Eligibility

Rehabilitation Medicine (General Rehabilitation) Advanced Trainees can apply for both the Module 1 Written Assessment and Module 2 Clinical Assessment in the first year of training. You don't have to complete Module 1 before attempting Module 2.

To be eligible for Module 1, you must:

• apply by the due date
• have at least 24 months postgraduate training
• be in an accredited training position or on an approved training interruption
• have current medical registration
• comply with the requirements in the Progression Through Training Policy (PDF) and General Rehabilitation Medicine Training Program handbook
• have paid all College training fees

Trainees with outstanding training fees will not be eligible to sit the exam unless they’ve applied in writing to the Honorary Treasurer requesting special consideration.

Application process

Submit your application

Applications are now closed. You must submit a separate application for Module 2 Clinical Assessment.

Application confirmation

After submitting your application form, we'll email you to confirm it's been received. If you don't get a confirmation email, check your junk/spam folders and contact us if it's not there.

Payment

Once applications have closed, we’ll email you a link to pay the exam fee and any other outstanding fees.

Final confirmation

You’ll receive a candidate allocation letter via email when your eligibility has been finalised. This confirms your exam registration and venue.

Overseas trained physicians

Check eligibility requirements with your overseas trained physicians case officer before applying.

Withdrawal

Withdrawals are not counted as exam attempts. Contact us to withdraw up until the start of the exam. Refund rules apply.

To request a refund for withdrawal on medical or compassionate grounds, submit an application under the Special Consideration for Assessment Policy (PDF).

If you withdraw, you can re-apply to sit the exam the following year if you meet the eligibility criteria. Application fees will not be rolled over from one year to another.

Special consideration

Applications for special consideration must be submitted in writing.

We'll consider these circumstances before the exam:

• permanent and longstanding impairment
• temporary impairment with medical grounds
• non-medical compassionate grounds or serious disruption
• essential commitments (religious, cultural, societal or legal obligations)

Once you’ve started the exam, only technical or procedural problems will be considered.

For more information on how to apply and possible outcomes, see Special Consideration for Assessment Policy (PDF).

Attempts

See General Rehabilitation Medicine Training Program handbook and Progression Through Training Policy (PDF), effective from 1 January 2017, for limits on total training time and number of exam attempts.

Exam format

10 min reading time | 3 hour exam | 130 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) covering a range of subspecialties

The exam is a summative assessment. It covers a range of subspecialties, based on basic and clinical sciences, including:

• clinical medicine, including clinical pharmacology
• clinical surgery, including anatomy, physiology and pathology

The exam was developed by the Faculty Assessment Committee to assess clinical knowledge. It samples a cross-section of required areas of competence as defined by the Rehabilitation Medicine (General) Advanced Training Curriculum (PDF).

Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)

Each MCQ includes 4 answer options with only 1 correct answer. Fill in the corresponding bubble on the answer sheet using a black or blue pen.

See the Module 1 MCQ examples.

Subject weighting

Note: These weightings are target percentages of topic areas used to develop the exam. Actual content breakdowns can vary. Questions can belong to more than one topic area.

Readings

You’re expected to be familiar with:

• material in current internal medicine textbooks
• content of advanced medicine in specialist journals
• relevant aspects of basic sciences applicable to internal medicine and therapeutics
• general coverage of review articles, annotations and editorial comments in appropriate medical journals
• recent advances in physiology and biochemistry applicable to internal medicine

Texts in the major specialties are useful but not essential.

Support

Preparing for and sitting exams can place significant stress and pressure on your physical and mental health. Even after an exam, you may still feel the effects of the stress you experienced.

You’re not alone in managing these difficulties. The RACP Support Program provides a professional and confidential counselling service to all our Fellows and trainees, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Make an appointment or speak directly with a consultant by calling 1300 687 327 (Australia) or 0800 666 367 (Aotearoa New Zealand).

Timetable

Personal items

Bring

• Printed copy of your candidate allocation letter confirming your candidate name, number and venue
• Current photo ID with your full name and signature, for example a passport or driver licence – digital IDs are not accepted
• Blue or black ballpoint pens (no pencils, gel or felt-tip pens)
• 1 x highlighter (optional)
• 1 x ruler (optional)
• Basic analogue watch (optional)
• Water in a clear plastic bottle (optional)

Tip: Wear additional clothing layers to adjust to the room temperature.

Not permitted

• Written material (other than your candidate allocation letter)
• Calculators
• Food or beverages (other than water)
• All other belongings, for example bags

During the exam, all mobile phones, digital watches, sport watches, smart watches (including but not limited to Apple watch, Garmin, Fitbit, Samsung), pagers and electronic communication devices must be switched off, placed on the floor under your desk and visible to the invigilators.

Devices that sound during the exam will be subject to an incident report.

Seating arrangements

Seating lists showing your allocated seat number will be displayed near the venue entrance.

Discuss seating enquiries with the Chief Supervisor as early as possible on exam day.

Completing the exam

At your seat, you’ll receive:

• an exam booklet
• an answer sheet

When instructed, write your name, candidate number and exam city on both.

To answer each question, fill in the answer bubble corresponding to the option you think is correct. Use black or blue ballpoint pen only.

To change an answer, cross through the incorrectly filled bubble and then fill in the correct one. To reselect a previously crossed-through answer, circle that answer and cross-through all incorrect answers. Out of the ordinary answers will be manually reviewed.

Your chosen response should be clear.

Leaving the exam room

Do not leave the exam room without an invigilator’s approval. If you need the toilet, an invigilator will escort you. If you want to leave before the end of the exam, stay seated and raise your hand. An invigilator will check your materials and release you.

You cannot leave in the first 30 minutes or last 10 minutes of the exam.

On completion of the exam, your exam booklet and answer sheet will be collected before you can leave.

Marking

For each question answered correctly, 1 mark is awarded. Marks are not deducted for incorrect answers. To pass, you must get a score equal to or higher than the pass mark. The answer sheets are computer-marked.

All candidates scoring 2% or less below the pass mark will have their scoresheet manually reviewed to ensure their outcomes are correct.

See previous exam pass rates.

Results email

You’ll receive an email with your exam result. Ensure the College has your current email, postal address and contact number. Contact us if you don’t receive the email.

We’re unable to discuss results over the phone or by email.

Next steps

You can sit the Module 1 Written Assessment and the Module 2 Clinical Assessment in any order. It’s recommended you attempt both exams in the first year of Advanced Training.

Refer to the eligibility criteria and exam attempts set out in the Progression through Training Policy (PDF) and the General Rehabilitation Medicine Training Program handbook.

Resources

• Rehabilitation Medicine Advanced Training Curriculum (PDF)
• Education policy