AMC CAT MCQ Exam Study Guide (2026)
Everything the AMC CAT MCQ Examination (Australian Medical Council) tests, topic by topic: what each section covers, the facts that come up most, and how to study it. Pair it with the free 15-question practice test.
The exam at a glance
| Questions | 150 multiple-choice questions, each with one best answer from five options |
|---|---|
| Time | 3.5 hours |
| Passing score | A scaled score of 250 on the AMC's 0 to 500 scale. From 2026 the AMC slightly raised the standard behind that score; the reported pass mark is still 250 |
| Format | Closed book, computer adaptive (CAT); no going back to review or change an answer |
| Certifying body | Australian Medical Council (AMC) |
| Test provider | Pearson VUE test centres in Australia and overseas (no remote option) |
Mind map: the whole exam on one screen
Read the complete AMC CAT MCQ study notes for “Adult Health: Medicine”
Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 18 minutes of reading: How medicine questions are built · Emergencies to recognise in seconds · Cardiovascular · Respiratory · Endocrine and renal · Answer the Australian way, a worked exam example, the traps examiners use and a one-minute recap. Create a free account to read it and see how premium notes work before you decide.
1. Adult Health: Medicine
The biggest blueprint block (30%, about 45 of 150 questions): adult and aged care across cardiology, respiratory, endocrine, renal, gastroenterology, neurology, haematology and infectious diseases. Expect emergencies, common chronic disease and Australian prescribing.
Key facts
- Anaphylaxis: IM adrenaline 0.01 mg/kg up to 0.5 mg (1 mg/mL) into the outer mid-thigh, repeated every 5 minutes as needed; lie the patient flat (ASCIA).
- Hyperkalaemia with ECG changes: IV calcium gluconate first to protect the heart, then insulin with glucose and salbutamol to shift potassium, then remove it.
- Atrial fibrillation: the Australian guideline uses CHA2DS2-VA (no point for sex); anticoagulate at 2 or more, consider at 1; NOACs are preferred over warfarin in non-valvular AF.
- STEMI: reperfusion now. Primary PCI if it can be done promptly (within about 90 minutes of first medical contact), otherwise fibrinolysis if there are no contraindications.
- Type 2 diabetes: metformin first; add an SGLT2 inhibitor or GLP-1 receptor agonist with proven benefit when there is cardiovascular disease, heart failure or chronic kidney disease.
- HFrEF has four medicine pillars: an ACE inhibitor, ARB or ARNI, a beta-blocker, a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist and an SGLT2 inhibitor.
- Asthma (Australian Asthma Handbook): adults and adolescents shouldn't rely on a SABA alone; as-needed budesonide-formoterol is preferred for mild asthma.
Flashcards
Exam tip: When a question asks for the first or most appropriate step, pick what keeps the patient alive in the next ten minutes, not the definitive treatment.
2. Adult Health: Surgery
20% of the exam: the acute abdomen, trauma, vascular, urology, orthopaedics, breast and perioperative care. The exam rewards knowing when to operate, when to image and when to wait.
Key facts
- Trauma: primary survey in order, controlling catastrophic haemorrhage first, then airway with cervical spine protection, breathing, circulation, disability and exposure.
- Ruptured AAA in an unstable patient goes straight to theatre; use permissive hypotension. CT is only for stable patients.
- Ottawa ankle rules: X-ray if there is bone tenderness at the posterior edge or tip of the distal 6 cm of either malleolus, or inability to bear weight for four steps.
- Testicular torsion: urgent exploration on clinical suspicion; salvage falls sharply after about 6 hours. Don't wait for ultrasound.
- Bowel obstruction: colicky pain, vomiting, distension and absolute constipation. Fever, constant pain, peritonism or a raised lactate suggest strangulation and need surgery.
- Acute limb ischaemia (pain, pallor, pulselessness, paraesthesia, paralysis, perishingly cold): heparin and urgent vascular review.
- Appendicitis: periumbilical pain moving to the right iliac fossa, anorexia and fever; ultrasound first in children and pregnancy, CT in most adults when the diagnosis is unclear.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Surgical questions often hinge on stability. Unstable means resuscitate and operate; stable means you have time to image.
3. Women's Health: Obstetrics and Gynaecology
12.5% of the exam: antenatal care, complications of pregnancy, labour and the puerperium, early pregnancy problems, menstrual disorders, contraception and cervical screening.
Key facts
- Rh D-negative women without anti-D: 625 IU anti-D at 28 and 34 weeks, within 72 hours of any sensitising event, and after birth if the baby is Rh D positive.
- National Cervical Screening Program: HPV test every 5 years from 25 to 74; self-collection is an option for everyone eligible.
- Folic acid 0.5 mg daily from at least one month before conception to 12 weeks; 5 mg for higher-risk women (for example previous neural tube defect, diabetes, some antiepileptics, obesity).
- Pre-eclampsia prevention (SOMANZ): aspirin 150 mg at night for high-risk women, started before 16 weeks and stopped at 36 weeks.
- Positive hCG with pain or bleeding and no intrauterine pregnancy on ultrasound: treat as ectopic until proven otherwise; an unstable patient needs surgery.
- Postpartum haemorrhage: think of the 4 Ts (tone, trauma, tissue, thrombin). Uterine atony is the commonest cause; give oxytocin and rub up the fundus.
Flashcards
Exam tip: In any woman of reproductive age with abdominal pain or bleeding, the first question is whether she could be pregnant.
