ACEM Primary
ACEM Primary Examination
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ExploreAbout this exam
The ACEM Primary Examination is an assessment within the Australian College of Emergency Medicine (ACEM) training pathway, listed under the College's Training content and referenced through its examinations pages and the FACEM Training Program Handbook. It is intended for doctors progressing toward FACEM Fellowship, and the College's own site directs trainees to its Examinations and Educational Resources pages for authoritative detail. The exam's stated content domains for this page are Emergency Medicine, Anatomy, Pathology, Physiology and Pharmacology, each weighted at 20 percent. Because the official page could not be retrieved in full, the specific format, duration, item count, pass standard, fee and retake rules are not confirmed here and are marked for review; candidates should verify them directly with ACEM. Preparation should be built around the five domains, using the College's Educational Resources portal and the current FACEM Training Program Handbook as the primary references, plus structured revision of basic sciences applied to emergency presentations. This page is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ACEM.
What you'll study
About ACEM Primary preparation
What is the ACEM Primary Examination?
It is an examination within the ACEM training program, listed under the College's Training assessments. It sits alongside other assessments trainees complete on the path to FACEM Fellowship. Full details of structure and scheduling are published by ACEM on its Examinations pages and in the FACEM Training Program Handbook.
Who should sit it?
It is aimed at doctors in the ACEM training pathway working toward FACEM Fellowship. Eligibility rules, including when you may attempt it, are set by the College, so check your own enrolment status and the current handbook before applying rather than relying on secondhand advice.
What content does it cover?
The domains listed here are Emergency Medicine, Anatomy, Pathology, Physiology and Pharmacology, each weighted 20 percent. That means basic science is not background reading - it carries the same weight as emergency medicine. Plan revision so no single domain absorbs all your time.
What is the exam format and how long is it?
We do not have a verified figure for format, duration, item count or pass standard from the official source, so we have not published one. These details change between revisions. Confirm them with ACEM's Examinations pages or the current FACEM Training Program Handbook before you build a practice plan.
How much does it cost and can I retake it?
Fees and retake policy are not confirmed in our source material and are marked for review. Both are set by the College and can change, so obtain the current fee schedule and the rules on repeat attempts directly from ACEM rather than from older trainee forums or study guides.
How should I order my study?
Because the five domains are equally weighted, start with the two you are weakest in rather than the ones you enjoy. Integrate anatomy, physiology and pharmacology around emergency presentations so facts are linked to clinical scenarios, then consolidate with timed recall practice in the final weeks.
How hard is it?
It is a postgraduate specialty examination covering four basic-science domains at a level applied to emergency medicine, so it demands more than undergraduate recall. Difficulty for you depends on how recently you studied basic sciences. There is no published pass rate in our source, so treat claims about difficulty with caution.
What are the common failure modes?
Typical problems are over-weighting clinical emergency medicine and neglecting physiology and pharmacology, memorising isolated facts without linking them to presentations, and starting timed practice too late. Also common: relying on outdated secondhand notes instead of the College's current handbook and educational resources.