What are the Australian Medical Council Exams?
You know how, when you wanted to be a part of that school basketball team, they had you play mock matches to test your skills? Well, the AMC exams are exactly that, except you get into the Australian healthcare industry once you pass them!
The Australian Medical Council, the organisation that administers the AMC exam, is an independent entity tasked with maintaining the standards of medical education in the country. One of the methods they use to achieve this is by evaluating the skills of international medical graduates (IMGs) who wish to practice in Australia.
The AMC exams are divided into two phases, part 1 and part 2. The first part is the AMC CAT MCQ Exam, and the second one is the AMC Clinical Exam. Once you clear part 1, you are eligible for part 2.
Let’s get right into the details!
Also Check: AMC Exam Eligibility Criteria
AMC 1 vs AMC 2- What’s the difference?
Actually, it is more accurate to say AMC 1 and AMC 2. These exams complement each other, meaning that together they thoroughly assess the candidate's competence by testing both their theoretical knowledge and clinical skills.
For a better understanding of the tests, I’ll break down all the requirements, details, and nitty-gritties of the two exams.
Details | AMC Exam 1 | AMC Exam 2 |
Name | AMC CAT MCQ Exam | AMC Clinical Exam |
Mode of Exam | Computer based | In-person or Computer-based (limited slots available) |
Exam Date | Anytime between February and November | AMC releases dates on its website for scheduling the in-person exam. |
Exam Center | Exam held globally | Melbourne, Australia (In-person) |
Exam Duration | 3.5 Hours | 8 Hours |
Number of Questions | 120+30 items (Total 150 items) | 16 stations total |
Passing Score | 250/500 | 9 out of 14 stations |
AMC Part 1 vs AMC Part 2: The Syllabus
The AMC Exams have a comprehensive syllabus of applied medical knowledge and practice. The syllabus for these examinations is covered under these main topics:
- Adult Health (Medicine and Surgery)
- Women’s Health (Ob/Gyn)
- Child Health
- Mental Health
- Population Health
The difference is how the candidates are assessed for these topics.
You can read more on the exam syllabus in our in-depth discussion on the AMC Exam syllabus!
While the AMC Part 1 exam is a computer-based, multiple-choice question type exam, and focuses more on theoretical knowledge, the AMC Part 2 exam is the practical examination, mostly done in person, that focuses on the practical skills.
| AMC Part 1 Exam (MCQ-based) | AMC Part 2 Exam (Clinical-based) |
| Disease process | History taking |
| Investigation | Clinical examination |
| Diagnostic formulation | Communication and Professionalism |
| Therapy and management | Counselling and education |
The AMC 1 exam is a computer-adaptive test (CAT), while the clinical exam, or AMC 2, focuses more on the real-world application of your knowledge and skills.
You can think of it as the written and practical exams you used to sit for in your medical college!
Also Read: AMC Exam Fees
AMC Exam 1 and Exam 2: What’s the passing rate?
So now that you’re clear about what you’ll be facing in AMC exam 1 and exam 2, let’s take a quick look at the pass percentage.
Knowing the strict quality control of medical education and standard of healthcare in Australia, it is no surprise that the AMC exams are quite thorough in their assessment. Which means, clearing them is no joke!
AMC Part 1 Pass Rate
For the session 2023-2024, the AMC released the data on the number of students taking the exam and the pass percentage in their annual report. For the AMC MCQ exam, 300 students took the exam, and 3200 candidates cleared it. The pass rate was 51%, which was an improvement of 4% from the last session.
AMC Part 2 Pass Rate
The AMC Clinical Exam traditionally has a lower pass percentage than the AMC Exam 1. In the 2023-24 session, out of the 2100 candidates who went for the Clinical exam, only about 990 candidates managed to clear it. Although it has shown an improvement from the previous year, the pass percentage was still at 24%.
AMC Exams: How To Ace Them?
AMC exam preparation requires time and dedication. Don’t let the syllabus and the hype around the exam scare you! We, at Academically, know exactly what can assist you in acing the exam. You can check out the AMC exam preparation course, or just book a free consultation for an easy assessment of your requirements!