PLEASE SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH AMC CLINICAL EXAMINATION -
SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS /
REPEAT ATTEMPTS
I was one of the AMC candidates and passed AMC clinical exam - retest. I gained a lot of informations in study groups. So I think it will be better and more happy to share my experiences to the ones who are preparing for this exam. I am sorry this is going to be too long to read.
This is only for the people who are not working in Australia and have no idea how will be the exam and desperately struggling for this exam.
Friends don't take too much time for the preparation. It always depends on the individuals capacity. But for a person like me who's forgetting whats been studied, a full 4 months are enough.
Finish the Hand book, atleast read for 3 to 4 times, know what are the critical points. Atleast you will get 1 or 2 cases from HB.. max even 4. So study it!
Karen or VMPF, A must read one. Beleive me it's very useful. But dont always memorize the same answers. Because guideline changes, so for each and every important topics know the guideline answers. Remember you have only 7 mints. Prepare what you have to inform the patient in that 7 mins.
AMC IS NOT TOO HARD FOR THE CANDIDATEs WHO DONT KILL THE PATIENT. BE NICE TO YOUR PATIENT.
Start with studying examinations. Write what you have to do and practise!!! DO IT IN A REAL PERSON. ON YOUR PARTNER, FRIEND OR WITH SOMEONE. Pls dont skip that.. 3 or 4 Ex cases in exam!!! When studying practice how you are going to instuct the pt. During the test examiner will help you. Time is not an issue if you practice more than 10 times.. even more!!! Go in an order.. don't stuck with too much of special tests. Know the basics, learn the dermatomes, learn the muscle groups. Take enough time and prepare a good guide for ex.
The main topics are really a little. For an example in paed resp, CVS, ortho, neuro, allergy rashes and infections....
Prepare your own notes with the help of karens/ VMPF. Write down your history taking format and examination for each main topics, it's going to be the same. I prepared by writing a common format for each main topics and just noted the answers In a point format for easy reference for each sub topics. Then when you study again it will be easy for you. You need atleast 2 months to prepare these. So you would have gone guidelines by this time too. Then what you have to study become very less.
The most important one is how you are dealing in an exam. Remember your are being marked for the attitude too. So learn how you are going to wish your pt. When taking history lean forward, listen your patient, have an eye contact, nod your head, change the tone of your voice accordingly. Show that you are listening your pt. When taking history go in an order when appropriate. It will be really annoying if you ask here and there. But of course you can get a reasonable marks with that too. But may affect your global score. When asking examination be nice to your examiner. Target the main system. Gen appear, vital signs, hydration, BMI, GROWTH CHART, neck stiff, ENT, lymph nodes, carotid bruit, fundoscopy.. you dont need to ask everything in every cases, but you should not miss when appropriate.
In management cover the critical points. You dont need to go too deeply at the same time.. you cant overload the patient with informations and medical terms. When using medical terms explain it briefly.. itz difficult, it really needs practise. KNOW THE CRITICAL POINTS ALL THE TIME. Explain the condition, in 1 or 2 sentences. Quickly draw a diagram. You don't need to be an artist, examiners know that you will draw better in a real scenario. This is to get one tick from the examiner. Admit/ or follow up, investigation, adv and dis adv of that condition, reassure!!!!!!!!!! Follow up, contact tracing, notify DHHS, Safe sex, STI, CLEAR RED FLAGS, materials, follow up, review. So know what's important.
Frankly AMC is not too hard, but frustating of course, especially for who fails the exam. Dont sit for an exam with out proper preparation, just like me. For some, luck plays, but not for the most of us. So pls, prepare and sit, and when you fail dont loose your hopes. I was not a brilliant one, but not a dump too. Just followed what I have written above. I didnt come out with all big answers during the exam. I believe this is true with the other passed candidates. defa varies for each and every individual. Examiners are not always bad. They mark what your doing. Your answers are being recorded. So they just can't fail you just like that. Their intention is not to fail you. They help through the test. But 1st impression is imp. be nice to your pt.
I know this is too much of words. Hope this will help someone who is starting to prepare. DONT EVER SIT THE EXAM WITHOUT STUDYING UNLESS YOU WANT TO TRY YOUR LUCK. AND NO POINT IN BLAMING THE PASS RATES WITHOUT A PROPER PREP. You will definitely pass if you do it to the reasonable level. Always play safe!
