The primary examination is a test of knowledge and understanding of the scientific foundations of clinical anaesthesia. Candidates are expected to demonstrate an understanding of the subject matter and show their ability to integrate the relevant information so that it is applicable to the practice of clinical anaesthesia. Broadly, the curriculum for the primary is applied physiology, pharmacology, anatomy, measurement, equipment, and quality and safety.
The primary examination is taken during basic training and assesses knowledge outcomes via written and oral components. Success in the primary examination is necessary to progress to advanced training.
The learning outcomes in the ANZCA Handbook for Training and Accreditation guides the range of content that may be assessed. Candidates cannot proceed to advanced training until they have passed the primary examination.
Further information about the primary examination can be found in Regulation 37 . For trainees in
Asia, please refer to Regulation 38 .
Overview of the exam
Section
1.Written
(Multiple-choice questions
Format Duration
% total marks



150 questions
Each question has a stem followed by five options
No marks deducted for incorrect answers
150 minutes
25
2. Written
(Short-answer questions)


Fifteen questions
A short written response for each question
150 minutes
25
3. Oral (Viva)


3 vivas
Candidates will be examined on approximately four topics during the viva
 The viva is designed to assess candidates’ knowledge and ability to understand, apply, analyse and evaluate the knowledge
20 minutes each
50
To be invited to the vivas a candidate needs to have achieved 40 per cent or above in each of the multiple-choice question and short-answer question sections of the exam.
Each viva has mixed curriculum content, is undertaken by two examiners and runs for 20 minutes.
The Examiners taking part in an examination constitute the "Court".

WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS
The Written sections are held on the same day, with the Multiple Choice Question Paper in the morning and Short Answer Question Paper in the afternoon. Candidates must sit both papers to obtain a result in a written section.
Format for the written section
Registration and other details which apply to the MCQ and SAQ component
1.
Candidates sign in at the registration desk at the times sent to them.
2.
Candidates will be admitted to the examination room 15 minutes before the commencement of the examination. a.
candidates are required to place their bags in the area advised by the Invigilator (usually at the back or front of the room) b.
no electronic equipment, including calculators or stopwatches, will be allowed. Large clocks are situated around the examination room for your perusal c.
mobile phones, alarms and pages to be switched off and kept in your bags or the invigilator for safe keeping
3.
No candidate will be admitted to the examination room after a period of fifteen minutes following the commencement of the examination.
4.
A candidate not wishing to continue with the examination must remain at the examination until its completion unless in an emergency.
5.
You are required to follow the instructions of the invigilators at all times during the exam.
MCQ section of the written paper -
1.
Candidates will be seated at their desks 12 minutes before the commencement of the examination to: a.
read the examination instructions b.
enter their candidate number on the answer sheet. No other details are required. c.
peruse the MCQ question paper (ten minutes will be allotted for this purpose). No writing or scribbling will be permitted during this time.
2.
Answers are to be marked in pencil only. These will be provided to you.
3.
Scribbling is permitted on the question paper.
4.
For time keeping purposes, you will be notified half way through the examination and with
10 minutes to go.
5.
Candidates must remain seated until all answer sheets and question papers have been collected and checked by the Invigilator.
6.
No MCQ question paper is allowed to be taken from the room.
Following completion of the MCQ section there will be a break before the SAQ section commences.
SAQ section of the written paper :
1.
Candidates will be seated at their desks 12 minutes before the commencement of the examination to: a.
read the examination instructions

b.
enter their candidate number on the answer books. c.
peruse the SAQ paper (ten minutes will be allotted for this purpose). No writing or scribbling will be permitted during this time.
2.
The SAQ question paper will have 15 questions & each question must be answered in a separate book, which is provided and identified.
3.
Candidates must write their candidate number on each book.
4.
The answers are to be written in blue or black pen only.
5.
If candidates write a different answer to the book number, they must alert the Invigilator and they will be advised on the change process.
6.
For time keeping purposes, you will be notified half way through the examination and with
10 minutes to go.
7.
On completion of the SAQ section, candidates must remain seated until all SAQ answer books have been collected and checked by the Invigilator to ensure that all answers have been handed in.
8.
The question paper may be taken from the room.
VIVA EXAMINATIONS
To attend the oral section of the primary examination, candidates must obtain a mark of at least
40 per cent in the multiple choice and 40 per cent in the short answer sections
The viva section of the exam consists of 3 vivas of twenty (20) minutes duration each. They will be conducted on the same day & candidates will be advised of the timing of their vivas.
The vivas are divided into time slots and candidates may be quarantined either before or after their viva slot. This is necessary for the integrity and confidentiality of the exam.
Format
1.
Candidates sign it at the registration desk at the times sent to them and admitted to the waiting area as soon as registration is completed.
2.
All electronic equipment is to be switched off.
3.
Candidates will be required to place their bags in the area advised by the Invigilator
4.
Candidates will be provided with a candidate card, which provides details of their viva and will need to show this card if asked, by the examiner.
5.
All bags will be kept in a secure area during the viva session.
6.
There are two examiners at a viva, both of whom will independently score the Viva.
Candidates will be asked questions by both examiners, for approximately ten minutes each.
Observers may be present in the room.
RESULTS
Candidates are advised via email and the College website on their performance at the written examination on whether they have achieved a standard sufficient to present for a viva. To be eligible to attend the viva examination candidates must achieve a mark of at least 40% in the SAQ section and 40% in the MCQ section. Only successful candidate numbers are posted on the website. Candidates who do not achieve a sufficient standard will be provided with a breakdown of their performance in the written section via post, once the examination has concluded.

