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AFRM Module 1 Written Assessment

AFRM Module 1 Written Assessment

The 2020 Module 1 Written Assessment has been postponed due to the impact of COVID-19.

We've planned the most suitable way to deliver the exam in 2021 based on the ongoing improvement of COVID-19. See the key dates table for details.

We'll continue to monitor the situation and update you again in August.

The Module 1 Assessment tests your basic medical knowledge in rehabilitation medicine.

Overview
Apply
Prepare
Exam day
Results

Key dates

The date below is the earliest possible that the exam will take place. We'll give you at least 3 months notice of the exam date when it’s confirmed.

Cohort	Exam	Planned month
2020 and 2021	Module 1 Written Assessment*	May 2021

*To be delivered via computer-based testing.

Note: This date depends on the ongoing improvement of COVID-19 and is subject to change.

Location

The exam is held once a year. Venues are in Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand capital cities and regional centres, selected at our discretion.

Fees

We'll update the fees here when they've been confirmed.

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

Computer-based testing | 100 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.

See the Module 1 MCQ examples.

Subject weighting

Anatomy/Physiology/CNS/PNS
Neurology
Rheumatology/RSK
Endocrinology
Clinical Pharmacology
Respiratory Medicine
Cardiology
Infectious Diseases
Geriatric Medicine
Gastroenterology
Pathology
Haemotology/Immunology
Statistics
Renal Medicine
Genetics

20-33%
4-20%
6-13%
6-7%
4-8%
3-8%
3-8%
3-7%
3-7%
3-6%
2-6%
2-4%
2-3%
1-5%
1%

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.

Journals

The American Journal of Medicine
Annals of Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine Journal
The British Medical Journal
The Lancet
The New England Journal of Medicine

Use a variety of general texts and journals, not only those listed.

You’re not expected to be familiar with advanced medicine content in specialist journals.

Basic science

Last, R. J. 2011, Last’s Anatomy: Regional & Applied, 12th edn, Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone.
Barrett, E. et al. 2019, Ganong’s Review of Medical Physiology, 25th edn, Lange/McGraw Hill Education.
Hall, J. E. 2016, Guyton and Hall: Textbook of Medical Physiology, 13th edn, Elsevier, Philadelphia, USA.
Walter, J. B. & Talbot, I. C. 1996, Walter & Israel General Pathology, 7th edn, Churchill Livingstone, New York; Melbourne.
Roitt, I. V. et al. 2017, Roitt’s Essential Immunology, 13th edn, Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken N. J., USA.
West, J. B. & Luks, A. M. 2015, West’s Respiratory Physiology: The Essentials, 10th edn, Wolters Kluwer, Philadelphia, USA.
Marshall, V. and Ludbrook, J. (eds) 1988, Clinical Science for Surgeons: Basic Surgical Practice, 2nd edn, Butterworths, London, UK.

Other resources

Look at the Module 1 MCQ examples.
Obtain sample questions from Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.
Ask training supervisors or other Faculty Fellows for assistance.
Join a study group.
Speak to physician trainees about how they prepared for the Divisional Written Examination.

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).

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.

Apply for special consideration for exceptional circumstances by the due date.

Completing the exam

We're developing procedures on how to complete this exam via computer-based testing. More details will be available soon.

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.

The content of all documents is confidential and cannot be removed from the exam room. You’re not permitted to reproduce or distribute exam materials at any time or in any way. Doing so is a breach of the Academic Integrity in Training Process (PDF).

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.

Pass mark

Setting the pass mark

We use the Modified Angoff method to set the pass mark. Several subject matter experts (SMEs) estimate a percentage of minimally competent candidates who would answer the question correctly. The SMEs’ ratings are averaged per question and this average rating is the Angoff score for each question.

The pass mark for the exam is then determined by averaging all Angoff scores for all questions. As a result of this process, the pass mark may vary across years according to the paper difficulty.

Reviewing the exam

We review the exam before results are released. All anomalies are reviewed. The performance for each question is analysed and the pass mark is reviewed. All analysis is done without identifying candidates.

During this process, questions may be removed from the exam and the pass mark adjusted. Once finalised, candidate results are calculated and final outcomes are assigned.

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.