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Australia Medical License Exam – What Every Med Student Should Know

Australia Medical License Exam

If you want to practice medicine in Australia, you must first pass an extensive and rigorous examination. This exam, known as the AMC CAT, or Australian Medical Council Computer Adaptive Test, is incredibly difficult, but you must pass it to receive your licensure. Below are some of the most important facts all medical students need to know about the AMC CAT.

It Tests Your Knowledge in All Categories

The AMC CAT consists of multiple choice questions that are designed to help test how much you know about the principles and practice of medicine. It covers a wide range of categories, including general practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology. These are incredibly broad categories, and there’s a lot to cover in each one. It takes most students a long time to adequately prepare.

There’s a Clinical Exam or Workplace-Based Assessment, Too

There’s more to passing the AMC exam than the AMC CAT examination you will take on a computer. You will also need to pass the AMC Clinical Exam or the AMC Workplace-Based Assessment, which tests your knowledge and ability in a real-world environment. You cannot participate in either of these until you have successfully passed the AMC CAT. Either is acceptable, but you must apply for a WBA program directly through a provider that offers it.

You Can Find a Trial Exam on the AMC’s Website

Though you can utilize AMC CAT qbank questions to create your own mock exams as a study guide, the Australian Medical Council makes an actual trial examination available through its website. This trial exam is identical to the actual test you will take, but it asks different questions at random. Your ability to pass the trial AMC CAT within the given time limit is a good indicator of your readiness to sit for the actual exam and pass. There is a fee to take the trial exam, but there are no limits on the number of times you can take it.

It is a Pass/Fail Exam

Like most other medical licensing examinations around the world, the AMC CAT exam operates on a pass/fail basis. You will be given the ability to participate in a Clinical Exam or Workplace-Based Assessment if you can pass the CAT portion of the exam, and if you fail, you will need to retake the exam according to the AMC’s guidelines. The exam consists of 150 standard MCQs, and of these, only 120 are scored. Your performance will be measured on a scale from zero to 500 with each question weighted individually, and the pass mark is set at 250.

You Can Take the Exam Again if You Fail

It is important to note that not all students who take the AMC CAT exam pass the first time. If you are one of these students, you have the option to retake the test as soon as you have received your results from your original examination. You will need to reapply for the next available exam, and you will need to pay the exam fees a second time, as well. Unlike licensing exams in other parts of the world, you can continue to pay for and sit for the AMC CAT as many times as you wish until you have passed.

The AMC CAT is a difficult test, and it’s only the first step toward getting your license to practice medicine in Australia. However, there are numerous study materials available to you, and if you study wisely and use those resources, you can absolutely pass with flying colors on your very first attempt.

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Tips on How to Pass the AMC CAT Examination

The Australian Medical Council Computer Adaptive Test, or AMC CAT, is one of the most difficult examinations any aspiring doctor will ever take. The exam consists of 150 tough multiple-choice questions administered over the course of three and a half hours. Students often start preparing months or even a year in advance to give themselves an advantage. The following tips are those that come most recommended from those who have passed.

Start Studying Early & Access the AMC’s Preparation Info

By far, the best advice for passing the AMC CAT involves preparing early on – up to a year in advance of the exam itself. The Australian Medical Council has produced some publications to help you better understand the process and the best ways to prepare, and the earlier you access these, the better off you will be. The AMC even provides its own MCQ Online Trial Examination designed to help you familiarize yourself with the question and exam format.

Stay Healthy

Medical students work very hard during their time in university and medical school, and many simply forget to take care of themselves along the way. It is absolutely vital that you remember to eat a balanced, healthy diet, to stay hydrated at all times, and to get at least seven or eight hours of sleep eat night. Remember that you need to be healthy and rested in order to retain information, so taking care of yourself is important.

Utilize a Variety of Study Methods

Another important tip directly from those who have successfully completed the AMC CAT involves utilizing numerous different study methods over the course of several months. For example, reading textbooks and taking notes is important, but it simply isn’t enough to help you retain all the information you need. Be sure to group up with other students to quiz each other, make yourself some flash cards for terminology, and access an online study tool, such as CanadaQBank, to put your knowledge to the test regularly. Studying via all these different formats will help you retain more information over time than using any one of them alone.

Take Recall Exams

Finally, one of the most popular means of preparing for the AMC CAT examination involves taking recall exams from the last several years. These are available from the Australian Medical Council, and they provide you with the absolute best opportunity to truly familiarize yourself with the exam format and the types of questions you will be asked. Dedicating several hours each week to this will benefit you. Aim to take the last five years’ worth of exams, and if you can, perhaps even the last 10.

Passing the AMC CAT examination is about preparing early on, studying in the right ways, and taking care of yourself and your health throughout the process. Though it is a very difficult examination, it is possible to pass on your very first attempt if you dedicate your time and energy to learning as much as you possibly can during your classroom studies, labs, clinicals, and study sessions.