How the RACP exams are marked
Each RACP exam turns your answers into a pass in its own way. Knowing how it is marked, and how much time each question gets, changes how you should answer.
Divisional Written Examination (Adult Medicine)
How it is passed: One combined score across both papers (170 items) against a Modified Angoff cut score with Rasch equating; no per-paper hurdle and no negative marking.
On the clock: Paper 1 · Clinical Applications: 100 questions in 3 h (+ 10 min reading), about 108 seconds each. Paper 2 · Medical Sciences: 70 questions in 2 h (+ 10 min reading), about 103 seconds each.
Divisional Clinical Examination (Adult Medicine)
How it is passed: Each case is scored 1–6 (4 = expected standard) and the six scores are combined on a banded grid that allows compensation, but a candidate below standard on both long cases cannot pass.
On the clock: 2 × long cases: 10 min reading, then 25 min. 4 × short cases: 2 min reading, then 15 min.
What that means for how you answer
Single-best-answer papers reward the best option for this patient, not a true statement. Read the last line of the stem first, and do not let one hard question eat the time of three easy ones.
Clinical stations are marked against a station guide. Do what the task asks, in the time given, and say your reasoning out loud so the examiner can credit it.
Where marks are most often lost
- Long case: an incomplete or inaccurate history that examiners have to clarify, and signs missed or misreported (examiners re-examine the patient themselves).
- Long case: a list of diagnoses rather than a prioritised problem list, with the problem that matters most to the patient undervalued and no long-term view.
- Long case: little on function, psychosocial impact, carers, adherence and fitness to drive.
Pass marks and formats change. Always confirm the current rules on the RACP website before you sit.
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