AMC CAT MCQ Guide 2026: Format, Fees, Results and Pathways

The AMC CAT MCQ is the first exam most international medical graduates (IMGs) meet on the way to practising medicine in Australia. It is a computer adaptive multiple choice exam run by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) and delivered by Pearson VUE.

What the AMC CAT MCQ is

The exam is a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT). It tests whether your medical knowledge is at the level expected of a graduate of an Australian medical school who is about to start supervised practice. The exam is the same for everyone on the standard pathway, regardless of where you trained or how long you have practised.

Key facts at a glance

You are expected to complete all 150 scored items.

What "computer adaptive" means for you

In an adaptive test the computer chooses each next question based on how you have answered so far. Practically this means three things:

• You cannot skip ahead and return later in the way you would in a paper exam, so plan to answer every item as it comes.
• The difficulty you perceive is not a reliable signal of how you are doing. Many candidates feel the exam is hard because it is designed to probe the edge of their knowledge.
• Pacing matters. 150 items in 3.5 hours leaves roughly 84 seconds per question on average. Practise under that constraint.

Content: what the MCQ covers

The MCQ covers the breadth of medicine expected at graduate level: adult medicine and surgery, women's health (obstetrics and gynaecology), child health, mental health and population health, with clinical reasoning across diagnosis, investigation and management. Questions are framed in Australian practice. That is the single biggest trap for IMGs: an answer that is correct in your home country may not be the answer the AMC expects if Australian guidelines differ.

Our companion guide How to pass the AMC MCQ explains how to build a study plan around the Australian references (Therapeutic Guidelines, the Australian Immunisation Handbook, RACGP guidance and similar) and which high-yield areas to prioritise.

Eligibility and how to apply

The MCQ belongs to the standard pathway. Before you can sit it you need an AMC account and a portfolio in which your primary medical qualification is verified. The standard pathway requires an eligible medical degree from an eligible medical school, with an eligible degree title and graduating year.

The application process works in two steps:

1. Apply for an authorisation in your AMC account. The authorisation is valid for 12 months.
2. Book a venue and date directly with Pearson VUE. You choose any Pearson VUE centre offering the exam.

Some candidates face restrictions: Pearson VUE cannot schedule or deliver the exam to residents of Iran unless they can prove primary residency elsewhere, and candidates with primary residency in a country subject to OFAC sanctions may be unable to sit unless they prove residency in a non-sanctioned country.

Checklist before you apply

• AMC account created and identity confirmed.
• Primary medical qualification submitted for verification in your portfolio.
• Degree, school and graduating year checked against the AMC eligibility criteria.
• Budget ready for the authorisation fee and the later steps (see below).
• A realistic exam window within the 12-month authorisation.

Fees (stand October 2026)

The AMC publishes its fees in Australian dollars, excluding GST. The figures most IMGs on the standard pathway will meet:

From 1 October 2026 the AMC no longer charges a card payment surcharge; other fees are unchanged. Registration fees of the Medical Board of Australia are separate.

Results

Results are released through your AMC account at 4.00pm on the Friday three weeks after your exam. The AMC no longer offers verification of MCQ results. No fixed pass mark is published, so treat any number you see quoted online as unofficial.

If you pass, your next step on the standard pathway is either the AMC clinical exam or workplace-based assessment (see below). If you do not pass, use your result report to locate weak areas and rebook with a new authorisation.

Where the MCQ fits: the registration pathways

The Medical Board of Australia sets the pathways; the AMC runs assessments within them. Which pathway you follow decides whether you need the MCQ at all.

Standard pathway

For IMGs who are not eligible for the competent authority or specialist pathway. The sequence:

1. Pass the AMC CAT MCQ before applying for registration.
2. Complete either the AMC clinical exam or workplace-based assessment (WBA). The MCQ plus one of these earns the AMC Certificate. The clinical exam can be taken before or after registration; WBA only after registration has been granted.
3. Register in stages: provisional registration if you have passed both the MCQ and the clinical exam, or limited registration if you have passed only the MCQ.
4. Complete 12 months of supervised practice (minimum 47 weeks full-time equivalent), then apply for general registration.

The Medical Board also asks you to apply at least three months before your intended start date.

Competent authority pathway

For IMGs who have been assessed by an approved competent authority and practised in a competent authority country. The approved authorities are:

On this pathway the AMC manages primary source verification only, not an exam. You complete 12 months of supervised practice (minimum 47 weeks FTE) before general registration. No MCQ is required.

Specialist pathway

For specialist IMGs (SIMGs) with an international specialist qualification seeking specialist registration or an area-of-need specialist-level position. Assessment of comparability is carried out by the relevant Australian specialist college. The MCQ is not the route here.

Expedited specialist pathway

An option within the specialist pathway for specialists whose qualification appears on the Medical Board's Expedited Specialist pathway accepted qualifications list. It leads to specialist registration without the full college comparability assessment.

Short-term training in a medical specialty

For specialists and specialists in training who want up to 24 months of specialist or advanced training in Australia. It does not lead to specialist or ongoing registration.

For a full comparison of registration types and how pathways connect to jobs, see IMG doctor pathways in Australia.

The AMC MCQ and New Zealand

The MCQ is also useful if you are weighing up New Zealand. The Medical Council of New Zealand accepts a pass in the AMC MCQ within five years of your exam date as one of the prerequisites for NZREX Clinical. Details are in Working as a doctor in New Zealand.

Common mistakes

• Studying from home-country guidelines. The exam expects Australian practice. Antibiotic choices, screening intervals and vaccination schedules are classic examples where answers differ.
• Letting the authorisation lapse. It is valid for 12 months. Book your Pearson VUE date early, especially in popular cities.
• Ignoring pacing. Around 84 seconds per question means long stems need fast reading. Time every practice block.
• Treating unofficial pass marks as fact. No official pass mark is published.
• Choosing the wrong pathway. If you hold PLAB, LMCC, ECFMG certification, NZREX or COMLEX-USA, check the competent authority pathway before paying for the MCQ.
• Forgetting the next step. After the MCQ you still need the clinical exam or WBA and supervised practice. Plan finances for the whole route.

A realistic timeline

Preparation needs vary widely. A workable structure is:

1. Portfolio and verification first, because the authorisation depends on it.
2. Diagnostic block of questions to find weak disciplines.
3. Systematic coverage of all disciplines with Australian references.
4. Timed mixed blocks in the final weeks.
5. Book the exam once your timed practice scores are stable.

Exam day at Pearson VUE

• Arrive at least 30 minutes before your appointment. Late arrival can mean losing the session.
• Bring the identification Pearson VUE requires, with your name matching your AMC records exactly.
• Expect check-in procedures such as photographs and storing personal items in a locker.
• Read each stem fully. In a 3.5-hour session, fatigue in the final hour causes avoidable misreads, so plan short mental resets.
• Do not try to judge your performance from how hard questions feel. In an adaptive test that impression is unreliable.

Practise with Australian-style questions

MediFlow's Australia medicine track offers free sample questions written around Australian guidelines, and the MediFlow app lets you run timed mixed blocks on your phone.

Next steps

• Read the study plan for the AMC MCQ.
• Prepare for what comes after: the AMC clinical exam guide.
• Compare all routes in IMG doctor pathways in Australia.