People have often asked how the AMC conduct their exams. Well, here's an overview of how both the AMC MCQ and Clinical exams are, the basics of what you'll need to know. This is compiled from the Information from the Examination Specification handbook by Australian Medical Council.
The AMC MCQ Exam is a computer administered, integrated examination over a total of 6 hours, consisting of 250 questions, divided into a morning and afternoon session of 125 question per session. It is conducted 5 times a year, in centers within Australia only. Dates for the exam and fees can be found at the AMC's website.
The MCQ exam covers a range of conditions in the disciplines of:
Medicine 65 questions
Surgery 50 questions
Pediatrics 35 questions
Obstetrics and Gynecology 30 questions
Psychiatry 20 questions
Of which only 200 is scored, and 50 is not scored.
The non-scored questions will test and calibrate new questions, which may be used in future exams, but will not be counted towards the overall score for the candidate.
Of the 200 scored questions, 60 questions are called mastery questions dealing with conditions and issues critical to the safety or outcome of the patient and those which are important in an Australian setting. These are identified by an asterisk.
Candidates will also require the knowledge of the pathogenesis, clinical features, investigative findings, differential diagnosis, management and treatment. Some questions will require basic knowledge while others will test a candidates ability to distinguish between correct diagnosis and differentials. Questions contain clinical scenarios, some with ECGs, Xrays, CTScans, MRI's and other clinical photographs. Books recommended includes the Annotated Multiple Choice Question and the Anthology of Medical Conditions. Other recommended books may be found on this URL: http://www.rxpgonline.com/article475.html
The MCQ exam have questions with Type A format, meaning one correct response in 5 choices. One has to choose the BEST answer.
Questions not attempted will not count against the examinee, and marks will not be deducted for incorrect answers. So, try answering everything!!! Just an advice, don't stay too long on a question cause you might not have enough time for the rest of the questions. If you're not confident of your answer or cannot take a guess, leave it first, but do put a mark on your scratch paper (given to you during the exam) and make sure you'll go back to it once you're done answering the rest. Time is ticking, so divide your time between the questions!!!
Candidates are required to obtain a pass standard in the MCQ exam in order to proceed to the Clinical exam. The MCQ examination operates as a pass/fail exam with pass mark set at the level of knowledge required by Australian Medical schools for their final year graduates. Advanced statistical methods are used to equate the raw score by separate derived measures of the candidate's ability and item difficulty to a standard scale. The 200 scored items and the 60 mastery items are scored and converted to the AMC scale. For the 200 scored items, the pass mark is set at 250 on the AMC scale, and for the mastery (two thirds of the mastery questions) is at 300 on the AMC scale. To pass, you have to satisfy both criteria!!!!
During application, you will be given a unique AMC reference number when you are determined to be eligible to take the exam. This reference number will assist in the processing of results and minimize the possibilty of error. Results will generally be available one month after the exam.
Now for the clinical exam. You have to meet the pass standard before being eligible to proceed to the clinical exam.
This exam requires the candidate to dmeonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts of disease processes across a broad range of disciplines and how these produce deviation from the normal.
A candidate has to be familiar with the concepts of disease processes, able to discuss mechanisms of the conditions, and be familiar with the indications or adverse effects of therapeutic agents. These factors, of course should apply to the Australian community.
The clinical exam consist of multistation structural clinical assessment of clinical skills. It is conducted in 4 separate series per year on specific saturdays in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane. Closing dates of exams and fees may be found at the AMC's website.
Candidates applying for the clinical exam may be given a clinical position after application for placement. However, the AMC cannot guaratee to place an applicant in his/her preferred center although it will endeavor to do so wherever possible. Books for this exam, according to those who have taken it are:
General Practice - John Murtagh
Clinical Examination - Talley, O'Connor
Patient Education - John Murtagh
Scheduling for the clinical exam will be on a priority basis:
First attempt candidates will have priority over repeat attempt candidates
Time since MCQ will be taken into consideration
Candidates will be ranked in order of merit based on overall MCQ exam
Candidates with fewer attempts will have priority over those with higher number of attempts.
Candidates are scheduled for a single morning or afternoon examination, which takes around 3 or 4 hours. There will be 20 stations, of which 16 is scored + 4 rest stations. The exam includes 3 Obstetrics/Gynecology and 3 pediatrics stations. Some may be unobserved, others may be link to other stations. You are generally given 8 minutes per station plus 2 minutes for changing of stations. Stations may have actual or role-playing patients.
