HOW TO TACKLE AMC PART 1
I've finally pass AMC Part I! Alot of candidates are still confused and unsure of how to prepare and tackle for AMC part I. Hence, I would like to share my study guide for my fellow IMGs.
I am not an expert but can share my study plan and strategies that helped me in this journey!
**Briefing from my experience. Everyone has thier own. Always choose what suits you the best.**
I am not an expert but can share my study plan and strategies that helped me in this journey!
**Briefing from my experience. Everyone has thier own. Always choose what suits you the best.**
1. I will definitely suggest, if you are planning to give AMC 1, do not stretch, and do not push your date. Take 9-12 months for preparations at max!
It is 60% luck and 40% is your preparation for AMC, so no point of pushing it for so long, and losing your valuable time.
2. I started by doing Question Banks (MplusX Qbank) rather than wasting time reading aimlessly on John Murtagh alone. I would go through all difficult/unsure answers and refer them via John Murtagh. (That’s only my perspective though) I also take a bit time to read the topic from-
RACGP > RCH > SA or WA health websites, health gov websites
UpToDate > Medscape > Medbullet > Imaging pathway
JM and Oxford
*While solving monthly recalls , It’s a good idea to distribute pages for each member & solve those pages individually with references. And then all of you can discuss those pages the next day in group call.
In this way you will be able to finish 60pages/day atleast, and can read those topics at night in your own study time.
*Try to finish 12months recalls, and read the topic accordingly. Revise the handbook 2-3 times.
If you like to read JM, then invest some time to make an system wise index for JM which will help you to find the topics quickly.
If you like to read JM, then invest some time to make an system wise index for JM which will help you to find the topics quickly.
*Make a recall based notebook for you, where you can write the specific points of a topic, that are coming repeatedly in recalls. Melbourne notes/AMC mcq note is also a good help to revise these cheat points.
*Try to read by comparing similar topics like RA-SLE-Ankylosing etc. Also read the liver enzymes, renal function tests, blood & csf pictures from the differentiating tables.
* Again, do not completely rely on the recalls! After giving this exhausting exam of 150 questions, people only can remember 50-60 common recalls and put them here. So do not panic if you get new / never seen before type questions, use your basic knowledge and answer.
3. Do not give much time for one topic, or subject/book. Because anyway you will forget these, but again, do not panic! Reading those topics again and again is the key to success. So read quickly and repeatedly.
4. If possible, while doing monthly recalls, paste your reference (very shortly) under individual questions. It will help during revision.
And make a Controversial file, and paste all the contro and tough questions in that folder. So even if you don’t get time to revise all monthly files, you can at least have a look at this one.
5. Last 15 days:
Keep your last 15 days for revision. Make a list of topics that are your weakness, and also important for AMC. You can revise month wise/ system wise, whatever suits you better. I revised month wise , and could finish 4months only. (but we did 12months recalls in the preparation period)
Keep the last 5 days for solving the new recalls of your exam month, and also to calm your nerves. You will feel numb and may be you become brain fridge like me, but that’s all normal. Do not panic, you will be able to answer in the exam only if you can keep your head cool.
6. Time management:
In the very last week, spare 3.5 hours and give MplusX Qbank like an actual exam. It will help you to manage your time and also it will be a practice to keep you focused for 3.5 hours!
210 mins left : 0 questions done
150 mins left : 50 questions done
90 mins left : 100 questions done
20 mins left : 150 questions done
Keeping this in mind helped me a lot regarding time management. I got quite a hard paper, where the first 70 questions were almost new to me, that took a bit time to solve, but however I could manage to finish 10 mins earlier. Whatever happens, try to complete your 150 qs by any means.
And do not flag every qs, only confusing ones.
7. Day before exam:
Do not put anything in the study schedule for the very last day. Read whatever you feel like, go through images and ecgs, xrays, ct scans. Prepare your stuffs (passport, another photo id, pen) and clothes (It is usually pretty cold in the exam hall, so if you are a cold phobic like me, wear a light sweater). Have a 7 hours sleep at least and also have a good wholesome breakfast and some chocolates in the morning, that will keep your brain working!
Books: amc handbook , john murtagh 7th ed , master the boards, Kaplan gyne obs, kaplan psychiatry, racgp redbook, conrad Fischer ethics 100 cases
Question Banks: MplusX Qbank (highly recommended on this one: really helped me alot) https://member.mplusx.com/
I hope I compiled everything that I experienced through this journey, and wish you all the best 😊
