EMedBuddyThe AMC CAT MCQ is the computer-based knowledge exam on the standard pathway (often called AMC 1). It uses single-best-answer multiple-choice questions across the whole curriculum - medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics & gynaecology, psychiatry and more. This guide explains how to prepare, then gives you 5 free practice questions with a rationale for every option.
Key takeaways
- The AMC CAT MCQ tests applied clinical judgement across every discipline, not just recall.
- 5 free practice questions below with a full rationale for every option: STEMI, anaphylaxis, AF anticoagulation, acute severe asthma, and a paracetamol overdose.
- The single best study habit: read every rationale, right or wrong, that is where the learning actually transfers.
- Track accuracy by topic and deliberately attack your two weakest areas.
What it tests
- Applied clinical knowledge - choosing the single best next step, not reciting facts.
- Breadth - common and important presentations across every discipline.
- Judgement under uncertainty: the safest, most appropriate action.
How to prepare efficiently
- Practise across all disciplines, not just your strengths - the exam is broad and unpredictable.
- Learn from the distractors. For each question, understand why every wrong option is wrong; that is what transfers to new questions.
- Spaced repetition of your mistakes beats re-reading textbooks.
- Track accuracy by topic and deliberately attack your two weakest areas.
5 free practice questions
Try each before reading the answer.
Question 1 - Cardiology
A 58-year-old man has 40 minutes of central crushing chest pain radiating to the jaw. ECG shows ST elevation in II, III and aVF; he is haemodynamically stable. After aspirin, what is the single most important next step?
- A. Oral beta-blocker
- B. Urgent reperfusion (primary PCI if available in time, otherwise thrombolysis)
- C. CT coronary angiogram
- D. Exercise stress test
- E. Outpatient cardiology referral
Question 2 - Emergency
Minutes after a bee sting, a 25-year-old has widespread urticaria, lip swelling, wheeze and BP 80/50. What is the immediate first-line treatment?
- A. Oral antihistamine
- B. IV hydrocortisone first
- C. Intramuscular adrenaline
- D. Nebulised salbutamol alone
- E. Reassurance and observation
Question 3 - Cardiology
A 72-year-old woman has an irregularly irregular pulse; ECG confirms atrial fibrillation with no acute ischaemia. She has hypertension and diabetes. Which factor most guides the decision to anticoagulate?
- A. Resting heart rate
- B. Her CHA₂DS₂-VASc score
- C. P-wave morphology
- D. Serum potassium
- E. The QT interval
Question 4 - Respiratory
A 24-year-old with known asthma is acutely breathless, speaking in short phrases. RR 28, SpO₂ 93% on air, widespread wheeze. What is the most appropriate immediate treatment?
- A. Oral antibiotics
- B. IV adrenaline infusion
- C. Controlled oxygen + repeated/continuous salbutamol with ipratropium + systemic corticosteroid
- D. Reassure and discharge with a spacer
- E. Chest CT before treatment
Question 5 - Emergency / Toxicology
A 22-year-old presents 6 hours after a large paracetamol overdose. She is asymptomatic. Her timed paracetamol level is above the treatment line on the nomogram. What is the most appropriate management?
- A. Wait for liver enzymes to rise before treating
- B. Start N-acetylcysteine
- C. Induce vomiting
- D. Discharge as she is asymptomatic
- E. Give flumazenil
Want hundreds more like these?
EMedBuddy’s QBank has 2,560+ single-best-answer questions across every AMC discipline - each with a rationale for every option, a real reference, and an exam tip. Filter by topic to drill your weak areas and track your accuracy.
What does the AMC CAT MCQ actually test?
Applied clinical judgement, breadth across the whole curriculum, and safe decision-making under uncertainty, rather than reciting isolated facts.
How should I use free practice questions like these to actually improve?
Read every rationale, including for options you correctly rejected, understanding why each wrong answer is wrong is what transfers to questions you have not seen before.
Are these real AMC exam questions?
No, these are original practice questions written for study purposes, not real exam content, and should be used alongside verified current clinical guidelines.