Clear pass means obtaining a pass score in 12 or more stations including at least one pass in OB/GYN, and at least one in Pediatrics.
Marginal performance means a pass in 10 or 11 stations. You have to take a re-test consisting of 10 stations (8 scored and 2 rest), of which you need to pass at least 6 of them. If you get less than 6 stations in this re-test, you will be given a fail mark.
Clear fail means passing in 9 or less stations or fails in all three OB/GYN or fails in all three Pediatrics station.
That's about it, I hope this will able to give you a clear view of the examinations.
About Me
- Dr.Rakesh
- i am cool confident n open minded loves life the way it is always strives to improve and live better
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Australian Medical Council Exam preparation
Suggested Text Books for Australian Medical Council Exam
SUGGESTED TEXT BOOKS
There are many medical textbooks available and most of them are of high standard. They range from quite short texts, which cover essential knowledge, to long and comprehensive treatises which most people use as reference books. The AMC has drawn up the following list, as a guide to some useful texts. They are not intended as prescribed reading.
AMC examinations are set on the latest editions of the recommended textbooks. It is up to the AMC candidate to obtain the latest information. Material contained in previous editions of the recommended textbooks, or other unspecified textbooks, may not be correct and will not be used to determine the result of AMC examinations.
MEDICINE
Edwards C and Bouchier IA (eds). Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine, 18th edn. Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1999, ISBN 0443059446. www.harcourt.com.au
Braunwald. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 15th edn. McGraw-Hill, New York, 2001. ISBN 0070072728 (hardcover). www.bookstore.mcgraw-hill.com
Braunwald. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 15th edn. McGraw-Hill, New York, 2001. ISBN 0079136869 (hardcover, 2 volume set). www.bookstore.mcgraw-hill.com
Larkins R. Clinical Skills: The Medical Interview, Physical Examination and Assessment of the Patient's Problems. Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1993. ISBN 0522844677 (paperback). This book is out of print and only available second hand.
Lau LSW. Imaging Guidelines, 4th edn. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, Melbourne, 2001. ISBN 0959285415.
Talley NJ, O'Connor S. Clinical Examination: A Systematic Guide to Physical Diagnosis, 4th edn. Blackwell Science Inc., Melbourne, 2001. ISBN 0632059710.
Weatherall DJ, Ledingham JGG, Warrell DA (eds). Oxford Textbook of Medicine, 3rd edn. Oxford University Press, New York, 1996. ISBN 0192621408 (set of 3). mnemosyne.oup-usa.org/medical
SURGERY
Clunie GJA, Tjandra JJ, Thomas R.S.J. Textbook of Surgery, 2nd edn Blackwell Science Asia, Melbourne, 2001. ISBN 0867930233. www.blacksci.co.uk/australi/books.htm
Clunie GJA, Tjandra JJ, Ross H. MCQ's and Short Answer Questions for Surgery. Blackwell Science Asia, Melbourne, 1999. Paperback. ISBN 0867930101. www.blacksci.co.uk/australi/books.htm
Forrest AP, Carter DC, MacLeod IB. Principles and Practice of Surgery - A Surgical Supplement to Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine, 3rd edn. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1995. ISBN 0443048606
Hunt PS, Marshall VC. Clinical Problems in General Surgery. Butterworths, Sydney, 1991. ISBN 0409492132. This publication is out of print and only available second hand.
Morris PJ, Malt RA. Oxford Textbook of Surgery, 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, New York, 2001. ISBN 0192628844 (three volume set). http://mnemosyne.oup-usa.org/medical
Williamson R. An Aid to Clinical Surgery, 6th edn. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1998. ISBN 044305603X.
PAEDIATRICS
Hull D, Johnston D. Essential Paediatrics, 3rd edn. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1993. ISBN 0443047820, 4th edn. ISBN 0443059586, , 4th edn. ISBN 0443059594 (hardcover).
Robinson MJ, Roberton DM. Practical Paediatrics, 4th edn. Churchill Livingstone, Melbourne, 1998. ISBN 0443058938.
