Guidance & Tips for AMC Part-2 (Clinical) Exam

Guidance & Tips for AMC Part-2 (Clinical) Exam, by Guest Writer

Hi everyone!

I am going to explain how I studied for AMC Part 2 exam (clinical) and cracked it! This one is due since days, finally completed writing, so sharing it!

As for the first part of AMC exam (MCQ exam), there is no perfect formula to pass clinical as well, but I am sure you can do it if you study the right things systematically- either in your own way, or in the way I did it!

For the entire Prep, you will need 3-4 months if you study 8-10 hours per day. So let’s start with WHAT to read- 1) AMC handbook, 2) Karen notes, 3) Recalls, 4) John Murtagh (Just for referral and fact check).

So now we know what to read, let’s start with HOW to read-

Step 1– Find a good study partner, it is one of the most essential thing you need to do. This exam is all about talking, so you MUST MUST MUST have a habit of talking, and in a right way! That’s only possible when you have a partner to study with- Skype or face to face, doesn’t matter! You should do role plays for at least 2-4 hours every day. I had 2 study partners with whom I studied 2 hours each! But that’s not necessary for everyone! Even if you study for 2 hours with one partner, that’s enough, it depends upon person to person! Few people study together for many hours! Find someone who matches your intelligence and behavioral quotient, only then will you be able to extract best from each other!

Also, time management is very important! We have to finish each case in 8 minutes in exam, so set a timer for 6 mins when you practice each case with your partner! You can exceed up to 7 mins but not more than that! If you practice in such a way, 8 mins will be more than enough in the real exam!

Step 2– First start reading AMC handbook, you can start practicing the cases with your partner. Then you can revise it alone.  And by the time you finish your prep, you must have read the book at least 2-3 times. You must know the handbook cases word by word, you will get at least 1-2 cases from the book in your exam, that’s the trend for many years.

Step 3– Practice Karen notes with your partner. Karen notes is the best thing that you need after the handbook, it has all the important cases in subject wise manner! It not only explains cases in a way that is expected from candidates, but it also tells you exactly how and what to talk- all READY MADE! But use it as a guide only, it was written in 2010-2011, so do re-check recent treatment plan or guidelines from Murtagh or Websites (RCH AND RACGP guidelines). I read handbook and recalls with one partner and Karen notes with other at same time. But if you have one partner, start with book and then read Karen notes.

Make a list of DDs in all cases, of all subjects. When you come across any symptom, you should be able to think at least 4-5 DDs of that symptom. This will really help you in your real exam.

Step 4– Practice Physical examination daily. You will get at least 3 physical exam cases, 4 if you are lucky. These cases are in your hand! If you practice daily, you will be able to perform them perfectly. Look at this site for Talley o’ connor videos- http://www.edexam.com.au/talleyvids/. You must perform physical exam cases exactly like these videos; make your own notes as per these videos.  The remaining cases you will find on you tube and geeky medics, check this site- http://geekymedics.com/category/osce/

Step 5– Once you finish AMC handbook and karen notes, then start going through recalls. Most of the recalls are from karen notes, so you won’t be reading anything new if you have already finished reading it. Solve the remaining new cases from Murtagh and Websites (RCH AND RACGP guidelines). Don’t worry about new cases, because new cases will be hardly 2-3, you will still have 13-14 old cases that you can pass in your clinical exam, so do your best in the known cases.

Remember, You must do smart studies! There are total 16 cases- 3 OBGY, 3 Paeds, 2 Psych and remaining Med-surg. We must pass 12 out of 16 cases and there should be at least 1 OBGY and 1 paeds case in the 12 cases, which we must pass. If you start with Med and surg, there is too much to do and you might still not finish. So start Karen notes from paeds and gyny, as you MUST pass 1 of each to have a total pass score. If you read all the paeds and OBGY, you will have 6 cases in your hand. And if you read Psy, you will have 2 more, i.e. 8 cases. Finally, 3-4 physical examination cases in each exam- so that makes 12 cases in total – YOU PASS. In any case, you will read med-surg too, so you get those cases as bonus.  I studied and passed my exam in exactly the same way.

Also, communication, confidence and calmness are the most essential pre-requisites for passing this exam. (Triad of passing  ). They want their doctors to be calm and confident, communicating well with their patients, so show them that you can do that. And it’s not as if they want perfection in performance, we are bound to make some mistakes in exam tension, but as long as you don’t do any major blunder that can jeopardize patient’s health, you will surely sail through!

If you are in Melbourne, Dr. Ghaleb Jaber arranges free lectures for clinical exam prep in Monash University (previously ran by Dr. Wensel). Send a mail to this email id-  ghaleb.jaber@gmail.com. You will be sent weekly emails about the lecture venue and case discussions.

If possible, please take a trial exam before your actual exam- Either with HEAL or other bridging courses! Dr. Jaber also arranges trial clinical exam. Believe me, it will help you a lot, you will get an actual idea how the real exam is and it will help you in your prep! The feedback they give, also tells you where you actually stand in your preparation!

I wish you all best luck for your prep!