Episode Notes 

This episode of AMSC Podcast features Dr. Muhammad Taqi, a 2024 graduate of the Iraqi University College of Medicine, discussing the ministerial exam for sixth-year medical students. The conversation aims to clarify the nature of the exam and provide preparation advice.

Key Points:

• Purpose of the Ministerial Exam: The exam aims to establish a unified standard for graduates from different medical colleges in Iraq, ensuring a degree of uniformity in the outcomes of medical education.

• Exam Format: The exam consists of 100 case-scenario questions per subject, to be completed in approximately three hours on electronic devices. It replaces the final theoretical exam conducted by individual colleges.

• Exam Schedule: For the year discussed, the exam period is around a month, typically starting around August 5th, with approximately three to four weeks of preparation time after rotations. The order of exams is internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, and obstetrics/gynecology.

• Exam Development: A committee of medical college deans oversees the exam. Professors are assigned to create question banks for each subject, adhering to specific standards (e.g., questions should not be direct or in an "except" format). Questions are submitted by professors from various colleges and selected by the assigned professors.

• Comparison to College Exams: The ministerial exam is considered generally better than previous college-specific theoretical exams due to its standardized regulations and focus on essential knowledge for graduates. College exams were seen as having varying standards and sometimes focusing on lecture-specific details rather than broader, necessary knowledge.

• Comparison to International Exams: While the ministerial exam is a positive step, it is still in its early stages and doesn't yet have the maturity or experience of international exams like the USMLE.

Top Advice for Students:

• Blueprint Review: Students should start by thoroughly reviewing the entire exam blueprint to identify unfamiliar topics or areas of weakness.

• Strategic Planning: Students should allocate their preparation time strategically, prioritizing internal medicine (the first exam) while also planning for other subjects and potentially reviewing weaker areas.

• Early Identification of Weaknesses: Students should identify their weak areas early in the preparation period to allow sufficient time for review.

Learn More : 

• Dr. Muhammed Instagram

• Synaptogenesis Instagram (Educational page created by Dr.Muhammed)