OverseasDiairies Issue 5: What is the AMC CAT exam?

In our series of overseas residency opportunities, we have explored the USA and UK. In the last article, we explored Australia as a choice for residency. Before that, you’ll need to clear the Australian Medical Council CAT MCQ and clinical test to apply for the residency program.

So, what exactly is AMC CAT?

The utmost purpose of the Australian Medical Council CAT examination is to assess the medical knowledge and clinical skills of newly qualified graduates of the AMC schools and those International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who are not recognized by the Australian Medical Council, and who have obtained their primary qualification degree/certificate outside Australia.

It consists of a computer adaptive test (CAT) multiple-choice question (MCQ) examination, and either an AMC Clinical examination or a Workplace-based assessment. Your examination status must be recorded as “Eligible” to be able to proceed with the AMC examinations process (refer to the flowchart below):

• The AMC CAT MCQ Examination tests knowledge of the principles and practice of medicine in the fields of general practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology.

Fee: AU $2,720

• The AMC Clinical Examination assesses clinical skills in medicine, surgery, obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics, and psychiatry. It also assesses the ability to communicate with patients, their families, and other health workers.

Fee: AU $3,530

• The AMC Workplace-Based Assessment – before applying for a WBA program directly to a WBA provider, you must have passed the AMC CAT MCQ Examination and granted registration by the Medical Board of Australia to be employed in an approved clinical position for WBA.

Fee: AU $650

The AMC Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) MCQ Examination is a computer-administered fully integrated multi-choice question examination delivered in one 3.5-hour session in examination centers worldwide. The examination consists of 150 A-type MCQs (one correct response from five options). It focuses on essential medical knowledge involving an understanding of the disease process; clinical examination and diagnosis; and investigation, therapy, and management.

You are expected to complete all 150 items. Failure to complete all 150 scored items in the examination may lead to insufficient information for a reliable determination of your ability and therefore a result on the AMC adaptive scale. The examination result is recorded as ‘Fail

—Insufficient data to obtain result’.

The content blueprint (the number of questions on each patient group) for the examination follows.

The format of the clinical examination will remain the same, there will be 20 stations comprising 14 scored stations, 2 pilot (non-scored) stations, and 4 rest (non-scored) stations.

Outline of Change to Pass Score from 1 January 2019:

References:

• MCQ Examination (amc.org.au)

• Clinical Examination (amc.org.au)

• Type of report or document (amc.org.au)

• AMC CAT MCQ Test Study Material and Exam Pattern (chancesforyouth.com)