To satisfy the Court of Examiners and achieve a pass in the Primary Examination, the candidate must obtain a mark of at least 50% in the sum of their MCQ (25%), SAQ (25%) and Viva (50%) results.
At the end of each day of the vivas, an envelope containing the overall result is available for collection by each candidate at the presentation ceremony at ANZCA House following the meeting of the Court of Examiners. Successful candidate numbers are also displayed on the board and on the ANZCA website an hour later. A certificate confirming completion of the primary examination will be posted at a later date.
All candidates and their families are invited to an informal social gathering with the Court of
Examiners at ANZCA House after notification of results.
FEEDBACK
Candidates who do not achieve a sufficient standard to pass the examination, will be provided with a breakdown of their performance in the components they have attempted at this examination via post, within four weeks of the conclusion of the examination.
The letter provides a score bracket to enable you to know how you performed in each section of this examination sitting. The table includes the individual SAQ score bracket for each question, the percentage of candidates who passed this question, and also a quartile range. Also included in the letter are the feedback sheets from the examiner who marked the question on every bad fail in the SAQ section.
Detailed feedback interviews can be requested by the SOT of the trainee within four weeks of the date of issue of the feedback letter on the following provisos:
1. The candidate must have discussed their feedback with their supervisor of training.
2. The supervisor of training believes that there will be value in this feedback.
3. The supervisor of training is able to attend the feedback interview.
Candidates will be required to attend a remediation interview if they have been unsuccessful in three attempts at the examination. They will be contacted separately via email with the relevant information.
EXAMINATION REPORT
Following the examination, a report prepared by the Chair, Primary Examination Committee from information provided by the Court of examiners for that examination will be available on the
ANZCA website.
The purpose of the report is to provide feedback to potential candidates and those involved in teaching and training programs. It provides information about the overall performance of candidates in the various sections of the examination and highlights any particular problem areas.
The report is in no way intended to reflect “model” answers, nor should it be construed that inclusion of all the material is necessary to gain either a pass or a maximum scor e.

Test- Taking Strategies
Test-Taking Strategies for the Multiple Choice Question Paper
• Answer all questions.
• Choose the one best answer (no marks will be deducted for incorrect answers).
Marking – Short Answer Question Paper
Marks are awarded for presenting relevant facts in a coherent and logical sequence and for the subsequent integration of the information which demonstrates understanding and perspective.
General principles should be emphasised.
Test-Taking Strategies for the Short Answer Question Paper
• Apportion your time equally for all questions.
• Read the questions carefully.
• Write legibly.
• Organise your answers.
• Do not use abbreviations without first defining them.
• Ten minutes per question allows the presentation of only a limited amount of information therefore only important and relevant information should be presented and less relevant detail omitted.
• Note form is acceptable.
Appendix A is a list of "keywords" and their generally accepted meanings.
Test-Taking Strategies for vivas
• Arrive early to avoid having to rush into the examinations.
• If observers are present, pay attention only to the Examiner asking the questions.
• Do not hesitate to ask the Examiner to repeat or clarify any question.
• Do not hesitate to draw diagrams, but where relevant include labelled axes and normal values, and be sure to explain the diagram as it is being produced.
• Try to present a reasoned logical response rather than rush into an answer.
• Speak slowly and clearly.
• Listen to the question carefully as well as any feedback questions.
• There are no “trick” questions. The examiners are there to help you display your knowledge and understanding.
In the report, where appropriate, some principles may be clarified or general misconceptions rectified. Specific reference material may also be provided where necessary.
The report also includes a list of topics assessed in the viva section of the examinations.

APPENDIX A
KEYWORDS
In almost every examination report, the failure by some candidates to act on key words in written questions has been mentioned. In order to emphasise the importance of these words and to clarify their meanings, the Court of Examiners has decided to publish the following list of key words with their generally accepted meanings.
Interpret the Question Correctly:
COMPARE Look for similarities and differences
CONTRAST Set in opposition in order to bring out differences
DEFINE Give the precise meaning
DESCRIBE Give a detailed account of
EVALUATE Make an appraisal of the worth of something
EXPLAIN Make plain, interpret, account for
ILLUSTRATE Make clear by concrete examples (or use a diagram to clarify)
JUSTIFY
LIST
Show adequate grounds for decisions
Catalogue by groups or classes with minimal explanation
OUTLINE Give the main features or general principles
RELATE Show how things are connected to each other and how they affect each other
 Conditions of entry to the exam: No electronic devices will be allowed at the exam. This includes calculators, mobile phones, digital clocks, stopwatches, pagers etc.
 Candidates will be allowed one wrist watch for their use and will be requested to hand over any watch that causes a disturbance to fellow candidates.
 Candidates can leave their electronic devices with the Invigilator for safekeeping
 Mobile phones and pagers to be switched off during the exam.
 No eatables will be allowed into the exam room.
 Water is provided and available at all times during the exam.
 Ample paper is provided at each exam station for discussion at the vivas.
 At the vivas, candidates will be advised when their viva is to commence. Candidates may also be
 quarantined for a short period after their vivas.
Candidates are required to follow the instructions of the Invigilators at all times during the exam.