Changes to the MCCQE Part I in 2025

The Medical Council of Canada (MCC) is working on several grant-funded projects and seeking to improve access to its assessments and services for Canadian medical graduates, as well as for international medical graduates and internationally educated physicians.

One of these priority projects focuses on improvements to the delivery and the candidate experience of the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part I.

After several months of research, collection of key data points, expert consultation, and operational considerations, we are defining a new MCCQE Part I assessment model to be implemented as of April 2025. Here are some of the key adjustments:

• With the candidate’s experience being top of mind, we will shorten the overall length of the exam.
• We will implement improved testing to break time allocation, with a period of no more than 3 hours before a scheduled break (currently up to 4.5 hours in the morning section).
• Critical medical knowledge and decision-making skills will continue to be assessed through Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQ).
• The Clinical Decision-Making component of the exam, which consists of 38 cases with short-menu and short-answer write-in questions will be removed.
• Instead of presenting the MCQs in a single section, the MCQs will be divided into two distinct sections for a better balance of the exam day experience.
• Candidates will be provided with more time to answer each question, to ensure that the exam continues to be a fair and valid representation of their knowledge.
• It is anticipated that with these adjustments, exam results will be generated and made available more quickly.

This modernized and optimized exam will continue to be delivered globally through Prometric, up to four times per year (representing approximately 100 days of testing) both in test centres and via remote proctoring.

The integrity, validity, and reliability of the MCCQE Part I remain the same, as MCQs will continue to assess critical knowledge and clinical decision-making. In the meantime, until 2025, our examination remains unchanged, as does our preparatory products offering.

We are committed to maintaining our vital work in physician assessment to ensure all in Canada can receive safe, quality health care.