AMC MCQ resit: attempts, rebooking and a plan

What a fail means

The CAT MCQ reports one result on a scale of 0 to 500, and 250 is the pass. Scoring is ability-based. A candidate who answers harder questions correctly scores higher than one who answers the same number of easier questions, so the share of questions answered correctly does not map to the result. The pass mark page explains the scale.

The AMC's feedback report shows performance by domain and places the score beside the range covering 95% of the previous year's scores. The AMC notes that this range does not reflect the pass rate. Use the report to see which areas were weakest, and treat it as a guide to where to start.

Attempts and rebooking

The AMC publishes no limit on the number of attempts. We checked its specifications, its MCQ page, its FAQ and Pearson VUE's page on 23 September 2026. Confirm the current rule with the AMC when you book.

The steps are these:

1. Wait for the result. The AMC accepts no new application until you have the result of a scheduled exam.
2. Apply for a new CAT MCQ authorisation. It needs a new payment at the fee current when you apply, A$2,920 when we last checked.
3. Choose a window from the AMC's list. Scheduling closes 21 days before the first test day, or 22 days for windows that start on a Tuesday.

Results come on the Friday three weeks after the exam. After a November 2026 sitting, results arrive on Friday 11 December 2026, and the first window after that is February 2027. The exam dates page lists every window and its closing date.

The 2026 pass standard

The AMC applied a small increase to the pass standard for exams from 2026. Results are still reported as 250, and the size of the increase is not published. The AMC said the content, format and structure of the exam remain the same.

Because of this, advice from earlier years about how much practice was enough may be out of date. Pass figures in AMC annual reports predate the change, and we do not quote them here.

What to change before the next window

Four changes are worth making before the next window.

• Add a baseline. A first read across all six patient groups shows whether a weak area was a surprise. The free diagnostic gives one in about 15 minutes.
• Review by option. Read the rationale for all five options, and record the principle behind each mistake. The practice questions page sets out how.
• Rehearse the format. The exam gives about 84 seconds a question and allows no going back. Sit full mocks in 3 hours 30 minutes. The free mock test applies the same rule.
• Check your sources. Recalls are a poor guide and carry a conduct risk, as the recalls page explains. Australian Medicine in Context and current Australian guidelines set the scope.

The preparation guide covers the whole route, and the plan above divides the weeks you have between now and your chosen window.