AMC Part 2 Clinical Exam Format

AMC Part 2 clinical exam format at a glance

The Australian Medical Council currently describes the clinical examination as 16 assessed stations and four rest stations. Each assessed station lasts 10 minutes, divided into two minutes of reading time and eight minutes of assessment time. Candidates rotate through the stations and complete a variety of clinical tasks.

The AMC says stations may involve simulated patients, videotaped patient presentations, charts, digital images or photographs. Each station focuses predominantly on history taking, examination, diagnostic formulation, or management, counselling and education.

These details are a current summary, not a substitute for the AMC's instructions. Check the official clinical examination page and examination specifications before making decisions about eligibility, booking, permitted materials, results or other formal requirements.

What the two-minute reading time is for

Reading time is the short preparation window before the assessed interaction begins. Use it to identify what the station is asking you to do, the setting, who you are speaking with, and any material supplied with the prompt. The task wording should guide the structure of your response rather than a memorised script.

A simple practice routine is to identify the main task, note any explicit limits, decide how you will open, and choose the first few priorities. That does not mean trying to solve the whole case before the station starts. It means entering the assessment with a clear purpose while remaining ready to respond to the information presented.

Practise the reading window with a visible two-minute timer. When it ends, move into the station even if the plan feels incomplete. This exposes whether your preparation routine is realistic under time and helps separate useful planning from rereading that does not change your approach.

What can happen in the eight-minute assessment

The eight-minute assessment is the part of the station in which you perform the requested clinical task. Depending on the station, that may involve communicating with a simulated patient, responding to a recorded presentation, or using supplied clinical material. The official AMC categories cover history taking, examination, diagnostic formulation, and management, counselling or education.

Those categories require different emphasis. A history task needs purposeful questions and clear organisation. An examination task requires an appropriate, structured approach. Diagnostic formulation asks you to bring the available information together. Management, counselling or education tasks place more emphasis on explanation, priorities and communication.

The published structure does not create one official script for every station. A safer preparation habit is to stay anchored to the task, communicate clearly, and keep track of time without rushing through a rehearsed checklist. Any detailed preparation method should remain adaptable to the station instructions and the information you receive.

How to practise the 10-minute station rhythm

Use the timing as a repeatable practice constraint: set up the station, complete two minutes of reading, move into eight minutes of live practice, then record notes and review the result. Repeating the same rhythm makes it easier to notice whether planning, communication or prioritisation is consuming more time than expected.

AMC ClinicalPro supports this as Setup, Reading (2:00), Live (8:00), Notes, Results and Post-feedback. The app is an independent educational preparation tool. Its feedback is not official AMC scoring, does not predict a pass result, and should be treated as one source of reflection rather than an examination outcome.

After each attempt, choose one or two specific improvements for the next station. Examples include identifying the task more quickly, giving the opening more structure, or leaving enough time to close clearly. A small review target is easier to test in the next timed attempt than a broad goal such as trying to improve everything at once.

What to verify with the AMC before your exam

Use the AMC website as the source of truth for the current examination structure and specifications. Also verify formal matters such as eligibility, scheduling, booking, fees, examination delivery, permitted materials, conduct requirements and results directly with the AMC. These details can change and are intentionally not reproduced in this guide.

The sources below were checked for this update on 3 September 2026. Recheck them close to your examination because a current official instruction takes priority over preparation articles, study-group advice, remembered rules or app content.

AMC ClinicalPro is not affiliated with, endorsed by or approved by the Australian Medical Council. It does not reproduce protected examination material or recalls. Its role is limited to helping candidates practise a structured station rhythm and review their own preparation.

Common questions

Official and supporting references