The information that follows is taken from the AMC publication, Examination Specifications Booklet. Candidates should consult the Examination Specifications and Sample Questions for more detailed information on strategies for preparing for the AMC Multiple Choice Question and Clinical Examinations
The Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) examination is a comprehensive examination of medical knowledge and practice. The AMC recommends that candidates undertake a thorough review of the major topics covered in the examination.
Candidates should familiarise themselves with the MCQ format. A wide range of general texts is readily available on this form of examination and its associated techniques. The AMC publication Annotated Multiple Choice Questions also covers these aspects.
The AMC publication Annotated Multiple Choice Questions is a selection of 600 MCQ Questions from the AMC MCQ Question Bank with commentaries and explanations on each question. The AMC has used these questions in previous MCQ examinations. The questions provide a comprehensive guide to the format, scope and standard of the AMC MCQ examination. The book is distributed by Blackwell Publishing Asia.
The AMC publication Anthology of Medical Conditions has been produced not only to assist overseas trained doctors to prepare for the AMC examinations but also as an essential tool for clinical practice. The publication lists over 130 Clinical Presentations of clinical conditions and classifies them to assist in a problem-solving approach to diagnosis and management. It is essential for all doctors to be familiar with the laws of the society in which they practise medicine and the ethics that underpin medical practice. It is also important to understand the organisational aspects of medicine in the Australian context. The Anthology of Medical Conditions contains a separate section dealing with these important issues, entitled Legal, Ethical and Organisational Aspects of the Practice of Medicine (LEO). The publication is enhanced throughout with medical illustrations. The publication is recommended for use in preparing for the AMC multiple choice question (MCQ) and clinical examinations. To order the Anthology of Medical Conditions, click here.
While candidates may find it useful to review the major textbooks in the key clinical disciplines, the questions in the MCQ examination are oriented towards the more common clinical applications, differential diagnosis and therapeutics, and candidates should take care when using major reference type textbooks. The AMC has drawn up a guide to some useful texts. These textbooks, listed below, will provide background reading on key topics and contain a great deal of reference material. They are not intended as prescribed reading.
Candidates may find it more useful to review medical journals that contain useful review articles and summaries of the identification, treatment and management of the more common clinical conditions in the Australian community.
For the AMC clinical examination, the AMC recommends that candidates undertake a comprehensive review of clinical skills and differential diagnosis. Experience suggests that a review of journals that contain articles dealing with common clinical conditions in the Australian community will be more effective in preparing for the clinical examinations than spending too much time with reference books. A list of useful journals is provided below.
The AMC in association with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has produced a videotape of the Medical and Surgical Consulting Skills components and the assessment of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Paediatrics in the clinical examination (publications). The videotape takes the candidate through each step of the clinical examination. It also provides a good introduction to the general format of the AMC clinical examination.
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