Are you a medical graduate looking to practice in Australia and wondering how to prepare for the Australian Medical Council (AMC) exams? In that case, this article is for you! This exam assesses your knowledge of the theoretical and practical aspects of medicine. In this article, you’ll find detailed steps that will aid your study and help ensure that you ace the exams.
The AMC exam is divided into two sections: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and the Clinical Examination. Each aspect is different from the other and, therefore, requires a different approach. We will discuss in detail the different ways to approach studying for each aspect.
Multiple Choice Questions
This part is called the Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) because it is computer-based and tailored to each candidate. It consists of 150 questions that must be completed in 3.5 hours. The questions cover important medical knowledge such as:
- Disease Processes
- Clinical Examination and Diagnosis
- Investigation, Therapy, and Management.
Additionally, the following fields are covered:
- Adult Health (Medicine and Surgery)
- Women’s Health (Obstetrics and Gynaecology)
- Child Health
- Mental Health
- Population Health and Ethics.
Some questions will also require you to identify X-rays, ECGs, scans, clinical photographs, etc.
Now, let’s talk about some steps you can take when studying for these daunting MCQs.
Step I: Find Resources
For this exam, there are some texts recommended by the council, which can be found on their website or in the examination specifications. These will help guide you on what to read for specific topics. It is essential to read through the council’s document on examination specifications, as it will familiarize you with the exam’s format.
Step II: Practice Questions
For the MCQs, the council gets 50% of the questions from a pool of past questions, so ensure you get questions from past years and practice them as much as possible. By the time the exam rolls around, you’ll find that you can recall a lot of these questions and their answers without a second thought.
Step III: Time Yourself
All 150 questions are expected to be answered within the 3.5 hours of the stipulated time, so you need to practice the amount of time you spend on each question. When going through the past questions, set a timer with increasing levels of difficulty as you progress. This will help you get quicker and more accurate with your answers. You need to be able to finish all the questions with enough time to go over them at least twice before submission.
Step IV: Active Recall
When you’re taking a break from studying or doing some chores, try to recall some of the questions you’ve previously practiced or a topic you’ve studied. If you find it difficult to remember, it shows you need to pay more attention to that topic or go back to it.
Step V: Allocate Different Study Times to Each Field
All the fields in this exam have a different percentage of questions. For example, 30% of the questions will be from the Medicine field, 20% from the Surgery field, and so on. This means that when you’re studying, you will need to pay more attention to certain fields over others, e.g., the Medicine field will require the most attention.
Clinical Examination
Once you have passed your MCQs, the next step is the Clinical Examination, where you’ll be tested on:
- History Taking
- Examination
- Diagnostic Formulation
- Management/Counseling.
You can see it is a completely different ballgame from the MCQs.
During the exam, you will rotate through 16 stations for 10 minutes each, in which you will be provided with scenarios that test your knowledge of one or more of the areas mentioned above. You will have 2 minutes to read the questions and strategize how to handle the scenario. Then, you’ll be expected to provide an answer within the next 8 minutes.
Let’s discuss some steps you can use to study for this aspect.
Step I: Find Resources
For this part of the examination, it is recommended that you use medical journals that contain information relevant to the areas where you will be tested.
Step II: Seek Help
If you have access to experienced medical professionals, ask for their help in creating hypothetical scenarios where you can brush up on your knowledge of all the categories. If that’s not possible, you can look up these scenarios on the internet. It also helps to practice with a friend.
Step III: Time Yourself
As you will only have 10 minutes for each question, out of which you have 2 minutes to read and strategize, you will need to practice going through these scenarios with a timer. This will help you learn proper time allocation, and just like with the MCQs, you can progress to varying levels of difficulty, so you will have enough time for cross-checking if possible. The more familiar you are with working under a time constraint, the more composed you will be when there are examiners in the room.
Step IV: Active Recall
You will also need this step for this aspect of the exam because it helps with your memory and quick thinking, which will be essential when taking this part of the test.
General Tips
These tips apply to both MCQs and the Clinical exams:
- Start preparing for the exam early to reduce the amount of stress you’ll be under.
- Give more time to the areas where you are weakest.
- Make sure to take breaks between study sessions.
- Eat well and stay hydrated during the preparation period and before the examination, so your body has enough energy to get through the tedious process.
- As much as possible, minimize the use of stimulants, e.g., coffee, which may impair your focus and performance on the day of the examination.
- Get enough rest the day before the examination so you will be well-rested and alert.
- Make sure to arrive at the examination venue early so you’re well-settled before the exam begins.
- Read through all the instructions carefully before you begin the exam.
- Do not spend too much time on one question; remember to allocate your time properly.
Conclusion
Passing this examination is an attainable goal once you have put in the time, hard work, and dedication. Don’t focus on the obstacles you may encounter; just remain focused on your goal, and your chances of succeeding are very high. Stick to your study plan, and in no time, you will be a medical professional in Australia. Don’t forget that sites like Qbank have resources that can make your preparation journey seamless. Good luck!