Last reviewed: May 2026 | Written by the MplusX Editorial Team
📌 Key Takeaways
- Paediatrics accounts for approximately 12.5% of scored marks (~15 questions of 120).
- The most tested areas: developmental milestones, fever management, immunisation, neonatology, and child abuse mandatory reporting.
- Australian-specific rules dominate — the National Immunisation Programme schedule and mandatory reporting obligations are directly and repeatedly tested.
- Primary CTA: Try MplusX free and filter to Paediatrics — see exactly what question style to expect.
Fifteen questions.
That is what Paediatrics represents in the AMC MCQ. Fifteen scored marks — equal in weight to the entire Obstetrics, Psychiatry, and Population Health domains.
Most IMGs from adult medicine backgrounds treat Paediatrics as a minor concern. They allocate one week, skim Murtagh‘s paediatric chapters, and move on.
Then they lose 8 to 10 marks in a domain they could have dominated with two focused weeks of preparation.
Paediatrics in the AMC MCQ is predictable. The question types repeat. The high-yield topics are well-established. This guide maps exactly what you need to know.
What the AMC MCQ Tests in Paediatrics
Paediatric questions in the AMC MCQ test clinical decision-making — not exhaustive paediatric specialist knowledge. You are being tested as a general practitioner or general hospital doctor encountering a child, not as a paediatric consultant.
The question types fall into predictable categories:
1. Developmental milestone recognition — is this child’s development normal or delayed? 2. Fever management — what do you do with this febrile child and what are the red flags? 3. Acute paediatric presentations — recognising and managing common emergencies 4. Immunisation decisions — what vaccine, when, and what are the contraindications? 5. Neonatology — managing the newborn period 6. Child abuse recognition and mandatory reporting
Each of these is covered in detail below.
High-Yield Topic 1: Developmental Milestones
Developmental milestone questions are almost guaranteed in every sitting. They test whether you can identify a developmental concern from a brief clinical vignette.
The AMC tests this in two ways:
- “A 2-year-old cannot walk independently. Is this normal?”
- “A child presents with [developmental description]. What is the most appropriate next step?”
The Key Milestones Table
| Age | Gross Motor | Fine Motor | Language | Social |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 weeks | Lifts head briefly prone | — | Smiles socially | Fixes and follows face |
| 3 months | Holds head steady | Hands open | Vocalises | Smiles spontaneously |
| 6 months | Sits with support | Reaches for objects | Babbles | Recognises familiar faces |
| 9 months | Pulls to stand | Pincer grip emerging | “Mama/Dada” (non-specific) | Stranger anxiety |
| 12 months | Walks with support | Mature pincer grip | 1 to 3 words with meaning | Waves bye-bye |
| 18 months | Walks independently | Scribbles | 10+ words | Parallel play |
| 2 years | Runs, kicks ball | Tower of 6 blocks | 2-word phrases | Symbolic play |
| 3 years | Climbs stairs, tricycle | Copies a circle | 3-word sentences | Group play |
| 4 years | Hops, skips | Copies a cross | Tells a story | Cooperative play |
| 5 years | Skips well | Copies a triangle | Reads simple words | Rule-based games |
High-yield rule: Any child not walking independently by 18 months or not using 2-word phrases by 24 months warrants developmental assessment. These thresholds appear frequently.
High-Yield Topic 2: Fever in Children
Fever management questions are clinical decision-making tests — when to investigate, when to admit, and when it is safe to manage at home.
The Age-Based Risk Framework
Under 1 month: All febrile neonates require sepsis work-up and hospital admission. There is no “watch and wait” for a febrile neonate. This is the highest-risk group. Reading about AMC MCQ recalls might also be helpful.
1 to 3 months: High clinical concern. If unwell or no clear source — full sepsis screen and consider admission.
3 months to 5 years: Apply a structured assessment (traffic light approach):
- Green (low risk): Normal colour, normal activity, no respiratory distress, no dehydration. Can manage at home with safety netting.
- Amber (moderate risk): Pallor, not responding normally, tachypnoea, dehydration signs. Urgent assessment required.
