The Examination is broadly based in adult internal medicine and comprises both a written and a clinical assessment. Candidates must satisfy the Committee for Examinations (CFE) in the Written Examination before proceeding to the Clinical Examination. If unsuccessful in the Clinical Examination, candidates are eligible for a further attempt at the Clinical Examination in the following year before being required to resit the Written Examination.

Application to Sit the Written Examination

The Written Examination in adult internal medicine may be attempted during the third year of basic training or later.
Eligibility for the Written Exam is determined by the CPT. The content of basic training that has been undertaken is detailed in the application form to register as a basic trainee. The relevant DPT must verify each year of training.
Applications for the Written Examination close on 22 November each year.

From 2000, an exemption from the Written Examination for those who hold a postgraduate degree or diploma obtained outside Australia or New Zealand is no longer available.

Application to Sit the Clinical Examination

Those who have been successful at the Written Examination are required to sit the next available Clinical Examination held by the College, unless approval of a deferment is granted.
Applications for the Clinical Examination close on 30 April each year and under no circumstances will applications be received after this date.

Fees

A fee is payable at the time of application for the Written Examination. An additional fee is payable for each attempt at the Clinical Examination.

Locations and Dates of Examinations

The dates of the examinations are decided a year in advance. The Written Examination is usually held on the first Tuesday in March in all capital cities of Australia; the four main centres of New Zealand; and in such other cities as may be determined from time to time.

The Clinical Examination is held in July/August in various centres in Australia and in June/July in New Zealand.

A supplementary Clinical Examination, if required, is held in August/September.

Specific dates for the Written Examination and Clinical Examination each year are available from the Examination Section of the College, published in RACP News and on the College website.

Format of the Examination

Written Examination

The Written Examination in internal medicine consists of two multiple-choice papers, taken on the same day, as follows:

Paper 1	Medical Sciences (2 hours, morning). 70 A-type questions (single best response of five alternatives). Questions will test the knowledge of principles of medicine and basic sciences applicable to clinical medicine.
Paper 2	Clinical Applications (three hours afternoon) 100 A-type questions (single best response of five alternatives). Questions will assess investigational material and test the knowledge of the practice of medicine and therapeutics.

Clinical Examination

The Clinical Examination is designed to test clinical skills, attitudes and interpersonal relationships.

The examination format requires candidates to be examined on two long cases and four short cases. The structure of the examination allows this to be done within two examination cycles on the one day. In each cycle candidates are examined on one long case and two short cases. Each candidate is examined during these two cycles by at least four pairs of examiners. Each case is scored independently, and the passing score is determined by the aggregate mark.

The standard required includes the breadth of knowledge, aptitude and skills sufficient for the management of general medical patients in order to proceed to advanced training.

 

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