Studying for examinations
- What resources does the MCC offer to help me prepare for its examinations?
- Should I use the MCCQE Review Notes (Toronto Notes) for studying?
- Should I take a review course offered by a training facility?
- Should I use one of the “ghost banks” of multiple-choice questions available on the Internet for studying?
The Medical Council of Canada (MCC) offers the Self Administered Examination (SAE), a series of multiple-choice practice examinations intended for individuals wishing to test their level of preparedness for the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE) or the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part I (MCCQE Part I). Upon completion, feedback will be emailed to participants. This feedback consists of the number of questions answered correctly and a comparison of participants’ results to those of other MCCEE or MCCQE Part I participants.
The MCC offers one SAE, the Self Administered Evaluating Examination (SAE - EE), for candidates preparing to take the MCCEE and another SAE, the Self Administered Qualifying Examination Part I (SAE - QEI), for candidates preparing to take the MCCQE Part I. Several forms (or versions) of both the SAE - EE and SAE - QEI are available. As candidates prepare for the MCCEE or MCCQE Part I, they can take a form, focus on areas where more studying is needed based on the feedback provided, then take another form, etc. Please note that unlike the MCCQE Part I, the SAE - QEI does not contain a clinical decision-making component. While there are plans to develop a future version of the SAE – QEI that will contain clinical decision-making cases, at present the SAE - QEI can only be used to prepare for the multiple-choice component of the MCCQE Part I.
For more information on the SAE, please visit mcc.ca/en/exams/self_admin.shtml
Candidates are also encouraged to review the Reference material and resources page for each examination:
Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination
Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination, Part I
Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination, Part II
National Assessment Collaboration objective structured clinical examination
Many people have access to a document called the MCCQE Review Notes (Toronto Notes), which contains study notes and a list of multiple-choice questions. Please be aware that this document is published by the graduating class of the University of Toronto and is a collection of information that these students feel is relevant. The information within has not been surveyed or ratified by the MCC and therefore this document is NOT a publication that is endorsed by the MCC.
The information offered within these review courses has not been surveyed or ratified by the MCC and, therefore, these courses have not been endorsed by the MCC.
You should be aware that these “ghost banks” are not official MCC questions and there is no guarantee that the information within the question is correct. In addition, there is no guarantee that the questions in a ghost bank are reflective of the content from the MCCEE, or the MCCQE Part I, or that the ghost bank covers the breadth of content on the examinations.
The MCC continually monitors these ghost banks to ensure that they do not include content from past examinations that could have been reproduced from what candidates remembered of the examination questions. All examination materials (including the questions comprising the examination) are the property of the MCC and are protected by copyright.
