AMC MCQ Exam 2026

Eligibility, Official Syllabus, Fees, Application & Exam Pattern

The AMC MCQ Exam 2026 is the computer-adaptive multiple-choice examination used in the Australian Medical Council’s Standard Pathway for eligible International Medical Graduates (IMGs). It assesses medical knowledge, clinical reasoning, diagnosis, investigation, treatment and management across a broad range of clinical disciplines and is one assessment requirement for obtaining an AMC Certificate.

What Is the AMC MCQ Exam?

The AMC CAT MCQ Examination is a computer-administered Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) consisting of 150 multiple-choice questions completed in a 3.5-hour session. Each question has five options with one best answer. The exam is delivered through Pearson VUE examination centres in Australia and overseas locations.

It assesses the medical knowledge and clinical reasoning expected of a medical graduate about to commence internship in Australia. The examination tests reasoning rather than rote memorisation and may include clinical data and images such as X-rays, ECGs, scans and clinical photographs.

The examination focuses on:

• · Disease processes and clinical examination
• · Diagnosis, investigation and differential diagnosis
• · Treatment, management and clinical judgement
• · Public health, ethics and professionalism

AMC MCQ Exam at a Glance

Feature

Official Information

Exam

AMC CAT MCQ Examination

Purpose

IMG assessment under the Standard Pathway

Questions

150

Duration

3.5 hours

Format

Computer Adaptive Test (CAT)

Question type

A-type; one best answer from five options

Delivery

Pearson VUE centres in Australia and overseas

Score scale

0–500

Pass standard

Pass mark described as 250; 2026 cut-score update applies

Negative marking

No marks deducted for incorrect answers

Authorisation period

12 months; exam must be taken within this window

Results

Friday, three weeks after the examination event

Return to previous questions

No — answers cannot be changed after proceeding

AMC MCQ Eligibility 2026

The AMC Standard Pathway is intended for IMGs seeking general registration who have an eligible medical degree and are not eligible for the Competent Authority Pathway.

1. Eligible Medical Qualification

You must have completed a primary medical qualification in clinical medicine and surgery from an eligible medical school, with an eligible degree title and graduation year. Before beginning the process, check the eligibility of your medical school, degree title and graduation year.

2. Primary Source Verification (PSV)

Primary Source Verification is required for IMGs seeking medical registration in Australia. The AMC currently uses ECFMG’s MyIntealth/EPIC process for credential verification. Your final medical diploma or primary medical qualification must be verified directly with the institution that awarded it.

3. English Language Proficiency

English language proficiency is a requirement of the Medical Board of Australia for registration, unless an exemption applies. It is not an AMC examination requirement.

4. Citizenship and Visa

Australian citizenship or permanent residency is not required to sit the AMC MCQ. Candidates can book at available Pearson VUE centres in Australia or overseas, subject to current centre availability and location-specific requirements.

AMC MCQ Syllabus 2026

The official AMC CAT MCQ blueprint is organised around six patient groups rather than a conventional subject-by-subject syllabus. The weightings below should guide your preparation plan.

Patient Group

Official Blueprint Weight

Adult Health – Medicine

30%

Adult Health – Surgery

20%

Women’s Health – Obstetrics & Gynaecology

12.5%

Child Health

12.5%

Mental Health

12.5%

Population Health

12.5%

Total

100%

1. Adult Health – Medicine — 30%

• · Cardiology
• · Respiratory medicine
• · Gastroenterology
• · Neurology
• · Nephrology
• · Endocrinology
• · Haematology
• · Infectious diseases
• · Rheumatology
• · Geriatric medicine

2. Adult Health – Surgery — 20%

• · General surgery
• · Trauma and acute abdomen
• · Orthopaedics
• · Urology
• · Vascular surgery
• · Surgical emergencies
• · Perioperative management
• · Postoperative complications

3. Women’s Health – 12.5%

• · Antenatal care
• · Pregnancy complications
• · Labour and delivery
• · Postpartum care
• · Obstetric emergencies
• · Contraception
• · Gynaecological disorders
• · Reproductive health