Test yourself on these topics
Take the free 15-question AMC CAT MCQ test, then save your results to unlock your Readiness Score and the mistakes bank.
4. Child Health
12.5% of the exam: newborn care, growth and development, immunisation, common infections and respiratory illness, paediatric emergencies and child protection.
Key facts
- Mild croup (no stridor at rest): single dose of oral dexamethasone 0.15 mg/kg or prednisolone 1 mg/kg. Severe croup: nebulised adrenaline and senior review.
- Bronchiolitis is supportive care: oxygen if saturation is low and feeding support. Salbutamol, steroids and antibiotics aren't recommended.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Child questions often give a weight. Use it: most paediatric doses in the exam are per kilogram.
5. Mental Health
12.5% of the exam: mood, anxiety, psychotic, eating and substance use disorders across all ages, risk assessment, psychotropic adverse effects and the principles of mental health legislation.
Key facts
- SSRIs are first-line medicines for moderate to severe depression and most anxiety disorders; review young people early for emerging suicidal thoughts.
- Lithium has a narrow therapeutic range; thiazides, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, NSAIDs and dehydration raise levels. Toxicity: coarse tremor, ataxia, vomiting, confusion.
Flashcards
Exam tip: For any mental health presentation, assess risk first: to self, to others, and from others. The safest answer often addresses risk.
6. Population Health and Ethics
12.5% of the exam: screening, epidemiology and biostatistics, immunisation programs, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and ethics and law: consent, capacity, confidentiality, mandatory reporting and professional conduct.
Key facts
- PPV depends on prevalence: a good test in a low-prevalence population produces mostly false positives.
- National Bowel Cancer Screening Program: iFOBT every 2 years from 45 to 74 (invitations are sent from 50; people aged 45 to 49 can request a kit).
Flashcards
Exam tip: Draw a 2 × 2 table for every statistics question. It takes 20 seconds and prevents most mistakes.
How to pass
- 150 questions in 3.5 hours is 84 seconds each. You can't skip or go back, so commit to your best answer and move on.
- Answer all 150. The AMC warns that an incomplete exam can end as "Fail - insufficient data to obtain result". There is no negative marking, so never leave time on a blank.
- Adult medicine and surgery are half the exam. The other half is four equal blocks: women's health, child health, mental health, and population health and ethics. Don't neglect the last one.
- Answer as an Australian intern would: Australian guidelines, drug names (adrenaline, paracetamol), PBS-style prescribing and SI units. The real exam has five options per question; ours have four.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I study for the AMC CAT MCQ exam?
Most working candidates need 4 to 8 weeks at 45 to 60 minutes a day. Book your exam once your Readiness Score has stayed at 80 or higher for about a week.
Can I take the AMC CAT MCQ exam online?
No. The AMC CAT MCQ is delivered only at Pearson VUE test centres, in Australia and overseas. Format: closed book, computer adaptive (cat); no going back to review or change an answer. Check the AMC's MCQ Examination Specifications for the rules.
What score do I need to pass the AMC CAT MCQ exam?
A scaled score of 250 on the AMC's 0 to 500 scale. From 2026 the AMC slightly raised the standard behind that score; the reported pass mark is still 250. The exam has 150 multiple-choice questions, each with one best answer from five options and a time limit of 3.5 hours.
What are the most tested topics?
The outline covers adult health: medicine, adult health: surgery, women's health: obstetrics and gynaecology, child health, mental health, population health and ethics. Use the free practice test to see which ones you need most.
The premium AMC CAT MCQ study path
Premium AMC CAT MCQ prep is studied one topic at a time. Each step starts with that topic's key notes and flashcard deck, then its own question sets of 25, so you master one topic before you move to the next. When every topic is strong, the 6 full mock exams show you're ready.
Your step-by-step study path
- 1Adult Health: Medicine10 key notes, 135 flashcards, then 500 practice questions in 20 sets of 25Notes free with an account
- 2Adult Health: Surgery10 key notes, 135 flashcards, then 500 practice questions in 20 sets of 25Premium
- 3Women's Health: Obstetrics and Gynaecology10 key notes, 135 flashcards, then 500 practice questions in 20 sets of 25Premium
- 4Child Health10 key notes, 135 flashcards, then 500 practice questions in 20 sets of 25Premium
- 5Mental Health10 key notes, 130 flashcards, then 500 practice questions in 20 sets of 25Premium
- 6Population Health and Ethics10 key notes, 130 flashcards, then 500 practice questions in 20 sets of 25Premium
- Final step: 6 full mock exams150 questions each, timed like test day. Pass them, then book your exam.Premium
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- The AMC CAT MCQ: every blueprint area, from adult medicine to population health and ethics
- 3,000 practice questions + 6 full mock exams per exam
- 800 flashcards + 60 key notes per exam, by topic, plus mind maps
- Spaced repetition + mistakes bank
- Readiness Score & detailed reports
- Video lessons as they release
- Content updates during your access
- 5 bonuses: high-yield values sheet, red flags atlas, study planner and more
- Pass Guarantee: complete the prep, pass or 100% back
Renews once a year until you cancel. We email you before each renewal. Cancel any time from your account; you keep access until the end of the year you've paid for.
Summarized from the Australian Medical Council's official candidate information and the rules cited, checked November 2026. Confirm current requirements with Australian Medical Council (AMC).