AMC Part 1 vs AMC Clinical: What’s the Difference - and Which Is Harder?

If you’re an International Medical Graduate (IMG) preparing to practise medicine in Australia, the Australian Medical Council (AMC) exams can feel confusing at first.

There are two major assessments:

• AMC Part 1 MCQ
• AMC Clinical Examination

Both are required for AHPRA registration - but they test very different skills and require very different preparation.

As A/Prof George Eskander, former AMC examiner and Chief Examiner of PassGP, explains:

“Part 1 tests clinical thinking, Clinical tests clinical speaking. You need both to succeed in Australian healthcare.”

 AMC Part 1 MCQ Exam: The Thinking Exam

What it tests:
Your ability to make safe, evidence-based decisions in common clinical situations.

Format:

• 150 questions
• Multiple choice, computer-delivered
• 3.5 hours

Focus areas:

• Medicine
• Surgery
• Psychiatry
• O&G
• Paediatrics
• Public health

What you need to pass:

• Solid knowledge base
• Understanding of Australian guidelines (e.g. RACGP, NHMRC)
• Ability to prioritise safe and logical actions

AMC Clinical Exam: The Speaking and Judgement Exam

What it tests:
Your ability to interact with patients, make safe decisions, and communicate like an Australian doctor.

Format:

• 16 OSCE-style stations (only 14 count)
• 2-minute reading time + 8-minute interaction
• Assessed in person or virtually

Focus areas:

• Patient communication
• Clinical examination (verbalised)
• Differential diagnosis and management
• AHPRA-standard care

What you need to pass:

• Fluent clinical English
• Structured approach to history-taking and management
• Understanding of cultural safety and consent
• Clear reasoning - explained out loud

 Which Exam Is Harder?

That depends on you.

According to A/Prof Eskander:

“The Clinical is more confronting - especially for those with strong academic backgrounds but limited patient exposure in English. But with the right strategy, both are completely passable.”

🏁 Which One Should You Do First?

You must pass Part 1 before you’re eligible for the AMC Clinical.

Strategy:

• Start AMC MCQ prep as soon as possible after your degree
• Begin working on spoken English and communication skills before you finish Part 1
• Join a platform that prepares you for both

 Meta Keywords (for SEO):

amc part 1 vs clinical, amc exam comparison, amc clinical difficulty, amc mcq vs osce, pass amc exam, AHPRA registration exams, amc part 1 strategy, amc clinical exam tips

🧾 Final Tips for IMGs

• Both exams are grounded in AHPRA’s expectations of safe, intern-level practice.
• Studying content alone is not enough - you need clinical judgement and communication.
• Focus on exam-specific preparation, not general reading.

Why Use PassGP?

At PassGP, we specialise in helping IMGs pass both AMC exams by teaching you:

• Clinical reasoning for Part 1 (with 1500+ AMC-style MCQs)
• Communication and red flag identification for Clinical
• How to speak fluently, safely, and in line with Australian expectations

 Start your free trial at PassGP.au today and join thousands of IMGs preparing the smart way.