4. Child Health — 12.5%

• · Neonatal medicine
• · Growth and development
• · Developmental disorders
• · Paediatric infections
• · Respiratory conditions
• · Paediatric emergencies
• · Vaccination and preventive care

5. Mental Health — 12.5%

• · Depression and anxiety disorders
• · Psychosis and bipolar disorder
• · Substance use disorders
• · Suicide risk
• · Child and adolescent mental health
• · Psychological and pharmacological management

6. Population Health — 12.5%

• · Screening and epidemiology
• · Vaccination and disease prevention
• · Health promotion and public health programs
• · Confidentiality and informed consent
• · Professional boundaries
• · Australian healthcare legislation and ethics

What Does the AMC MCQ Test?

AMC questions are classified by Patient Groups and by Clinician Tasks. Questions may assess data gathering, interpretation and synthesis, and management.

Clinician Task

What It Can Test

Data gathering

History taking, physical or mental-state examination, laboratory tests, imaging and other investigations

Interpretation & synthesis

Problem identification, risk assessment, differential diagnosis and the most likely diagnosis

Management

Drug and non-drug therapy, fluids, surgery, rehabilitation, palliative care, counselling, health promotion and interdisciplinary care

Question Format and CAT Rules

The AMC uses A-type questions: a clinical stem, five answer options and one best answer. Some options may look partly correct, but candidates must select the single most appropriate response.

The examination may include ECGs, X-rays, CT/MRI scans, clinical photographs, graphs and laboratory data.

Scoring and Pass Standard

AMC results are reported on a 0–500 scale. The pass mark is described as 250, and the AMC has integrated the 2026 pass-standard adjustment within this reporting scale.

Do not treat 250 as a raw percentage or a fixed number of correct answers. CAT scoring takes both candidate performance and question difficulty into account.

AMC MCQ Fees 2026

Fee Type

Current AUD Fee

AMC initial portfolio including 1 qualification

AUD $642

Additional qualification

AUD $107

AMC CAT MCQ authorisation

AUD $2,920

Reissue of results

AUD $107

Credit/debit card surcharge

0.96%

Fees can change. Always confirm the amount through the official AMC Fees and Charges page before payment.

How to Apply for AMC MCQ

Step 1: Check eligibility

Confirm that your medical school, degree title and graduation year are eligible for the AMC pathway.

Step 2: Create a MyIntealth account and EPIC portfolio

Establish an ECFMG MyIntealth/EPIC portfolio to enable primary-source verification of your credentials.

Step 3: Create your AMC account

Create an AMC account after the required MyIntealth/EPIC setup is active.

Step 4: Establish your AMC initial portfolio

Submit the AMC initial portfolio application. AMC states this application is reviewed within five AMC business days, though verification itself can take longer.

Step 5: Complete PSV

Your final medical qualification is verified through ECFMG. Once the required verification status reaches AMC, you can proceed with assessment steps.

Step 6: Apply for MCQ authorisation

Apply through your AMC account, pay the current authorisation fee and note the 12-month authorisation window.

Step 7: Schedule through Pearson VUE

Book your examination after authorisation. Seats are limited and assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Step 8: Attend the exam

Meet the AMC/Pearson VUE identification rules. Check the current policy before exam day; a valid passport is typically used as primary identification.

Dates, Rescheduling and Cancellation

AMC CAT MCQ examinations occur through scheduled events at Pearson VUE centres in Australia and overseas. Dates, locations and seats can change, so use the official AMC examination-events page rather than relying on a fixed third-party calendar.

Candidates can change an examination event or venue before the relevant event closing date if a seat is available. After the closing date, standard rescheduling or withdrawal is not accepted. AMC may consider authorisation cancellation in exceptional circumstances when supported by appropriate documentation.

