Can I practise for the AMC clinical exam with an AI patient?
Updated 19 October 2026
Partly, yes. Diagnosica lets you rehearse three of the four areas the AMC clinical exam marks (history taking, diagnostic formulation and management) with an AI patient you talk to by voice or text, but it has no physical examination and its scoring isn't mapped to the AMC's marking scheme.
The AMC's own advice to candidates is to "practise, review, revise, and practise again". Diagnosica gives you repetitions of the talking-and-deciding part of that on your phone, free to start.
Diagnosica is an AI clinical simulator for medical students and junior doctors. You take a history from an AI patient on video, by voice or text, order labs and real imaging, commit to a diagnosis and management plan, and get a competency scorecard.
What is the AMC clinical exam?
The AMC clinical exam is the second stage of the Australian Medical Council's standard pathway for international medical graduates, sat after the computer adaptive MCQ exam (150 questions over 3 hours 30 minutes). It's a structured clinical assessment held at the AMC Test Centre in Melbourne or online by video conference, and it's set at the level of a final-year Australian medical student about to start intern year.
| Stations | 16 assessed stations plus 4 rest stations; 2 of the 16 are usually unscored pilot stations |
|---|---|
| Time per station | 10 minutes: 2 minutes of reading time, then 8 minutes of assessment |
| Where | The AMC Test Centre in Melbourne, or online by video conference |
| Disciplines | Medical, surgical, women's health, paediatrics and mental health, in community and hospital settings |
| Marking | Each station has 2 to 5 key steps (observed or not), 3 to 5 domains rated on a 7-point scale, and a global rating on a 7-point scale; the global rating alone decides the station, with 4 or above a pass |
| To pass | A pass in 9 or more of the 14 scored stations; there's no limit on attempts |
| Before you sit it | You need to have passed the AMC CAT MCQ exam |
Source: the AMC's clinical examination page and Clinical Examination Specifications V8.3 (June 2026), as of 19 October 2026. Check the AMC site for current dates and fees before you book.
Which AMC stations can Diagnosica help with?
Diagnosica fits the AMC stations where you talk to a patient and then decide something. The AMC gives every station one "predominant assessment area", and the four areas line up with Diagnosica like this (the examples are the AMC's own).
| AMC assessment area | AMC example | Diagnosica |
|---|---|---|
| History taking | Taking the history of a patient with shortness of breath | Yes. Every case starts with a patient on video who answers by voice or text, and only tells you what you ask about. |
| Examination | Physical examination of a patient with suspected vascular disease | No. Diagnosica has no physical examination. The scorecard marks which examinations you chose, never your technique. |
| Diagnostic formulation | Interpreting a laboratory report | Yes. You order labs and real radiology images, read the results, then commit to a diagnosis and differentials. |
| Management, counselling, education | Presenting a management plan | Partly. You write a management plan and are marked on it and on communication. Counselling is part of your management plan, not a separate task. |
If you're sitting the AMC online, every station happens on a screen. Talking to a patient on video is closer to that setting than practising from written cases, though nobody has measured whether it changes AMC results.
Where it falls short for the AMC
- No physical examination. The online AMC exam still tests it by asking you to describe your technique out loud, so rehearse that with a study partner.
- Diagnosica's scorecard maps to UKMLA CPSA, MRCP PACES and USMLE Step 2 CK criteria. It doesn't give you an AMC global rating, it doesn't predict a pass, and it isn't affiliated with the AMC.
- Cases aren't written against Australian guidelines, and the AMC expects you to know "health issues in the Australian community". Check drug choices and doses against Australian sources.
- A case isn't split into 2 minutes of reading and 8 minutes of tasks. Set your own 8-minute timer for the history if you want station pacing.
How to fit it into AMC preparation
- Start from the AMC's own material: the specifications, the sample station in its Appendix B, and the resource list and "Tips from AMC Examiners" it points to on the AMC website.
- Use Diagnosica for history and reasoning repetitions: a 2-minute quick case most days, and 2 or 3 full cases a week, said out loud.
- After each case, present it as you would to an examiner, then compare what you said with the scorecard.
- Keep physical examination, counselling and Australian-specific practice for a partner, a course or a clinical attachment.
Diagnosica runs on the web, iPhone and Android, and it's used by learners in Australia, the UK, Ireland, Canada and the US. A free account gets 5 cases in your first week, then 3 cases a week, plus unlimited 2-minute quick cases, with every case in the library open, with a video patient in every full case.
Common questions
Is Diagnosica made for the AMC clinical exam?
No. Diagnosica is a general case simulator for medical students and junior doctors, and its scorecard is mapped to UKMLA CPSA, MRCP PACES and USMLE Step 2 CK criteria, not to the AMC. It still gives you practice in history taking, diagnostic formulation and management, which are three of the four areas AMC stations assess.
Does Diagnosica cover physical examination for the AMC?
No. Diagnosica has no physical examination, so it cannot rehearse AMC examination stations or the online format where you describe your technique out loud. The scorecard only marks which examinations you chose to do. Practise examination with a study partner, a course or real patients.
Can I use Diagnosica from Australia?
Yes. Diagnosica runs in any browser at app.diagnosica.com and has apps on the App Store and Google Play, with one account across all three, and learners in Australia already use it. You can start a case without an account, and a free account needs no card.
How much does Diagnosica cost?
Diagnosica is free to start, with no card. A free account gets 5 cases in your first week, then 3 cases a week, plus unlimited 2-minute quick cases, with every case in the library open. Standard is $14.99 a month or $119.99 a year (UK: £15 a month or £129 a year) and allows 50 cases a month. Prices as of 19 October 2026.
Is Diagnosica legit, and who makes it?
Diagnosica is a small, independent company operated by CC Global Group LLC, live on the web, the App Store and Google Play. Cases are written for teaching and clinically reviewed before they go live. It is a learning tool, not a medical device, and it is not affiliated with any exam board.