Staff of the Royal Children's Hospital. Paediatric Handbook, 6th edn. Blackwell Science, Melbourne, 2000. ISBN 086793101X www.blacksci.co.uk/australi/books.htm
The Australian Immunisation Handbook. NHMRC 7th edn. Australian Government Printing Service 2000. ISBN 0644475781 www.health.gov.au/pubhlth/immunise/publications.htm
OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY
Beischer NA, Mackay EV. Obstetrics and the Newborn - An Illustrated Text, 3rd edn. WB Saunders, Sydney 1998. ISBN 0702021237.
Llewellyn-Jones D. Fundamentals of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 6th edn. Mosby, London 1994, 7th edn ISBN 0723431507. www.mosby.com
Mackay EV, Beischer NA, Pepperell R, Wood C. Illustrated Textbook of Gynaecology, 2nd edition, WB Saunders, Sydney 1992. ISBN 0729512118. www.harcourt.com.au
PSYCHIATRY
Gelder M, Juan Lopez-Ibor, N Andreasen. The New Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry, Ist edn, Oxford University Press, 2000 ISBN 0192629700 http://mnemosyne.oup-usa.org/medical
American Psychiatric Association. DSM-IV: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edn. American Psychiatric Association, Washington DC, 1994. ISBN 0890420629 (paperback); ISBN 0890420610 (hardback).
GENERAL PRACTICE
Murtagh J. General Practice, 2nd edn. Hardcover. McGraw Hill Australia 1998. ISBN 0074704362 Softcover edn 1999, ISBN 0074707191. www.bookstore.mcgraw-hill.com
MISCELLANEOUS
Therapeutic Guidelines from Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. www.tg.com.au
'Analgesic Guidelines', version 3. 1997/98
'Antibiotic Guidelines', version 11. 2000
'Cardiovascular Drug Guidelines', version 3. 1999
'Dermatology Guidelines', version 1. 1999
'Endocrinology Guidelines', version 2. 2000 'Gastrointestinal Drug Guidelines', version 2. 1998/9
'Neurology Guidelines', version 1 1997/98
'Palliative Care Guidelines', version 1. 2001
'Psychotropic Drug Guidelines', version 4. 2000
'Respiratory Drug Guidelines', version 2. 2000
Note: Composite CD now available. Contains all guidelines except Palliative Care.
Manual of Use and Interpretation of Pathology Tests, 2nd edn. The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia, 1997. ISBN 0959335528. 3rd edn. 2002 ISBN 0646409646. This edition is available on CD rom or online only www.rcpa.edu.au
MIMS Australia, MIMS Australia Bi-monthly or Annual Subscription ISSN 0725-4709 www.hcn.net.au/knowledge/knowledge.html
Australian Medicine Handbook, 2nd edn. 2000 ISBN 0-64638303-5. This handbook is also available on CD Rom www.amh.net.au 3rd edn. expected early 2002. CD ROM and online versions to be updated prior to the release of the 3rd edn.
JOURNALS
In addition to the major texts, journals should be read selectively, using editorials, annotations and review articles. The following journals are suggested as source material: Australian Family Physician (www.racgp.org.au/publications/afp/), Australian Prescriber (www.australianprescriber.com), British Medical Journal (www.bmj.com/), British Journal of Hospital Medicine, Current Therapeutics, Lancet (www.thelancet.com), Medical Journal of Australia (www.mja.com.au), New England Journal of Medicine (www.nejm.org/general/text/About.htm).
SPP Books will provide a 15% discount (and free delivery within Australia) to AMC candidates who order stock online. To obtain this discount, use the SEARCH facility on the SPP Web site, to locate the book/publication you want. Clicking the submit button on the search page will bring up an order form. On completion of the form, the 15% discount is automatically deducted. There is no need for you to identify yourself as an AMC candidate to receive this discount. (This discount does not apply to items already discounted)
SUGGESTED TEXT BOOKS
There are many medical textbooks available and most of them are of high standard. They range from quite short texts, which cover essential knowledge, to long and comprehensive treatises which most people use as reference books. The AMC has drawn up the following list, as a guide to some useful texts. They are not intended as prescribed reading.
AMC examinations are set on the latest editions of the recommended textbooks. It is up to the AMC candidate to obtain the latest information. Material contained in previous editions of the recommended textbooks, or other unspecified textbooks, may not be correct and will not be used to determine the result of AMC examinations.
