AMC Part 1 Examination

What Is the AMC Part 1?

The AMC Part 1 — formally known as the AMC CAT MCQ Examination — is a written knowledge assessment set by the Australian Medical Council (AMC). It is the first of two examinations that International Medical Graduates (IMGs) must pass on the Standard Pathway to medical registration in Australia.

The exam tests whether your clinical knowledge meets the standard expected of a graduating medical student in Australia. It is not a specialty examination — questions span the full breadth of medicine across six patient groups: adult medicine, surgery, women's health, child health, mental health, and population health. Every question is built around a realistic clinical scenario, testing how you apply knowledge to patient care rather than how much you can recall in isolation.

Passing AMC Part 1 is mandatory before you can sit the AMC Part 2 clinical examination or enter a Workplace Based Assessment (WBA) program. There is no exemption based on specialty background, seniority, or years of clinical experience.

Importantly, passing AMC Part 1 also makes you eligible to apply for limited registration with AHPRA. With a hospital job offer, limited registration allows you to work in Australia as a doctor under supervision — typically in roles such as Resident Medical Officer (RMO) or Hospital Medical Officer (HMO) — while you continue toward completing your AMC pathway. For many IMGs, Part 1 is the point at which their Australian medical career begins.

For the complete journey from eligibility assessment through to full general registration, see the Pathway to Medical Registration in Australia.

Exam Format

The AMC Part 1 consists of 150 single best answer multiple-choice questions delivered as a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) over approximately 3.5 hours. Of the 150 questions, 120 are scored and 30 are unscored pilot items used for exam development — you will not know which are which. The exam is delivered at Pearson VUE testing centres worldwide.

For a full explanation of the exam structure, the computer-adaptive format, and how scoring works, see the AMC Part 1 Exam Guide.

Topics Covered

The AMC Part 1 is structured around six patient groups rather than traditional medical specialties. Adult Health — Medicine carries the greatest weighting at approximately 30%, followed by Surgery at 20%, with Women's Health, Child Health, Mental Health, and Population Health & Ethics each at approximately 12.5%.

All questions are clinically framed. Even topics rooted in basic science — anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology — are tested through patient scenarios rather than as standalone recall.

For a complete breakdown of each patient group with guidance on what to prioritise, see the AMC Part 1 Syllabus.

Who Can Sit

To sit the AMC Part 1, you must hold a primary medical qualification from a medical school recognised by the AMC. Your medical school, degree title, and graduation year must be eligible — this can be checked on the AMC website.

Before you can register for the exam, you must complete the AMC's eligibility assessment. This includes primary source verification (PSV) through the ECFMG's EPIC system, where the AMC confirms your qualifications directly with your medical school. PSV can take several months depending on your institution's responsiveness, so it is important to begin this process well before your intended exam date.

English language proficiency is not required to sit the AMC MCQ itself — however, it is required later for AHPRA registration when you apply to work in Australia.

See the Eligibility Requirements page for the full criteria, and the AMC Registration Guide for step-by-step instructions on completing your application.

How to Prepare

Most candidates require between six and twelve months of structured preparation. The appropriate duration depends on your medical background, how recently you graduated, your familiarity with Australian clinical practice, and the number of hours per week you can commit to study.

The AMC provides several official preparation resources, including a free MCQ Preparation App with 210 practice questions (in partnership with eMedici), the MCQ Examination Specifications booklet, and the Anthology of Medical Conditions — a collection of 130+ clinical presentations that forms the core framework of the exam. These should be treated as essential references, not optional supplements.

Read the AMC Part 1 Preparation Strategy for a detailed framework on how to approach each phase of study, and review the Common Preparation Mistakes that candidates repeatedly make — most are avoidable with early awareness.

Explore AMC Part 1 in Detail