1. Katie Aoki, PGY1 Dept. Family Medicine uOttawa Medicine Class of 2015
Studying for the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam Part 1 (MCCQE-1)
Katie Aoki, PGY1
Dept. Family Medicine
uOttawa Medicine Class of 2015

2. Strategy 101
Rule 1 – You’re not expected to know everything there is to know. The secret is understanding the structure of the exam and studying accordingly.

3. Exam format MCQ = AM (3.5 hours) *** lunch break ***
CDMQ = PM (4 hours)
MCQ = 196 questions in 7 sections. (1min 7sec/Question, ~30 min per section.
CDMQ = 80 questions. (3min/Q)
LMCC content page:

4. Exam format
Each section of the MCQ and the entire CDMQ has a mix of equally weighted topics:
PHELO – Pop Health, Ethics, Legal, Organizational aspects
Psychiatry
Pediatrics
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Internal Medicine
Surgery
PHELO
Int Med
Surg
Peds
OBGYN
Psych

5. MCQ
There are some *test* questions embedded that won’t be part of your score. So don’t get nervous if a question is strange. You self-time the sections, they take as long as you want, but you need to get through ALL of them in the 3.5hours. After each section, the exam will re-calibrate so that you’re scoring at 50%. Do better on a section, it gets harder, do worse, it gets easier.

6. CDMQ
These are VERY similar to your past exams, but require some careful understanding of what they expect.
Specific CDMQ instructions:

7. How to Study My Strategy: Studied for 6 weeks + 1 day.
8am to 5pm +/- 1-3 hours at night
Went out with friends 1-3 nights a week.
1 long weekend away.

8. My Strategy (cont’d) Self study and met up with friends.
Didn’t attend B2B.
Toronto Notes, Quizlet, USMLE World Qbank, LMCC Practice exams and the SIM website!
Week 1 – PHELO* and Psych (diagnoses)
Week 2 – OBGYN
Week 3 – Peds
Week 4 – Gen Surg
Week 5 – Internal Med
Week 6 – Review weaknesses + Practice Exams

9. Other Strategy Another friend:
Studied part-time for 9 weeks, starting after interviews.
1-3 weeks per topic, kept to her schedule
Went out weekends and evenings.
Attended B2B and left to self-study in library if wasn’t listening.
Used Toronto Notes, class notes, Canada Q Bank and did 1 LMCC practice.

10. Back to Basics Great overall review of all specialities
Opportunity to ask experts about specific objectives
Allows flexibility in your study time
Allows to focus on weaknesses
Helps you understand how to focus your studies
Does NOT cover all the MCC objectives
You are still responsible to study EVERYTHING!

11. Resources CanadaQbank - http://www.canadaqbank.com/
1 mo = $65; 2 mo = $100; 3 mo = $135
People often say the questions here are vague and frustrating, don’t reflect the MCC.
USMLEWorld -
1 mo = $129; 2 mo = $179; 3 mo = $219
Questions a bit too intense, but a good challenge.
QuizMD -
Free access
Others:
First Aid Q&A USMLE step 2 CK
Kaplan Q&A USMLE step 2 CK
Lange Q&A USMLE step 2 CK

12. Self Administered Exams
MCQE-Exam 1
MCQE-Exam 2
MCQE-Exam 3
(Not the EE ones)
$70 each, no answers, but VERY good practice

13. Main Points
You are in the 4th year of med school and you know how to study to your strengths.
Distribute your time evenly according to the topics. (ie. don’t get too involved in Surgery and Internal Med)
Don’t waste your time worrying about failing, but also take this seriously. Roughly 98% of CMGs pass on their first try.
Time is important, know your stuff well enough to answer questions in a timely manner.

14. In the exam
Each section is designed for you to be answering 50% of the questions right.

15. Good luck!