AMC MCQ Results 2026

AMC CAT MCQ results are available on the Friday three weeks after the examination event through your AMC account. Check the official AMC MCQ page for the current release time and applicable Australian time zone.

What Happens After Passing?

Passing the AMC CAT MCQ is not the final step toward Australian medical registration. Under the Standard Pathway, candidates must then complete either the AMC Clinical Examination or an AMC-accredited Workplace-Based Assessment (WBA).

AMC Clinical Examination

Candidates must pass the AMC CAT MCQ before choosing the Clinical Examination route. The current Clinical Examination has 16 assessed stations and four rest stations, with 10 minutes per station: two minutes reading time and eight minutes assessment time.

Workplace-Based Assessment (WBA)

An AMC-accredited WBA is an alternative assessment route after MCQ, subject to eligibility and registration requirements. Availability depends on approved programs and employers, so it is not accessible to every IMG.

After required assessments and primary-source verification are completed, the AMC issues an AMC Certificate. Candidates can then apply for registration with the Medical Board of Australia.

AMC MCQ vs AMC Clinical Exam

Feature

AMC MCQ

AMC Clinical

Format

Computer Adaptive Test

Clinical/OSCE-style assessment

Main focus

Knowledge and clinical reasoning

Clinical skills and communication

MCQ format

Yes

No

Sequence

First major assessment

After passing MCQ

Standard Pathway

Required

Clinical Examination or WBA

Core areas

Medicine, Surgery, Women’s Health, Child Health, Mental Health, Population Health

Medicine, Surgery, Women’s Health, Paediatrics, Mental Health and communication

How to Prepare for AMC MCQ

Understand the official blueprint

Allocate study time in line with the six patient groups, especially Medicine (30%), Surgery (20%) and Population Health (12.5%).

Focus on common clinical conditions

Build practical decision-making around common presentations, differential diagnoses and therapeutics.

Practise clinical reasoning

For each question, identify the diagnosis, next best investigation, appropriate management and safest option.

Practise image and data interpretation

Regularly work with ECGs, X-rays, photographs, scans and laboratory data.

Train in CAT-style conditions

Use timed sessions in which you make a decision and move on, without reviewing previous answers.

Use the official preparation resource

Candidates who purchase AMC MCQ authorisation receive access to the AMC-aligned eMedici preparation resource, including 210 practice questions for the authorisation period.

Common Preparation Mistakes

• · Treating the AMC as a pure recall exam instead of a clinical-reasoning assessment
• · Ignoring Population Health, ethics and professional responsibilities
• · Practising only isolated subject-wise questions rather than integrated clinical sets
• · Relying on reconstructed papers, which may contain inaccurate stems or answers
• · Ignoring time management and the no-return CAT rule
• · Treating the scaled pass standard as a raw-score percentage

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sit AMC MCQ outside Australia? Yes. Pearson VUE delivers AMC CAT MCQ examinations in Australia and overseas, subject to available centres and scheduling.

How many questions are in the examination? 150 multiple-choice questions.

How long is the exam? 3.5 hours.

Is there negative marking? No. Incorrect answers do not receive a mark deduction.

Can I return to a previous question? No. Once you answer and proceed, you cannot change that response.

What is the AMC MCQ pass mark? Results use a 0–500 scale, with the pass mark described as 250. It is a scaled CAT standard, not a raw percentage.

How much does AMC MCQ cost? The current AMC CAT MCQ authorisation fee is AUD $2,920, plus the applicable card surcharge.

How long is authorisation valid? 12 months. You must sit the examination during this period or reapply and pay the authorisation fee again.

When are results released? On the Friday three weeks after the examination event; confirm the exact time from AMC.

Can I request MCQ result verification? No. AMC no longer offers MCQ result verification.

Do I need English proficiency to sit MCQ? No. English language evidence is a Medical Board requirement for registration unless exempt, not a prerequisite for sitting the MCQ.

What comes after MCQ? You must complete either the AMC Clinical Examination or an AMC-accredited WBA, subject to relevant requirements.

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