AMC Part 1 Exam Day Guide

Where and How the Exam Is Delivered

The AMC Part 1 (AMC CAT MCQ Examination) is delivered at Pearson VUE test centres. Centres are available across Australia and at selected international locations worldwide, so most candidates can sit the exam without travelling to a specific Australian city.

To book, you first apply for an exam authorisation through your AMC online account. Once approved, the authorisation is valid for 12 months, during which you schedule a specific date and venue through Pearson VUE. You are not locked into a single date at the time of authorisation — you choose when to sit within that window.

Popular centres and dates can fill months in advance, particularly in major cities. Once you are on track with your study plan and consistently hitting your target scores on practice exams, book promptly to secure your preferred date.

ID and Check-In Requirements

You must bring valid, original photo identification as specified by the AMC and Pearson VUE. The name on your ID must match exactly the name on your AMC application — even minor discrepancies (middle names, spelling variations, name order) can result in being turned away.

Typical requirements:

• Primary ID — A current, unexpired passport is the safest option for international candidates. National ID cards with both a photograph and signature are also accepted at most centres.
• Secondary ID — Some centres require a second form of identification. Check the AMC correspondence and Pearson VUE confirmation email for the specific requirements at your test centre.

Expired documents, photocopies, and digital copies on a phone are not accepted. If your name has changed since you applied to the AMC (for example, due to marriage), ensure your AMC records have been updated before exam day, or bring supporting legal documentation.

You must arrive at the test centre at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. Late arrival may result in being refused entry — and your exam fee (AUD $2,920) is non-refundable.

On arrival, the centre staff will verify your identity, photograph you, and ask you to store all personal belongings in a locker. You will then be escorted to your assigned computer terminal.

Exam Timing and Structure

• Total questions — 150 multiple-choice, single best answer questions (A-type: one correct answer from five options)
• Duration — Approximately 3.5 hours of testing time. Your booking confirmation will confirm the exact session structure and any scheduled breaks.
• Format — Computer Adaptive Test (CAT). Question difficulty adjusts based on your performance, and you cannot skip questions or return to a previous answer.

Of the 150 questions, 120 are scored and 30 are unscored pilot items used by the AMC for future exam development. You will not know which are which — they appear identical. For a full explanation of how the adaptive format works, see AMC CAT Exam Format Explained.

With approximately 3.5 hours for 150 questions, you have roughly 1 minute and 24 seconds per question. An on-screen timer will show your remaining time. There is no penalty for incorrect answers, so every question should receive an answer — a considered guess is always better than leaving a question unanswered.

Breaks and Test Centre Rules

The test centre environment is strictly controlled. Understanding the rules beforehand avoids surprises and lets you focus entirely on the exam.

What is NOT allowed in the testing room:

• Mobile phones (must be turned off — not just silenced — before storing in your locker)
• Bags, wallets, watches, or jewellery that could conceal materials
• Pens, pencils, paper, rulers, or erasers
• Food, drinks, tissues, or medications (unless pre-approved)
• No personal items of any kind at your desk

What IS provided:

• A whiteboard and marker (or equivalent) for making notes during the exam. These are collected by the invigilator when you finish.
• On-screen tools as provided by the Pearson VUE testing software

Breaks:

Your booking confirmation will specify whether a scheduled break is included and its duration. If a break is offered, use it to visit the restroom, stretch, and have a quick snack from your locker. Do not discuss exam content with anyone during the break — this is a strict rule and can result in your exam being invalidated.

Once testing has resumed after a break, leaving the room again may use your exam time or may not be permitted at all. Follow the invigilator's instructions.

Other rules:

• Family members and companions must wait outside the building, not in the test centre lobby
• You may be subject to security screening (e.g., turning out pockets, wand scan) before entering the testing room
• Any behaviour the invigilator considers suspicious can result in your exam being terminated

For the exact procedures at your specific centre, read the confirmation email and any Pearson VUE candidate instructions carefully.

What to Do the Day Before and Morning Of

1. Confirm location and time — Recheck the test centre address, your reporting time, and which ID documents you need. If you have not visited the centre before, consider doing a trial run to confirm travel time and parking.
2. Travel and parking — Plan your route with a buffer for delays. If driving, check whether the centre has parking and whether it requires payment. If using public transport, identify a backup option in case of disruptions.
3. Pack the night before — Lay out your ID, confirmation email (printed or accessible offline), a snack and water for the break, and comfortable clothing. Layers are recommended — test centre temperatures vary.
4. Rest and meals — Get a full night's sleep. Eat a proper meal before leaving so that hunger does not become a distraction during a 3.5-hour exam.
5. Avoid new material — Do not study anything new in the final 24 hours. If you want to review, limit it to a brief pass over high-yield summary notes. Your focus the day before should be logistics and rest, not content.

For the exam format and how questions work, see the AMC Part 1 Exam Guide and AMC CAT Exam Format Explained. For scoring and pass marks, see Pass Rate and Scoring.