- Red (high risk): Non-blanching rash, altered consciousness, signs of shock, stiff neck, focal neurology. Emergency management.
Febrile Convulsions
A classic AMC question type. Key rules:
- Simple febrile convulsion: Generalised, <15 minutes, single episode in 24 hours, fully recovers → reassurance and fever management. No anticonvulsants required.
- Complex febrile convulsion: Focal, >15 minutes, multiple episodes in 24 hours, or slow recovery → investigate, may need anticonvulsant therapy.
- Febrile convulsions do NOT increase the risk of epilepsy significantly — candidates frequently select “epilepsy workup” unnecessarily.
High-Yield Topic 3: Immunisation
The Australian National Immunisation Programme (NIP) is directly tested. Knowing the schedule, the contraindications, and catch-up protocols is essential.
Key NIP Schedule Points (2026)
| Age | Key Vaccines |
|---|---|
| Birth | Hepatitis B (within 24 hours) |
| 6 weeks | DTPa-HepB-IPV-Hib, PCV13, Rotavirus |
| 4 months | DTPa-HepB-IPV-Hib, PCV13, Rotavirus |
| 6 months | DTPa-HepB-IPV-Hib, PCV13 |
| 12 months | MMR, Meningococcal B, Varicella |
| 18 months | DTPa, Hib, MMR (MMRV), Meningococcal B |
| 4 years | DTPa-IPV, MMRV |
High-yield rule: MMR is a live vaccine — contraindicated in immunocompromised patients and pregnancy. Rotavirus must be given before 6 months (first dose before 14 weeks). These specifics are tested repeatedly.
Catch-up immunisation: If a child presents incompletely vaccinated, the AMC tests whether you know that catch-up schedules exist and that you do not restart the schedule from scratch.
Normal colour, active, no distress
→ Home management + safety net] F –> A[AMBER — Moderate Risk
Pallor, tachypnoea, dehydration
→ Urgent same-day assessment] F –> R[RED — High Risk
Non-blanching rash, shock, altered consciousness
→ Emergency management immediately]
style G fill:#166534,stroke:#fff,color:#fff style A fill:#B45309,stroke:#fff,color:#fff style R fill:#991B1B,stroke:#fff,color:#fff
High-Yield Topic 4: Neonatology
Neonatal questions test recognition and initial management of common newborn conditions.
Neonatal Jaundice
The most commonly tested neonatal topic. Key rules:
- Jaundice in first 24 hours → always pathological. Investigate immediately (haemolysis workup).
- Jaundice day 2 to 14 → usually physiological. Management depends on bilirubin level and gestational age — phototherapy thresholds vary.
- Jaundice beyond 14 days → prolonged jaundice. Investigate for biliary atresia (direct bilirubin level critical), hypothyroidism, infection.
Breastfeeding jaundice vs breast milk jaundice:
- Breastfeeding jaundice: inadequate intake → dehydration → elevated bilirubin. Improve feeding.
- Breast milk jaundice: substance in breast milk inhibits bilirubin conjugation. Appears later. Continue breastfeeding — do not advise cessation.
APGAR Score
| Score | 0 | 1 | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Blue/pale all over | Blue extremities, pink body | Pink all over |
| Pulse | Absent | <100 | ≥100 |
| Grimace | No response | Grimace | Cough/sneeze/cry |
| Activity | Limp | Some flexion | Active movement |
| Respiration | Absent | Weak/irregular | Strong cry |
APGAR ≥7 at 5 minutes = normal. Score 4–6 = requires stimulation. Score <4 = requires active resuscitation.
Neonatal Sepsis
High clinical suspicion is essential. Presenting signs are non-specific:
- Temperature instability (fever OR hypothermia)
- Lethargy, poor feeding, irritability
- Respiratory distress, apnoea
- Hypoglycaemia, jaundice
Any neonate with suspected sepsis → blood culture → empirical antibiotics immediately. Do not wait for culture results. Reading about MplusX vs AMEDEX might also be helpful.
High-Yield Topic 5: Child Abuse and Mandatory Reporting
This topic appears in Paediatrics and Population Health questions. In Australia, reporting obligations are non-negotiable and directly tested.
