Preparing for the Australian Medical Council (AMC) exam is a crucial step for international medical graduates (IMGs) looking to practice medicine in Australia. The AMC exam is a comprehensive assessment of medical knowledge and skills.
With Australia gaining popularity among healthcare professionals as a preferred destination for building a great career, the competition is only going to become harder over time. Hence, it is important to plan your preparation strategy carefully.
And when it comes to preparation for a licensing exam, getting the right resources from credible sources is important.
In this blog, we will guide you through the top five books to refer to when preparing for the AMC exam. These books cover almost all the subjects that you need to master for AMC.
Before looking into the book list, let us first understand more about the AMC exam, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, exam dates, and what it actually takes to pass the AMC exam.
About AMC:
The Australian Medical Council (AMC) exam is a series of assessments designed to evaluate the knowledge and skills of international medical graduates who wish to practice medicine in Australia.
Eligibility criteria for the AMC exams may vary, but generally, candidates need to have completed their medical degree from a recognized institution, and their qualifications must be deemed equivalent to an Australian medical degree.
Exam pattern:
The AMC (Australian Medical Council) exam pattern comprises two key components:
- MCQ Exam: A computer-based test with 150 multiple-choice questions, assessing medical knowledge and clinical problem-solving.
- Clinical Exam: The OSCE format evaluates clinical skills, including history-taking, physical examination, and patient management.
AMC exam success requires comprehensive preparation and mastery of both theoretical and practical aspects of medicine.
Passing criteria:
The passing criteria for the AMC exam include achieving a minimum score in both the MCQ and clinical components. To pass, candidates must meet the specified passing marks for each section. It is crucial to comprehend and meet these criteria to successfully clear the AMC exam and pursue a medical career in Australia.
The MCQ has a minimum passing score of 250 out of 500. To pass the clinical examination, 10 out of 14 stations must be passed.
Thus, in order to pass the AMC exam, good resources along with the right preparation strategy are required. Let us check out the list of the top 5 books recommended for AMC.
1. Anthology of Medical Conditions by Australian Medical Council Staff, Medical council of Canada, Editor : Vernon C. Marshall

The Anthology of Medical Conditions was intended not just to assist international medical graduates (IMGs) in preparing for AMC tests but also as a necessary resource for clinical practice. This book includes a multidisciplinary index of clinical diseases and presentations, clinical problem-solving suggestions, and legal, ethical, and organizational elements of clinical medicine. Thus, it is a necessary tool for medical graduates. The latest edition costs around 1500 INR and is available on various sites, including Amazon.
2. John Murtagh’s General Practice

This book is the gold standard reference for established doctors, fresh graduates, and students in general practice and basic health care. This updated and extended version includes:New diagnostic procedures for common presenting disorders; Important developments on sexual health and cervical cancer screening; recent updates on mental health diagnosis and treatment The seasoned author team, including new writers who offer a new generation of knowledge and diagnostic skills to this authoritative publication, has comprehensively revised the seventh edition, which builds on its significant heritage
Its average cost is around 7,000 INR; however, costs may vary from seller to seller. It is available on most websites, like Amazon, Ubuy, Flipkart, etc.
3. Handbook of Multiple-Choice Questions

The AMC Handbook of Multiple Choice Questions is a substantial publication designed to aid IMGs in their preparation for the AMC’s Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) Examination.
It comprises over 600 distinct decision addresses taken from the AMC Examination banks. The guidebook covers all orders and clinical courses and includes a total of 150 interdisciplinary inquiry MCQ questions.
This book covers the following disciplines:
- Medicine
- Surgery
- Paediatrics
- Obstetrics
- Gynaecology
- Psychiatry
- Population health
- Community and General practice
- Epidemiology
- Ethics and the Law
This book is authored by V.C Marshall, is available on most shopping websites, and costs around 800 INR.
4. Good Medical Practice

The AMC, Good Medical Practice: Professionalism, Ethics, and Law course is appropriate for IMGs, medical understudies, and specialists in preparation.
The major goal of this book, issued by the Australian Medical Council, is to provide material fundamental to the professional, ethical, and legal requirements of becoming a doctor from a single source. It provides a core curriculum for medical students, doctors in training, and overseas medical graduates who are new to Australia.
It costs around 8,000 INR and can be bought from online shopping websites.
5. AMC Handbook of Clinical Assessment:

The book is an invaluable resource for IMGs preparing for the clinical component of the AMC exam. It provides a detailed overview of the exam structure, expectations, and assessment criteria. This book also includes clinical cases, making it an excellent tool to improve your clinical reasoning and patient management skills.
ISBN 9781875440382 , Author: Australian Medical Council
This book costs around 13000 INR; however, it is available at discounted prices on many websites.
Additional material:
In addition to these must-read books, you can also refer to AMC Annotated Multiple Choice Questions, Clinical Handbook for the AMC Clinical Exam, AMC MCQ Exam preparation, etc. These books will be helpful to dig deeper into the subject matter and, hence, help you clear the exam.
Aside from the book list indicated above, another significant component of preparation is the thorough practice of the previous year’s papers. This exercise is essential since it gives you an idea of the paper design and what to expect. Solving previous problems within the time limit gives you a better knowledge of the test and mentally prepares you.
Conclusion:
Therefore, the right materials and strategy need to be followed in order to pass this exam, and the above-mentioned books will definitely guide you.
Also, we at CoachMinister will help you ace the exam and come out with flying colors. If you wish to connect with us and join the AMC preparatory course, click here: https://coachminister.com/amc-1-exam-prep-course/
Best wishes for your exam ☺
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