How many questions are on the AMC MCQ exam?

AMC MCQ contains 150 A-type single-best-answer multiple-choice questions delivered in a single computer-based session lasting 3.5 hours. All questions are scored; there are no pilot/unscored items disclosed to the candidate.

How is the AMC MCQ pass mark determined?

The AMC uses a modified Angoff standard-setting process. A panel of expert clinicians estimates the probability that a borderline-competent intern would answer each question correctly. The aggregated estimate becomes the criterion-referenced cut score, so the pass mark is fixed by content difficulty rather than by candidate ranking.

What subjects are covered in AMC MCQ?

AMC MCQ covers internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, psychiatry, general practice, emergency medicine, and population/preventive health. Approximately 25% of items have a population-health or RACGP preventive-care emphasis, which catches many IMGs trained in tertiary-only systems.

How long should I study for AMC MCQ?

Most successful candidates spend 4 to 8 months on focused preparation, completing 3,000 or more practice MCQs. Candidates with recent clinical exposure to Australian primary care often pass in the lower end of that range; those who have been out of clinical practice for over two years should plan for 8 months or longer.

What is the AMC MCQ pass rate?

Reported pass rates vary by sitting but typically fall between 50% and 70%. First-attempt candidates from non-English primary medical programmes have lower pass rates than UK or US-trained IMGs, largely because of unfamiliarity with Australian therapeutic guidelines.

Can I retake AMC MCQ if I fail?

Yes. There is no formal cap on the number of attempts, and resits can be scheduled at the next available test window (typically every 2 to 3 months). The AMC encourages candidates who fail to use their score report to identify weak topic areas before re-sitting.

Is AMC MCQ a computer adaptive test?

Despite the name 'CAT', AMC MCQ is not currently item-adaptive in the same way as the GRE. All candidates see 150 fixed-form items in a single session. The 'CAT' label is retained for historical/branding consistency with the AMC's computerised testing platform.

AMC MCQ Deep Dive · Updated 2026

AMC MCQ: The Complete MCQ Exam Guide for IMGs

Format, syllabus weighting, sample question patterns, Angoff pass-mark logic, an 8-month study schedule, and the most common pitfalls that sink first-time candidates.

What is AMC MCQ?

AMC MCQ is the Australian Medical Council's computer-based multiple-choice examination — the first of two assessments International Medical Graduates (IMGs) must clear to obtain general medical registration with the Medical Board of Australia (via AHPRA). It tests whether a doctor trained outside Australia and New Zealand has the medical knowledge of an Australian intern at the start of postgraduate year one (PGY1).

AMC MCQ is a knowledge gate. Passing it unlocks the right to sit AMC Handbook AI RolePlay (the clinical/MCAT exam), which assesses applied clinical performance.

Exam format at a glance

Questions: 150 A-type single-best-answer MCQs.
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes (210 minutes), no scheduled breaks. Average 84 seconds per item.
Delivery: Computer-based at Pearson VUE test centres globally, or via remote proctoring where available.
Scoring: One mark per correct answer; no negative marking.
Result release: Approximately 4 to 6 weeks after the test window closes.
Cost (2026): Approximately AUD 2,690. Refer to amc.org.au for current published fees.

Syllabus and weighting

The AMC blueprint distributes items across the disciplines an Australian intern is expected to handle on day one. Approximate weightings published in the AMC Handbook of Multiple Choice Questions are:

Internal medicine: ~25% — cardiology, respiratory, endocrine, gastroenterology, nephrology, haematology, neurology, rheumatology, infectious diseases, geriatrics.
Surgery: ~15% — general surgery, orthopaedics, urology, ENT, ophthalmology, peri-operative care.
Paediatrics: ~10% — neonatal, infectious, developmental, immunisation, child protection.
Obstetrics & Gynaecology: ~10% — antenatal care, labour, postpartum, contraception, screening.
Psychiatry: ~10% — mood, psychosis, suicide risk, substance use, perinatal mental health.
General practice / population health: ~25% — preventive screening (RACGP Red Book), chronic disease management, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health, cultural safety.
Emergency medicine: ~5% — resuscitation, trauma, triage decisions.

Sample question patterns

AMC MCQ stems are clinical vignettes — never bare-fact recall. Expect two recurring patterns:

Pattern A: Most likely diagnosis

"A 58-year-old man presents with central crushing chest pain radiating to the left arm, started 2 hours ago. ECG shows 2 mm ST elevation in leads V2–V4. What is the most likely diagnosis?"

Distractors are usually plausible differentials (e.g., pericarditis, aortic dissection, pulmonary embolism). The single best answer is anchored to the dominant clinical and investigation findings.

