AMC Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) Examination

Suspension of MCQ exam services

Pearson are unable to schedule or deliver exams for candidates who are residents of Iran unless they can provide proof of primary residency outside of Iran.  This came into effect from September 8, 2026, following suspension of General License G by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and until further notice.

If you can provide documented proof of residency outside of Iran, please ensure you update your address in your AMC account and contact the MCQ team to reschedule your examination.

IMPORTANT:

Pearson will require you to have your documented proof of residency outside of Iran, at the venue on the day of your examination.

Acceptable forms of such documentation are:

• Passport
• National (or European) identification card
• Permanent resident card or permanent resident visa
• Certificate of naturalization or citizenship
• U.S. green card (alien registration receipt card)
• Driver’s license
• Student visa
• Work visa
• Employment authorization papers

If you are unable to provide any of the above documentation, please contact the MCQ team to arrange a full refund.

The AMC CAT MCQ examination is a computer-administered, fully integrated multi-choice question examination delivered in one 3.5 hour session in examination centres worldwide. 

AMC CAT MCQ content

The examination consists of 150 multiple choice questions where there is one correct response from five options. 

The content covers essential medical knowledge including: 

• the disease process 
• clinical examination and diagnosis 
• investigation, therapy and management. 

You are expected to complete all 150 scored items in the examination.  

Indigenous Health

We recommend that you visit the AMC Indigenous Health webpage to learn about the AMC’s commitment to promoting Indigenous Health by ensuring culturally safe practice to improve health outcomes.

Access to the AMC CAT MCQ examinations

You may not be able to sit the AMC CAT MCQ examination if you have primary residency in a country sanctioned by the United States Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). 

The AMC CAT MCQ examination is delivered by Pearson VUE, a United States registered company, who must comply with the economic and trade sanctions enforced by OFAC. This means they may not be able to accept your scheduling request unless you can provide proof of primary residency in a non-sanctioned country. 

How to apply

You must apply via your AMC account for an authorisation. This authorisation is valid for 12 months to schedule an AMC CAT MCQ examination event. 

You will then be required to schedule a specific venue directly with Pearson VUE to sit the AMC CAT MCQ. 

Examination events and scheduling

Examination venues

Pearson VUE conduct the CAT MCQ examination on behalf of the Australian Medical Council (AMC). AMC CAT MCQ examination events are held at various venues in Australia and other countries. The Pearson VUE test centres which administer AMC CAT MCQ examinations have been selected based on the high security standards which are enforced.

Please visit the Pearson Vue website to find an examination venue near your. At all venues, candidates must arrive at least 30 minutes before the appointment time.

Preparing for the AMC CAT MCQ examination

To prepare for this examination it is recommended that you: 

1. Read the MCQ Examination Specifications booklet. This provides information on the CAT blueprint and format. 
2. Practise with the MCQ Preparation App

The MCQ Preparation App

The AMC has partnered with eMedici to produce a free online resource to support international medical graduates prepare for the AMC Multiple-Choice Question exam (MCQ).

Examination procedures

Personal items

Any personal items brought to the examination venue must be left in the allocated storage area. This includes bags and mobile phones.  

Mobile phones must be turned off before being stored. 

Food and drink are not permitted in the examination room. 

You are not allowed to take any of the following items into the examination: 

• tissues  
• paper of any kind 
• pens/pencils 
• rulers. 

A whiteboard and pen will be provided for you to make notes, these will be collected at the end of the examination. 

Family members are not allowed in the examination venue and must wait outside the building. 

Conduct of IMGs

It is expected that during the examination, you: 

• Comply with the MCQ examination Specifications. 
• Conduct yourself in a courteous manner with examination centre staff, employees or agents of the AMC and other IMGs.  
• Comply with all instructions of the MCQ examination staff.  

Failure to do so constitutes a breach of examination procedures and may lead to one or more of the following: 

• your result not being awarded or withdrawn. 
• being excluded from the examination.  
• being refused the opportunity to sit future examinations. 

If you cross professional boundaries while undertaking the AMC CAT MCQ examination you may be subject to disciplinary action by regulatory authorities. 

Technical Issues

The AMC CAT MCQ examination is computer-administered, and so extraordinary events such as power outages, computer malfunctions or network difficulty may disrupt the examination process. The AMC will take into account extenuating circumstances. 

Where technical issues prevent you from completing the examination, the AMC MCQ Results Panel may conduct a statistical analysis of responses to determine whether the partial results reliably reflect the IMG’s ability. 

If no conclusion can be made from the completed responses, the AMC CAT MCQ Results Panel may order a new examination be undertaken. No additional fee is charged for this new examination. The AMC is not responsible for any other associated expenses such as travel costs. 

Examination results

You can access your AMC CAT MCQ examination results through your online AMC account. 

Your results will be available at 4.00pm on the Friday, three weeks following the examination event.  

To access your examination results: 

1. Sign into your AMC account 
2. Select the ‘AMC assessments’ option on your landing page
3. Select MCQ Results (at the top of the menu list) of your dashboard
4. Select the examination under the Details column 

The AMC CAT MCQ examination results are processed and issued by the AMC, not Pearson VUE. 

Should you have any questions please contact the AMC MCQ Team. 

Update to Verification of AMC MCQ Results

 Following a review of current processes, the AMC no longer offers verification of MCQ examination results.

The AMC MCQ is a computer-based assessment, with all candidate responses captured and processed electronically. In addition, results undergo comprehensive quality assurance prior to release, including statistical checks, psychometric review, and formal sign-off by the AMC MCQ Results Panel. These processes ensure the accuracy and integrity of all results.

Further, this change aligns with the recommendation from the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman (NHPO) to retire the verification process for exams where marking is computer-based.

Candidates may continue to raise any concerns regarding the MCQ through existing channels – such as through the test centre where their exam is undertaken. The Pearson test centre will raise all exam issues including technical and operational to the AMC.