AMC CAT MCQ Examination Matrix

• The content of the AMC CAT MCQ examination [commencing 2011] consists of 150 Type A MCQs [one correct response from five options] – 120 scored items and 30 [non-scored] pilot items.
• Each candidate receives 120 scored + 30 [non-scored] pilot items = 150 items in the examination session of 3½ hours
• See also MCQ Examination Overview [2011]

Examination questions within the CAT MCQ examination are classified in terms of both Clinician Tasks and Patient Groups, as follows:

Patient Groups

• A total of 120 scored items are selected from the AMC pool of items and distributed across the following proportions based on the candidate’s ability level
• Adult Health – Medicine [30% of scored items] and Adult Health – Surgery [20% of scored items
  • These patient groups cover a broad spectrum of adult health and aged care, and involve a sound foundation knowledge of the medical sciences (physiology, biochemistry, anatomy, pharmacology) and an understanding of pathobiology and pathophysiology. They include developed and practiced clinical skills (communication, history taking, physical examination, counselling) an appropriate understanding of principles of treatment and familiarity with current management strategies (investigations, procedural interventions, drug and non-drug therapies)
• Women’s Health [12.5% of scored items]
  • Gynaecology covers a broad spectrum of women’s health care, and involves all principles of adult health as above.
  • Obstetrics also embodies these principles with the addition of the understanding of the basic sciences as they apply to reproduction and the effects of pathobiology and pathophysiology on the reproductive process (pregnancy, labour, birth and the post-natal period)
• Child Health [12.5% of scored items]
  • Child health includes developmental dimensions of children’s health from fetal development and transition to extra-uterine life to the end of adolescence, including growth, physical development, puberty and intellectual development in normal and abnormal situations.
  • Clinical features and natural history of important conditions are covered including basic pathophysiology of medical and surgical conditions including recognition and management of developmental disability. Core clinical skills and management of common and important conditions in a range of settings (emergency, ambulatory, inpatient, convalescent) are included covering medical, surgical and psychosocial interventions.
• Mental Health [12.5% of scored items]
  • The assessment, diagnosis and management of psychological, behavioural and mental disorders and illnesses and addictions across all age groups, based on bio-psychosocial and cognitive principles. This includes history, mental state features, investigations and co-morbidities, with management to include the use of psychological/behavioural, physical, pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions, with their risks and benefits
• Population Health and Ethics [12.5% of scored items]
  • Population health strategies are to improve the health of targeted populations, and include screening activities, surveillance, vaccination programs, population-level education, epidemiology and legislation or disease management measures. Population health concepts may arise in a range of health care settings and across all patient groups, and will include health promotion and disease prevention strategies.
  • Ethical issues cover professional behaviour including boundary issues, patient confidentiality, informed consent and impairment of doctors. Legal issues embrace regulations covering the Australian health care system and the delivery of best practice medicine

Clinician Tasks