The PassGP RANZCOG MCQ & SAQ 2025 Strategy Guide
If you're on the journey to FRANZCOG, you’ll need to tackle two major written exams: the RANZCOG MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) and the SAQ (Short Answer Questions).
Both are critical hurdles - and both test different but complementary aspects of your clinical knowledge and reasoning.
According to A/Prof George Eskander, PassGP Chief Examiner: “The MCQ tests your knowledge precision, while the SAQ tests your clinical prioritisation. Most candidates need separate strategies for each.”
Let’s explore the key differences - and how to prepare effectively for both.
What are the RANZCOG MCQ & SAQ Exams?
What Is the RANZCOG MCQ Exam?
- 100 single-best-answer questions
- 3 hours, computer-based
- Tests factual knowledge, applied reasoning, and recognition of clinical patterns
Topics include:
- Antenatal and intrapartum care
- Gynaecological conditions
- Reproductive endocrinology
- Neonatal care
- Oncology
- Pharmacology and statistics
You must demonstrate:
- Familiarity with Australian guidelines (e.g., PSANZ, Therapeutic Guidelines)
- Recognition of normal vs abnormal
- First-line management
What Is the RANZCOG SAQ Exam?
- 10–12 short-answer clinical cases
- Each question has several parts (e.g., diagnosis, investigations, management)
- 3 hours, handwritten or typed depending on exam delivery
- Focuses on clinical application and decision-making
Cases may include:
- Labour ward emergencies (e.g. breech, fetal bradycardia)
- Counselling after pregnancy loss
- Management of postmenopausal bleeding
- Infertility investigations
You must demonstrate:
- Prioritisation (What is safest? Most urgent?)
- Concise, guideline-based decisions
- Understanding of why you’re doing something
How to Prepare Effectively
MCQ vs SAQ: Key Differences
|
Feature |
MCQ |
SAQ |
|
Format |
Single-best-answer |
Structured free response |
|
Focus |
Knowledge recall |
Clinical judgement |
|
Difficulty |
Moderate-high |
High – especially time pressure |
|
Marking |
Computer-scored |
Examiner-marked (structured rubric) |
|
Pitfalls |
Choosing “nearly correct” distractors |
Writing too much or too vaguely |
How to Prepare for Each
For MCQ:
- Use question banks with up-to-date references
- Review Therapeutic Guidelines, RANZCOG College Statements, and local protocols
- Practise timed quizzes with detailed review of errors
For SAQ:
- Write under exam conditions
- Learn to structure answers clearly:
e.g. “Likely diagnosis → Key investigations → Immediate management → Follow-up” - Focus on clarity, not completeness
What Both Exams Require
- Alignment with Australian standards and AHPRA expectations
- Cultural safety and ethical awareness
- Safe, structured, and concise thinking
- Practise, feedback, and time management
How PassGP Prepares You for Both
PassGP offers a dedicated RANZCOG Exam Bank for MCQ and SAQ:
- 1000+ exam-style MCQs with references to guidelines
- Dozens of SAQ-style written cases with model answers
- Timed mocks and explanation videos
- Focus on exam technique and not just content
Designed and reviewed by O&G educators and A/Prof Eskander, our cases mirror the real depth and difficulty of RANZCOG exams.
Learn More About PassGP RANZCOG MCQStart your journey.
Trial PassGP RANZCOG for Free
40 MCQ Questions pitched at the difficulty level of the exams
60 SAQ Questions across 20 SAQ Cases pitched at the difficulty level of the exams
60 Oral Clinical Questions across 20 OSCE Cases in exam format
PassGP Mobile App ready to use
PassGP AI Virtual Tutor to teach and answer your medical queries
PassGP RANZCOG Examiner Hints and Tips accompanying each question
Full access to the PassGP Academy, focussing on examination technique
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