AMC MCQ · Cardiology
AMC Cardiology MCQ Practice — 650+ Questions for IMGs
Master ECG interpretation, ACS pathways, heart failure pharmacotherapy and atrial fibrillation management for AMC MCQ.
671 questions in the full bank · 5 free samples below · Spaced repetition + AI explanations on the free tier.
Why Cardiology matters in AMC MCQ
Cardiology is one of the highest-yield specialties on the AMC MCQ paper. Australian examiners expect International Medical Graduates to confidently distinguish STEMI from NSTEMI, recognise atrial fibrillation on a rhythm strip, apply the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score, and prescribe guideline-directed therapy for HFrEF — all within seconds of reading a clinical vignette. Around 10–15% of every AMC MCQ paper centres on cardiovascular medicine, making it the single most common scoring lane for IMGs.
Mostly Medicine’s cardiology question bank is mapped tightly to the Heart Foundation of Australia and Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) guidelines, the same evidence base AMC examiners cite when writing items. You will see scenarios on inferior STEMI artery localisation, the timing of primary PCI versus thrombolysis, dual antiplatelet duration, ARNI initiation in HFrEF, SGLT2 inhibitor uptake in heart failure, and rate- versus rhythm-control trade-offs in AF. Each MCQ uses the same five-option, single-best-answer format the AMC uses on exam day.
Beyond raw recall, AMC cardiology questions reward clinical reasoning. Expect vignettes that blend ECG patterns with vital signs, risk factors and bedside findings — then ask for the most appropriate next investigation or the single best management step. Practising 200+ Australian-aligned cardiology MCQs, with an explanation written by clinicians, is the fastest way to lock down this material before exam day. Sign up free to unlock the full bank, AI-generated explanations, and spaced-repetition review of every cardiology card you flag.
5 free Cardiology sample MCQs
Below are five sample questions taken straight from the Mostly Medicine cardiology bank. The correct answer is highlighted, with the worked explanation tucked inside a collapsed panel so you can self-test first.
A 58-year-old man presents with sudden onset central chest pain radiating to his left arm for 90 minutes. He is diaphoretic and pale. His ECG shows ST elevation in leads II, III, and aVF. Which artery is most likely occluded?
- A.Left anterior descending artery
- B.Right coronary arteryCorrect
- C.Left circumflex artery
- D.Left main coronary artery
- E.Posterior descending artery
Show explanation
ST elevation in II, III, aVF = inferior STEMI. The inferior wall is supplied by the RCA in ~80% of cases (right-dominant circulation). Left circumflex supplies inferior wall in left-dominant systems (~20%).
A 72-year-old woman with known heart failure presents with worsening dyspnoea, orthopnoea and bilateral ankle oedema. Her BNP is markedly elevated. Echocardiogram shows EF of 35%. Which medication has been shown to reduce mortality in this condition?
- A.Digoxin
- B.Amlodipine
- C.CarvedilolCorrect
- D.Furosemide
- E.Nitrates
Show explanation
Beta-blockers (carvedilol, bisoprolol, metoprolol succinate) reduce mortality in HFrEF (EF <40%). Furosemide and digoxin improve symptoms but not mortality. ACEi/ARBs and SGLT2 inhibitors also reduce mortality.
According to RACGP guidelines, what is the recommended first-line treatment for a 55-year-old Aboriginal Australian man with newly diagnosed hypertension (BP 158/95) and no other comorbidities?
- A.Beta-blocker
- B.ACE inhibitorCorrect
- C.Calcium channel blocker
- D.Thiazide diuretic
- E.Lifestyle measures alone for 6 months
Show explanation
ACE inhibitors are first-line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with hypertension due to high rates of renal disease and cardiovascular risk. ACEi provide renoprotection beyond BP lowering.
A 72-year-old man is incidentally found to have an irregularly irregular pulse. ECG confirms AF. He has no prior history of stroke, hypertension, diabetes or heart failure. His CHA₂DS₂-VASc score is 1 (age 65–74). What is the most appropriate management regarding anticoagulation?
- A.Aspirin 100 mg daily
- B.Warfarin targeting INR 2–3
- C.Rivaroxaban 20 mg daily
- D.No antithrombotic therapy — score too low
- E.Anticoagulation decision based on shared decision-makingCorrect
Show explanation
CHA₂DS₂-VASc = 1 in a male is a 'grey zone' — Australian guidelines recommend shared decision-making. Anticoagulation is not mandated but can be considered. For females with score 1, no therapy is recommended. Score ≥2 in males warrants anticoagulation.
A 65-year-old woman with hypertension and type 2 diabetes is found to have persistent AF. Her CHA₂DS₂-VASc score is 4. Which anticoagulant is preferred over warfarin according to current guidelines?
- A.Aspirin + clopidogrel
- B.Dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or apixaban (DOAC)Correct
- C.Warfarin only — DOACs not indicated in AF
- D.Heparin infusion
- E.No anticoagulation as she has hypertension
Show explanation
DOACs (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban) are preferred over warfarin for non-valvular AF with CHA₂DS₂-VASc ≥2 in females or ≥2 in males. They have equivalent/superior efficacy, less intracranial bleeding, and no need for INR monitoring.
Want the other 666+ cardiology MCQs?
The full cardiology bank, AI-generated follow-up questions, weak-area analytics and spaced repetition are free to access — no credit card required.
Cardiology FAQ
How many cardiology questions appear in AMC MCQ?
Cardiovascular medicine typically accounts for 15–20 of the 150 questions in AMC MCQ, making it one of the highest-weighted specialties. Strong cardiology performance is consistently associated with passing the exam.
Which Australian guidelines should I focus on for AMC cardiology?
Heart Foundation of Australia guidelines (ACS, hypertension, lipids), CSANZ position statements on atrial fibrillation and heart failure, and the Therapeutic Guidelines: Cardiovascular handbook are the core references AMC examiners draw from.
Do I need to interpret ECGs in AMC MCQ?
Yes — expect at least 3–5 ECG-based vignettes in AMC MCQ. You should be able to confidently identify STEMI territories, AF, atrial flutter, complete heart block, ventricular tachycardia, and the WPW pattern, plus electrolyte changes such as hyperkalaemia.
What anticoagulation knowledge is tested?
AMC tests CHA₂DS₂-VASc and HAS-BLED scoring, DOAC dosing in renal impairment, warfarin bridging around procedures, and anticoagulation choice in valvular versus non-valvular AF. Expect at least one question on DOAC reversal agents (idarucizumab, andexanet alfa).
Are sample cardiology MCQs free?
Yes. The Mostly Medicine free tier gives you 5 sample cardiology MCQs with full explanations on this page. Signing up unlocks the entire 200+ cardiology bank, AI-tutor follow-ups, and spaced-repetition recall scheduling.