will be required to present your ID documentation at reception. Failure to do so may result in your being denied entry to the examination.
You must complete the biometrics process to confirm your identification. You will not be allowed in the examination room until the process is complete. The biometrics procedure steps are:
You provide the required primary and secondary ID documentation.
Testing centre staff check your ID documentation.
Testing centre staff capture your signature and verify that signatures match.
Testing centre staff capture your photograph.
Testing centre staff usher you to examination room.
You need to have your primary and secondary ID documentation with you when seated at a computer to be admitted to the examination.
The AMC no longer issues ID entrance tickets to candidates. All candidates must complete the biometrics process to confirm their identification.
MCQ examination venues
Pearson VUE conduct the CAT MCQ examination on behalf of the Australian Medical Council (AMC). AMC CAT MCQ examination events are held at various venues in Australia and other countries. The Pearson VUE test centres which administer AMC CAT MCQ examinations have been selected based on the high security standards which are enforced.
Please see attached link for a list of examination venues.
At all venues, candidates must arrive at least 30 minutes before the appointment time.
MCQ examination results
To align with the Clinical examination, the AMC has been working on the process to allow candidates to download their AMC CAT MCQ Examination results by logging onto their AMC candidate account.
Candidate results will be available to download at 9.00am on the Thursday, four weeks following the AMC CAT MCQ Examination. This enhanced process has been designed to eliminate paper and manual processing and allows candidates to receive their results more promptly. This process also applies to candidates’ results from previous AMC CAT MCQ Examinations issued from February 2011. For results issued prior to February 2011, candidates will still need to request it by using the Request for Duplicate Copy ofResults form as this process requires retrieval from the AMCs archive system.
As of November 2020, AMC candidates will be able to download results via their AMC candidate account once they have been released four weeks following the AMC CAT MCQ Examination, with the following instructions:
Log onto your AMC candidate account
Select MCQ Results (at the top of the menu list)
Select the examination under the Details column
Please note: The candidate numbers of all candidates who obtained a pass in the AMC CAT MCQ Examination event will no longer be published on the AMC website.
The AMC CAT MCQ Examination results are processed and issued by the AMC, not Pearson VUE.
Should you have any questions please contact the AMC MCQ Team.
Discussion about this post