Key Rules for the AMC MCQ
Mandatory reporting: All Australian states and territories have mandatory reporting laws. As a registered health professional, you are legally required to report a reasonable belief that a child is being abused or is at risk of abuse. This is not discretionary.
You do not need proof — a reasonable belief is sufficient to trigger the mandatory reporting obligation.
Non-accidental injury patterns:
- Bruising in non-mobile infants (bruising before cruising)
- Bruising in unusual locations (ears, neck, torso, buttocks)
- Patterned bruising matching objects
- Multiple fractures at different stages of healing
- Metaphyseal fractures (corner fractures) in infants
- Retinal haemorrhages (shaken baby syndrome)
The AMC MCQ question type: A child presents with an inconsistent history and suspicious injuries. What do you do? The answer always includes: document carefully, report to child protection services, and admit if safety at home cannot be confirmed. Do not confront parents aggressively before ensuring the child’s safety.
~15 scored questions] –> M1[Developmental Milestones
Age-specific motor, language, social] P –> M2[Fever Management
Traffic light + febrile convulsions] P –> M3[Immunisation
NIP schedule + contraindications] P –> M4[Neonatology
Jaundice, APGAR, neonatal sepsis] P –> M5[Child Abuse
Mandatory reporting obligations] P –> M6[Acute Presentations
Croup, bronchiolitis, asthma, intussusception]
style P fill:#0F2D5C,stroke:#fff,color:#fff style M1 fill:#2A7D7B,stroke:#fff,color:#fff style M2 fill:#2A7D7B,stroke:#fff,color:#fff style M3 fill:#2A7D7B,stroke:#fff,color:#fff style M4 fill:#2A7D7B,stroke:#fff,color:#fff style M5 fill:#2A7D7B,stroke:#fff,color:#fff style M6 fill:#2A7D7B,stroke:#fff,color:#fff
Study Strategy for Paediatrics
Allocate 2 dedicated weeks in your Month 2 consolidation phase to Paediatrics if your mock scores show below 55% accuracy in this category.
Use MplusX category filters to run 40 to 50 Paediatrics questions per session. Read every explanation carefully — pay particular attention to Australian-specific details like NIP schedule items and mandatory reporting obligations.
Memorise the milestone table. Developmental milestone questions are gift marks if you know the table. They are lost marks if you do not. Spend 30 minutes memorising it properly.
Do not skip child abuse questions. They feel uncomfortable. Practise them anyway. The mandatory reporting rule and the non-accidental injury patterns are high-yield and directly testable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paediatrics hard in the AMC MCQ?
Paediatrics questions are clinically straightforward if you have studied the right material. The question style is consistent — developmental milestones, fever triage, immunisation decisions, and child abuse recognition. With 2 focused weeks of preparation, 15 questions becomes a strong domain rather than a weak one.Do I need specialist paediatric knowledge for the AMC MCQ?
No. The exam tests general clinical competence with paediatric presentations — what a GP or general hospital doctor needs to know. You are not expected to know subspecialty paediatric conditions in depth.How important is the immunisation schedule for the AMC MCQ?
Very important. The National Immunisation Programme schedule is directly tested. Know the key ages, the live vaccine contraindications (MMR, varicella), and the catch-up protocol principles.References
- John Murtagh‘s General Practice (8th Edition): Chapter 83: An approach to the child, Page 2230; Chapter 84: Specific problems of children, Page 2252; Chapter 89: Emergencies in children, Page 2396
- RACGP Red Book (10th edition): Chapter 3: Preventive activities in children and young people, Page 32
- Therapeutic Guidelines (eTG): Respiratory: Chapter 12: Croup; Part 2 Neurology: Chapter 1: Acute management of seizures and status epilepticus
- Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Melbourne Guidelines: Clinical Practice Guidelines (Croup, Anaphylaxis, Status Epilepticus, Febrile Convulsion)
Disclaimer: This article is written for AMC MCQ examination preparation and general informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Clinical decisions should always be based on individual patient assessment, current Australian Therapeutic Guidelines (eTG), and consultation with qualified healthcare professionals. MplusX is an exam preparation platform and is not a substitute for supervised clinical training.