Many questions test non-standard concepts (e.g. the most common symptom/most prevalent risk factor etc.) instead of focusing on the pathology, diagnosis and management like the USMLE. The questions aren't thoughtfully designed and include controversial subject matter (e.g. controversial treatment options, off-label drug use). There is far too much emphasis on ethical dilemmas that only a medicolegal practitioner should know..

 

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As for your question, I wouldn't give up that easily - you were really close. What I would suggest is reading all the CPSO guidelines on their website (mandatory reporting, relationships with industry etc.) and read through high yield sections of the AFMC primer (the TNotes epidemiology section is based on this, just expand on your knowledge using the primer). Make sure you know those CPSO guidelines inside out. 

Secondly, it's essential that you get a new copy of TNotes. Several ethical things have changed since 2011, most notably medical assistance in dying (MAID). Considering your background as a qualified GP, medicine is the area you'd want to pay the least attention to. Focus on Psych, O&G, Paeds and selective surgery. Try to build a super strong base of the common stuff (Asthma, depression/bipolar, COPD, MIs, common infections, heart failure etc. - the big stuff) and chase unicorns later (i.e. specific glomerular diseases). 

Ditch CanadaQBank, it's garbage in my opinion. Use USMLEWorld and the practice tests on the MCC website. When you don't know the answer, look it up (esp. ethics). 

 

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I would definitely consider spending the $500 on the practice exam this time around. As the MCCQE1 is now a limited attempt exam, you want to just get it out of the way. 

Really dive into the questions on the practice test, read the explanations - esp. on terms of ethics. It will be the most high yield thing you can do. Explore how the CDM section works. I would recommend UWorld+TNotes+MTB Step 3, but if you want to be extra prepared you should also do the ethics/population etc. questions from CanadaQBank again to have that covered (I feel this is the area a lot of IMGs have trouble with). 

Good luck, and don't you dare lose hope or sleep over this.

 

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To the poster asking for advice, here's what I used to study based on suggestions here, which I thought was adequate for me: latest TN for population health+ethics and OB/GYN, my clerkship notes/book for peds. Quickly read over Pastena's for surgery. Read through some of my clerkship notes for IM but this was lowest on my priority. UWorld for practice questions - they have the best explanations (which helps you to review important concepts), and I didn't want to shell over $$$ for the MCC sample questions.

Other suggestions: sleep well and rest the night before and really manage your time well for MCQ. 

 

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I wrote the exam end of April and just got my mark today and passed a couple SDs above the mean. I am a pretty avg CMG. To other CMGs reading this... I didn't find it overly difficult. I mean there's a lot where you're not 100% sure but most of the questions are geared towards a family medicine level of knowledge about things. I wasn't tight on time for the MC (had 30 min left at the end to review) like others have said but I'm usually in the top 5-10% of my class in terms of exam writing speed so I expected not to run out of time. The written portion has a ridiculous amount of time alotted like I finished with an extra 2 hours or 1.5 hrs. Some of the questions were weird and read my mind.
 

For the IMGs... I could see there being a lot of tricky questions that would be gimmes to a CMG. I had a stupid amount of questions on ethics specific to Canadian laws, Canadian organizations (ie. If you had an ethical question who would you ask for definitive advice... Your local college of physicians and surgeons, your program director, the CMPA, the CMA, etc). Like those are tough to study for its things you just pick up along the way really. Maybe Toronto notes sections on organization, ethics, legal, etc would be helpful.

 

To the question about writing at the end of 3rd year... Most of what I drew upon was previous clinical experience from third year. If you have finished all your core rotations I would seriously consider it. Some people feel more comfortable having "sit down" time to study and review, though. There's no wrong answer

 

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Hey, I just took QE1 for the 2nd time. I trained in the US and can compare - USMLEs were a piece of cake; MCCQE1 is a nightmare. Normally, I don't fail the tests and normally I can assess how I've done but that didn't apply to the QE1. I failed 1st time by12 points after 10 days of preparation. I've been practising in Canada for a number of years on a different kind of license so it's been awhile since I've done USMLEs. I feel that today I did even worse than the first time.

Numerous questions on ethics were not difficult, as I'm well antiquated with CMPA, CPSO regulations, and other medico-legal aspects, but actual clinical qns were very bizarre, especially on the MCC part. There were no "what's the best initial test" or "gold standard diagnostic method" but "what would you do next" and the choices were quite odd. Having done prep tests with QbankCanada, I discovered very quickly that what I normally "do next" doesn't apply to the test situations. For example, rapid sequence intubation requires a vascular access so my next step, from the given choices, I'd choose "establish I/V" but apparently this step could be skipped and off we go straight to RSI. The actual exam questions were not much better.

Anyway, I feel that I've done very poorly although most of today's questions were psych, ethics, and geriatrics. This time I prepared for 3 months but it didn't make any difference, it seems.

 

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Honestly, clerkship is the best prep. If you were engaged and studied during your rotations it will be fine; maybe brush up on rotations that were very early in clerkship. 

 

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https://cards.ucalgary.ca/card/1822387

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https://www.cpso.on.ca/Physicians/Policies-Guidance/Policies

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https://www.cpsbc.ca/library/exam-preparation

 

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https://phprimer.afmc.ca/en/part-i/chapter-1/

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https://www.cmpa-acpm.ca/en/advice-publications/handbooks/medical-legal-handbook-for-physicians-in-canada

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https://socasma.com/resources/for-students/study-resources-for-mccqe-part-1/

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https://canadiantaskforce.ca/guidelines/published-guidelines/?fbclid=IwAR3o5chY1VEnqQrlRjnyUDuMfLI09aDHwpaUFhM6Lht1hwfv0LY8qwrkvxg

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https://www.cmpa-acpm.ca/serve/docs/ela/goodpracticesguide/pages/communication/Handovers/handovers-e.html

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https://1filedownload.com/mccqe-part-1-2-preparation-resources/

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I would suggest on focusing the PHLEO section in Canadian Qbank to understand the legality and the communication approach in Canadian health care system. Medical knowledge will not be overwhelmingly difficult. I think the main challenge is the PHLEO section, if you can work on that you should be alright for the exam. 

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I used Toronto Notes + Uworld step 2 ck + The MCC prep exam

TN and Uworld are good sources to study the basics, however the exam is more similar to the MCC prep exam 

For public health, ethics, community medicine sections u can check the answers of the MCC prep exam questions where they usually provide explanations, I used to read the topics from the provided references. For ethics check the CMPA website really helpful

 

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I took my MCCQE Part 1 this past week, not what I expected at all. I have completed USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK and CS in addition with the MCCEE and NAC-OSCE, and in my opinion the QE1 was probably the most random exam I have taken in a long time. My question distribution was heavily weighted on geriatric psychiatry, ethics and medical law for some reason. CDMs were much better than the MCQs, but still, a very weird exam overall

 

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The problem is the objectives are comprehensive to the point of being almost useless.  Its been said here before, but really to study you need to go hard on OB, psych, peds and community health; maybe go over gen surg if you have more time.  Studying medicine is really low yield because its only 1/6 of the exam and its way too broad.

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CDM section from Canadaqbank is the worst. It's nothing like the actual exam. The ones in the exam are easier. I would do it just to get the feel of it but don't waste too much time on the CDM section. I would recommend purchasing one of the practice tests from MCC website to see what it's actually like.

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https://www.cpso.on.ca/Physicians/Policies-Guidance/Policies

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https://freemedtube.net/shortcourse/Boards-and-Beyond-Step-2-and-3-Videos/EKG%20Interpretation.html

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