AMC Part 1

Understanding AMC Part 1

The Australian Medical Council (AMC) Part 1 exam, officially called the AMC CAT MCQ, is a computer-adaptive multiple-choice exam with 150 questions over 3.5 hours. It assesses your ability to apply clinical knowledge according to Australian standards, across domains like medicine, surgery, obstetrics/gynaecology, paediatrics, psychiatry, public health, ethics, and emergency medicine.

Passing it is a core requirement for international medical graduates (IMGs) pursuing general registration via the Standard Pathway.

Why AMC Part 1 Feels Repetitive

A striking feature of AMC Part 1 preparation is that a large proportion of the exam questions often reflect commonly tested themes and patterns that appear year after year.

• High repetition: Many concepts and clinical scenarios are asked in identical or slightly modified form.
• Pattern recognition: Exposure to the way questions are phrased and how distractors are structured greatly improves speed.
• Efficiency: Focusing on high-yield, frequently tested areas saves time compared to reading entire medical texts cover to cover.

How to Study Past High-Yield Material Effectively

• Join Study Groups
  Platforms like Facebook, Telegram, and WhatsApp have active AMC preparation communities. Engaging with them allows you to discuss explanations and clarify concepts.
• Don’t Just Memorise
  Understand why the correct option is right and why others are wrong. Sometimes the exam rewords a stem, making pure memorisation risky.
• Organise by Topic
  Categorise practice material into medicine, surgery, OBGYN, paediatrics, psychiatry, etc. This makes revision systematic.
• Verify With Guidelines
  Always cross-check answers against Australian references (Therapeutic Guidelines, RACGP Red Book, etc.) to avoid outdated or region-specific inaccuracies.

Cost and Exam Locations

Exam Fees (as of 2025):

• AMC CAT MCQ Fee: AUD $2,720 (includes GST for Australian sittings)
• Additional fees apply for rescheduling or late changes.

Test Centres:
The AMC Part 1 is delivered via Pearson VUE centres worldwide. Common locations include:

• Australia – Major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide.
• Overseas – Multiple centres in the UK, India, the Middle East, South Africa, and parts of Asia.

For some IMGs, exam availability in their home country may be limited, meaning travel and extra costs.

Study Plan Recommendation

If you have several months to prepare:

• Months 1–2: Get the AMC syllabus, join study groups, gather updated practice material, and set up a structured timetable.
• Months 3–4: Work through commonly tested areas while reviewing theory from the AMC Handbook of MCQs, John Murtagh’s General Practice, and Australian guidelines.
• Month 5: Do timed mock exams, refine weak areas.
• Final Weeks: Intensify review, focus on high-yield repeats and tricky scenarios.

My Personal Experience

Having already passed PLAB 1 and 2, I decided to take a risk with AMC Part 1.
Instead of a long preparation, I spent just two weeks reviewing commonly tested material, mainly to familiarise myself with the style and topics, and then sat the exam.

I passed, but I don’t recommend this approach.

Why?

• It leaves no margin for topics that aren’t covered in the sources you review.
• The AMC sometimes rewords stems, and without understanding the reasoning, you can get caught out.
• Stress levels are much higher when you know you’re underprepared.

If you haven’t done recent exam prep like PLAB or USMLE, this shortcut is even riskier. A solid 3–6 months of targeted practice with guideline-based review is a far safer and smarter approach.

Final Thoughts

AMC Part 1 is not an exam you can “wing” based on medical school knowledge alone.
Working through previously tested high-yield material is the most powerful tool for passing, but it must be combined with up-to-date Australian guideline knowledge and enough practice to handle new or rephrased scenarios.

With strategic preparation, you can save time, reduce stress, and walk into the exam with confidence.

References

1. Australian Medical Council – CAT MCQ Examination Information
2. AdvanceMed – How to Pass the AMC Exams Part 1 CAT MCQ
3. ACE AMCQ – Guide to Using High-Yield AMC Recalls
4. Indis Academy – AMC Syllabus
5. Therapeutic Guidelines Australia – Official Guidelines