AMC CAT MCQ study guide
AMC CAT MCQ · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The AMC CAT MCQ Examination is the computer adaptive multiple choice question stage of the Australian Medical Council's Standard Pathway, the route by which international medical graduates seek assessment towards registration to practise medicine in Australia. Candidates are international medical graduates who have had their medical school, degree and graduation year checked as eligible and who hold an AMC account and portfolio. The AMC CAT MCQ study guide has 4 sections and about 1,220 words.
01Medicine: Structured Reasoning for the AMC CAT MCQ
Most medicine items test pattern recognition plus safe first-line management. Anchor your revision around: (1) recognising time-critical emergencies - acute coronary syndrome, stroke within the thrombolysis window, sepsis, anaphylaxis, DKA, severe asthma, tension pneumothorax, upper GI bleed; (2) common chronic disease - hypertension, type 2 diabetes, COPD/asthma, heart failure, thyroid disease, chronic kidney disease; (3) drug safety - interactions, contraindications, monitoring (e.g.
309 words, about 2 min02Surgery: Assessment, Complications and Safe Disposition
Surgical items reward a systematic approach. Learn: (1) the acute abdomen - appendicitis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, small and large bowel obstruction, perforated viscus, diverticulitis, testicular torsion; (2) trauma principles - primary survey, tension pneumothorax and cardiac tamponade, pelvic fracture with haemorrhage, head injury and Glasgow Coma Scale; (3) perioperative care - fasting, VTE prophylaxis, antibiotic prophylaxis, wound classification, consent; (4) postoperative complications by timeline - immediate (haemorrhage, anastomotic leak, anaesthetic issues), early (infection, ileus, atelectasis, urinary retention), late (adhesional obstruction, incisional hernia); (5) common referrals - hernia, breast lump, thyroid swelling, skin lesions, and the red flags that mandate urgent referral.
309 words, about 2 min03Obstetrics and Gynaecology: Safety First in Two Patients
O&G questions test recognition of conditions where delay harms mother or fetus. Core content: (1) early pregnancy bleeding - ectopic pregnancy (always exclude in any woman of reproductive age with abdominal pain), miscarriage types, gestational trophoblastic disease; (2) hypertensive disorders - pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, HELLP syndrome; (3) antepartum haemorrhage - placenta praevia and abruption; (4) labour and delivery - fetal monitoring, shoulder dystocia, postpartum haemorrhage, cord prolapse; (5) gynaecology - abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian torsion, contraception and emergency contraception; (6) screening and prevention - cervical screening, antenatal screening, anti-D prophylaxis, vaccination in pregnancy.
309 words, about 2 min04Paediatrics: Age-Specific Physiology and Escalation
Paediatric items reward age awareness. Key areas: (1) the unwell child - recognition of sepsis, meningitis, bronchiolitis, croup, epiglottitis, pneumonia, dehydration; (2) neonatal problems - jaundice timing, feeding, sepsis, congenital heart disease presenting with cyanosis or shock; (3) growth and development - milestones, growth charts, failure to thrive; (4) common chronic conditions - asthma, eczema, type 1 diabetes, epilepsy; (5) safeguarding - non-accidental injury patterns, delayed presentation, inconsistent history; (6) immunisation schedule and developmental screening.
293 words, about 1 min