How to choose a question bank for AMC Part 1: what to look for

Doctors preparing for AMC Part 1 often ask which question bank to use. There is no single answer, because people study differently and budgets differ. There is a good way to decide, though: check each option against a few things that matter for this particular exam. This list works for any provider, including ours.

Start with the free official material

The AMC's own MCQ preparation app is free with your authorisation and has 210 questions written by AMC contributors. Use it before you pay for anything else, so you know what the real style feels like. Our post on official practice material explains how to get it.

What to check in any question bank

1. Does it match the exam format? The MCQ uses clinical scenarios with five options and one best answer. Questions with a different style, such as two-option or long-answer formats, are fine for learning but are poor practice for this exam.

2. Does it cover the six patient groups in the right proportions? The AMC's specification weights them: adult medicine 30 percent, adult surgery 20 percent, and women's health, child health, mental health, and population health and ethics 12.5 percent each. A bank heavy on one area and thin on another will leave you unbalanced.

3. Where do the questions come from? The AMC warns that reconstructed past papers circulating online often contain incorrect questions and answer options, and its rules forbid sharing exam content. A trustworthy bank is written from scratch by its authors, checked, and says so. If a provider claims its questions are real exam questions, be careful. We cover this in Should I use AMC MCQ recalls?.

4. Do the explanations teach? The explanation matters more than the question. Look for one that says why the right answer is right and why each other option is wrong. Read a few before you pay.

5. Is it based on Australian practice? Many answers depend on Australian guidelines. A bank written for another country's practice can teach you answers that are wrong here. Ask what guidelines it follows and when it was last checked.

6. Are the mocks realistic? The real exam is 150 questions in 3.5 hours, you cannot skip or go back, and it is adaptive. A good mock copies the length and the no-going-back rule. Be careful of any mock score presented as an exact prediction. The AMC reports results on a scale from 0 to 500 based on estimated ability, so any practice score is only a rough guide.

7. Can you see where you are weak? Results broken down by patient group let you aim your time. A single overall percentage hides the areas that need work.

8. Does it fit your life? If you study on a phone during breaks, it needs to work well on a phone. Check this early.

Before you commit

• Try a free sample, and read the explanations as well as the questions.
• Ask how new guidelines get reflected in the content.
• Find out what you get if you decide it is not for you. Read the refund terms before paying.
• Do not buy several banks at once. One bank used well beats three used halfway.

Questions people ask