MEDICINE
Edwards C and Bouchier IA (eds). Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine, 18th edn. Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1999, ISBN 0443059446. www.harcourt.com.au
Braunwald. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 15th edn. McGraw-Hill, New York, 2001. ISBN 0070072728 (hardcover). www.bookstore.mcgraw-hill.com
Braunwald. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 15th edn. McGraw-Hill, New York, 2001. ISBN 0079136869 (hardcover, 2 volume set). www.bookstore.mcgraw-hill.com
Larkins R. Clinical Skills: The Medical Interview, Physical Examination and Assessment of the Patient's Problems. Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1993. ISBN 0522844677 (paperback). This book is out of print and only available second hand.
Lau LSW. Imaging Guidelines, 4th edn. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, Melbourne, 2001. ISBN 0959285415.
Talley NJ, O'Connor S. Clinical Examination: A Systematic Guide to Physical Diagnosis, 4th edn. Blackwell Science Inc., Melbourne, 2001. ISBN 0632059710.
Weatherall DJ, Ledingham JGG, Warrell DA (eds). Oxford Textbook of Medicine, 3rd edn. Oxford University Press, New York, 1996. ISBN 0192621408 (set of 3). mnemosyne.oup-usa.org/medical
SURGERY
Clunie GJA, Tjandra JJ, Thomas R.S.J. Textbook of Surgery, 2nd edn Blackwell Science Asia, Melbourne, 2001. ISBN 0867930233. www.blacksci.co.uk/australi/books.htm
Clunie GJA, Tjandra JJ, Ross H. MCQ's and Short Answer Questions for Surgery. Blackwell Science Asia, Melbourne, 1999. Paperback. ISBN 0867930101. www.blacksci.co.uk/australi/books.htm
Forrest AP, Carter DC, MacLeod IB. Principles and Practice of Surgery - A Surgical Supplement to Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine, 3rd edn. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1995. ISBN 0443048606
Hunt PS, Marshall VC. Clinical Problems in General Surgery. Butterworths, Sydney, 1991. ISBN 0409492132. This publication is out of print and only available second hand.
Morris PJ, Malt RA. Oxford Textbook of Surgery, 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, New York, 2001. ISBN 0192628844 (three volume set). http://mnemosyne.oup-usa.org/medical
Williamson R. An Aid to Clinical Surgery, 6th edn. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1998. ISBN 044305603X.
PAEDIATRICS
Hull D, Johnston D. Essential Paediatrics, 3rd edn. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1993. ISBN 0443047820, 4th edn. ISBN 0443059586, , 4th edn. ISBN 0443059594 (hardcover).
Robinson MJ, Roberton DM. Practical Paediatrics, 4th edn. Churchill Livingstone, Melbourne, 1998. ISBN 0443058938.
Staff of the Royal Children's Hospital. Paediatric Handbook, 6th edn. Blackwell Science, Melbourne, 2000. ISBN 086793101X www.blacksci.co.uk/australi/books.htm
The Australian Immunisation Handbook. NHMRC 7th edn. Australian Government Printing Service 2000. ISBN 0644475781 www.health.gov.au/pubhlth/immunise/publications.htm
OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY
Beischer NA, Mackay EV. Obstetrics and the Newborn - An Illustrated Text, 3rd edn. WB Saunders, Sydney 1998. ISBN 0702021237.
Llewellyn-Jones D. Fundamentals of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 6th edn. Mosby, London 1994, 7th edn ISBN 0723431507. www.mosby.com
Mackay EV, Beischer NA, Pepperell R, Wood C. Illustrated Textbook of Gynaecology, 2nd edition, WB Saunders, Sydney 1992. ISBN 0729512118. www.harcourt.com.au
PSYCHIATRY
Gelder M, Juan Lopez-Ibor, N Andreasen. The New Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry, Ist edn, Oxford University Press, 2000 ISBN 0192629700 http://mnemosyne.oup-usa.org/medical
American Psychiatric Association. DSM-IV: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edn. American Psychiatric Association, Washington DC, 1994. ISBN 0890420629 (paperback); ISBN 0890420610 (hardback).