Pattern B: Next best step

"A 32-year-old woman is 28 weeks pregnant and her oral glucose tolerance test shows fasting glucose 5.4 mmol/L and 2-hour post-load 9.0 mmol/L. What is the most appropriate next step?"

Pattern B questions reward candidates who think in Australian-guideline workflows (RACGP, RANZCOG, Therapeutic Guidelines). Memorising US or UK pathways is the most common cause of high-confidence wrong answers.

How the pass mark is set

AMC MCQ uses a modified Angoff standard-setting method. Expert clinicians independently estimate the proportion of borderline-competent interns who would answer each item correctly. The aggregated estimate per item is summed to produce the criterion cut score for that paper. As a result:

The cut score varies slightly between sittings to neutralise difficulty differences.
The pass mark is not a fixed percentage and not a percentile rank. You cannot fail because other candidates did better.
Score reports show a scaled score and a pass/fail outcome, plus sub-scores by discipline so candidates can target weak areas.

An 8-month study schedule

This schedule assumes 15 to 20 hours of focused study per week and access to a high-quality question bank.

Months 1–2 — Foundations: Read Murtagh's General Practice systematically. Annotate all RACGP Red Book screening intervals and Therapeutic Guidelines first-line drugs. Target 30 MCQs per day to calibrate.
Months 3–5 — High-volume practice: Hit 50 to 75 MCQs per day across all disciplines (not just your specialty). Track weak topics in a simple spreadsheet or use analytics in Mostly Medicine to surface them automatically.
Month 6 — Targeted remediation: Focus 70% of study time on weakest deciles (e.g., paediatric immunisation schedule, postpartum mental health, geriatric polypharmacy).
Month 7 — Mock exams: Sit at least three full 150-question timed mocks under exam conditions. Review every wrong answer and every "lucky right" in detail.
Month 8 — Active recall & rest: Wind down new content. Run spaced-repetition reviews of high-yield facts and ensure 7 to 8 hours of sleep nightly the week before.

Common pitfalls

Reading US/UK guidelines instead of Australian. The AMC tests RACGP, RANZCOG, NHMRC, and Therapeutic Guidelines — not UpToDate defaults or NICE.
Skipping population health. Cervical screening, CVD risk calculators (Australian absolute CV risk), and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health questions appear every paper.
Over-studying your home specialty. A surgeon who skips obstetrics will fail. The blueprint is intentionally broad.
Skimming explanations. Reading only the right answer wastes the question. The explanation is the learning unit.
Ignoring time discipline. 84 seconds per item is tight when stems run 6 to 8 lines. Practise with a stopwatch from week one.
Booking the test before you are ready. AMC recommends booking only after consistently scoring 75%+ on full timed mocks.

Official AMC Handbook references

The two official references published by the AMC remain the backbone of AMC MCQ preparation:

AMC Handbook of Multiple Choice Questions — the official sample MCQ collection with worked answers; treat every question as a calibration item, not just practice.
Anthology of Medical Conditions — the AMC's own condensed reference covering the conditions most likely to appear on AMC MCQ; use it as a checklist after question-bank review.

For the latest editions and ordering details, refer to amc.org.au.

How Mostly Medicine accelerates AMC MCQ prep

Mostly Medicine is built for IMGs sitting AMC MCQ, not a general medical question bank with an Australia toggle. Every question is written against the AMC blueprint and current Australian guidelines.

3,000+ AMC MCQ MCQs with AI explanations, spaced repetition, and weak-area analytics.
Recall cards for high-yield Australian-specific facts (immunisation schedule, CV risk thresholds, screening intervals).
Reference library with searchable Murtagh, RACGP Red Book, and AMC Handbook summaries indexed by Claude AI.

Start AMC MCQ prep free →

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on AMC MCQ?

150 A-type single-best-answer MCQs in a 3.5-hour computer-based session.

How is the pass mark determined?

Modified Angoff standard-setting. The cut score is criterion- referenced, not norm-referenced — you do not compete with other candidates.

What is the pass rate?

Typically 50% to 70% per sitting. First-attempt rates are highest among IMGs with recent Australian clinical exposure.

Can I retake if I fail?

Yes. There is no cap on attempts, and you can re-book at the next available window. Use your score report to target weak domains.

Is AMC MCQ actually computer adaptive?

No. All candidates receive a 150-item fixed-form paper. The "CAT" label refers to AMC's computer-based testing platform, not item adaptivity.

How long should I prepare?

4 to 8 months of focused study and at least 3,000 practice MCQs is the typical successful range.