NZREX Clinical Exam 2025: What IMGs Must Know Before Sitting

Introduction

The NZREX Clinical Exam is the gateway for IMGs who wish to practise in New Zealand. Many underestimate its difficulty because they assume it mirrors the AMC. It places greater emphasis on cultural safety, communication, and patient-centred care.

Exam Format

• 12 OSCE stations.
• 8 minutes per station + 2 minutes reading time.
• Role-played scenarios across general medicine, psychiatry, paediatrics, and obstetrics.

Unique Features of NZREX

• Treaty of Waitangi principles: health equity and Māori perspectives must be acknowledged.
• System familiarity: know how referrals, ED triage, and community care function in NZ.
• Communication standards: empathy and plain English are highly weighted.

“NZREX tests what kind of doctor you are, not just what you know,” says A/Prof George Eskander.

Preparation Tips

• Practise with NZ-based mentors or structured OSCE prep.
• Study local health system protocols.
• Include cultural context in every management plan.

Statistic

In recent sittings, fewer than 50% of first-time candidates passed (MCNZ Annual Data, 2024).

Final Thoughts

The NZREX isn’t a test of encyclopaedic knowledge but of whether you can practise safely and respectfully within New Zealand’s health system.

Reference: Medical Council of New Zealand, NZREX Candidate Handbook 2025.