GENERAL PRACTICE
Murtagh J. General Practice, 2nd edn. Hardcover. McGraw Hill Australia 1998. ISBN 0074704362 Softcover edn 1999, ISBN 0074707191. www.bookstore.mcgraw-hill.com
MISCELLANEOUS
Therapeutic Guidelines from Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. www.tg.com.au
'Analgesic Guidelines', version 3. 1997/98
'Antibiotic Guidelines', version 11. 2000
'Cardiovascular Drug Guidelines', version 3. 1999
'Dermatology Guidelines', version 1. 1999
'Endocrinology Guidelines', version 2. 2000 'Gastrointestinal Drug Guidelines', version 2. 1998/9
'Neurology Guidelines', version 1 1997/98
'Palliative Care Guidelines', version 1. 2001
'Psychotropic Drug Guidelines', version 4. 2000
'Respiratory Drug Guidelines', version 2. 2000
Note: Composite CD now available. Contains all guidelines except Palliative Care.
Manual of Use and Interpretation of Pathology Tests, 2nd edn. The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia, 1997. ISBN 0959335528. 3rd edn. 2002 ISBN 0646409646. This edition is available on CD rom or online only www.rcpa.edu.au
MIMS Australia, MIMS Australia Bi-monthly or Annual Subscription ISSN 0725-4709 www.hcn.net.au/knowledge/knowledge.html
Australian Medicine Handbook, 2nd edn. 2000 ISBN 0-64638303-5. This handbook is also available on CD Rom www.amh.net.au 3rd edn. expected early 2002. CD ROM and online versions to be updated prior to the release of the 3rd edn.
JOURNALS
In addition to the major texts, journals should be read selectively, using editorials, annotations and review articles. The following journals are suggested as source material: Australian Family Physician (www.racgp.org.au/publications/afp/), Australian Prescriber (www.australianprescriber.com), British Medical Journal (www.bmj.com/), British Journal of Hospital Medicine, Current Therapeutics, Lancet (www.thelancet.com), Medical Journal of Australia (www.mja.com.au), New England Journal of Medicine (www.nejm.org/general/text/About.htm).
SPP Books will provide a 15% discount (and free delivery within Australia) to AMC candidates who order stock online. To obtain this discount, use the SEARCH facility on the SPP Web site, to locate the book/publication you want. Clicking the submit button on the search page will bring up an order form. On completion of the form, the 15% discount is automatically deducted. There is no need for you to identify yourself as an AMC candidate to receive this discount. (This discount does not apply to items already discounted)
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Medical journal
http://nmji.in/
http://www.ijo.in/
http://www.ijppediatricsindia.org/
http://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/ebm/journal/Journal_of_the_Indian_Medical_Association
http://www.indianjmedsci.org/
http://www.ijmm.org/
http://www.cmaj.ca/
http://www.ipej.org/
http://www.ijhg.com/
http://www.ijps.org/
http://www.jiaps.com/
http://www.ajts.org/
http://www.ijo.in/
http://www.ijppediatricsindia.org/
http://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/ebm/journal/Journal_of_the_Indian_Medical_Association
http://www.indianjmedsci.org/
http://www.ijmm.org/
http://www.cmaj.ca/
http://www.ipej.org/
http://www.ijhg.com/
http://www.ijps.org/
http://www.jiaps.com/
http://www.ajts.org/
You might also be interested in
The Indian Society for Parasitology (ISP)
parasitologyindia.org
Indian Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology (IAOMFP)
www.iaomfp.org
Journal of Medical Physics
www.jmp.org.in/
Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology
www.ijmm.org/
Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology
www.annalsofian.org/
Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics
www.cancerjournal.net/
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology
www.ijdvl.com/
The Lancet
www.thelancet.com/
BMJ
www.bmj.com/
Annals of Thoracic Medicine
www.thoracicmedicine.org/
The Indian Society for Parasitology (ISP)
parasitologyindia.org
Indian Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology (IAOMFP)
www.iaomfp.org
Journal of Medical Physics
www.jmp.org.in/
Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology
www.ijmm.org/
Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology
www.annalsofian.org/
Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics
www.cancerjournal.net/
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology
www.ijdvl.com/
The Lancet
www.thelancet.com/
BMJ
www.bmj.com/
Annals of Thoracic Medicine
www.thoracicmedicine.org/
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Short Stories in Medicine: The mirror
Short Stories in Medicine: The mirror: "Creola is now at war with their neighbors from the south, the Asha people. Here lives the prince, Nasaria and his wife, Sheila. Somewhere ..."
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