• The exam prioritizes clinical reasoning over memorization.
• Many questions repeat in themes even if wording changes.
• Emergency management and guidelines are heavily weighted.
• Strong foundation topics improve decision-making across systems.
• Saves time and improves accuracy in SBA-based reasoning.

One of the highest-weight exam subjects.
Key focus areas:

• Acute Coronary Syndrome (STEMI/NSTEMI) management pathway.
• Antiplatelets & anticoagulation indications.
• Arrhythmias: AF, SVT, VT/VF & shockable vs non-shockable rhythms.
• Hypertension guidelines (by ethnicity & age), emergency management.
• Heart Failure: acute vs chronic, BNP interpretation, fluid overload treatment.
• Murmurs, valvular disease basics & common clinical findings.

Exam favourites include:

• Asthma: stepwise therapy and emergency escalation.
• COPD exacerbation: ABG interpretation and oxygen targets (88–92%).
• Pneumonia: CURB-65 scoring and antibiotics.
• Pulmonary Embolism vs pneumonia differentiation.
• Pleural effusion vs pneumothorax vs tension pneumothorax.

Always high scoring due to emergencies.
Must know:

• GI bleeding: variceal vs non-variceal management.
• Acute pancreatitis scoring and treatment.
• IBD vs IBS differentiating clues.
• Acute abdomen localisation patterns.

• AKI vs CKD – causes and staging.
• Emergency hyperkalaemia treatment.
• Nephritic vs nephrotic syndrome.
• Renal replacement indications.
• Sodium and potassium disorders.

• DKA vs HHS pathway; fluid and insulin protocol.
• Hypoglycaemia treatment.
• Thyroid disorders: Graves vs Hashimoto.
• TFT interpretation in pregnancy.
• Thyroid storm and myxoedema coma emergencies.

• Stroke and TIA acute management (thrombolysis window).
• Seizure disorders and status epilepticus treatment.
• Headache red flags and meningitis suspicion.
• Parkinsonism first-line treatment.
• Neuropathy patterns and MS basics.

• Sepsis 6 pathway and early recognition of septic shock.
• Bacterial meningitis treatment by age group.
• TB: diagnosis and treatment phases.
• HIV opportunistic infections.
• Malaria and fever in a returning traveller.

• ABCDE trauma assessment.
• Burns management (fluids and percentage calculations).
• Shock types and treatment differentiation.
• Paracetamol overdose treatment timeline.
• Poisoning management (TCA, opioids, alcohol).

• Anaemia: microcytic, normocytic, and macrocytic approaches.
• Haemolysis labs and reticulocyte interpretation.
• Anticoagulation and warfarin reversal, INR management.
• Blood transfusion reactions.

• Prescribing safety and drug interactions.
• Top drug toxicities (lithium, digoxin, methotrexate).
• Drug use in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

• Meningococcal rash emergency recognition.
• Eczema vs psoriasis management.
• SJS/TEN vs erythema multiforme.
• Cellulitis vs necrotizing fasciitis.

• Hip fracture pathways.
• Compartment syndrome red flags.
• Cauda equina syndrome.
• Joint infection vs gout vs pseudogout.

• Bronchiolitis and croup treatment.
• Neonatal jaundice.
• Febrile seizures.
• Safeguarding red flag spotting.

• Ectopic pregnancy diagnosis and β-hCG interpretation.
• Types of miscarriage.
• Pre-eclampsia / eclampsia and magnesium sulphate management.
• Post-partum haemorrhage management.
• Contraception choices based on medical risk.

• Suicide assessment and risk stratification.
• Depression and anxiety management.
• Delirium vs dementia recognition.
• Antipsychotic side-effect profiles.
• Capacity assessment using MCA principles.

• Consent, competence, and capacity.
• Confidentiality and safeguarding rules.
• Duty of candour.
• End-of-life decision making.

• Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV.
• Study designs.
• Screening principles.
• Bias types.
• Statistical interpretation.

• Red-flag cancer symptom pathways.
• Oncologic emergencies (SVC obstruction).
• Pain ladder and end-of-life care.

• STI diagnosis and partner notification.
• PID and ectopic concern.
• HIV treatment basics.

• Epistaxis management.
• Peritonsillar abscess.
• Sudden hearing loss.
• Airway obstruction emergencies.

• Acute angle-closure glaucoma.
• Red eye causes.
• CRAO vs retinal detachment.

• Testicular torsion emergency.
• Urinary retention and catheterisation.
• Renal stones presentations.

• X-ray basics for trauma.
• CT head selection.
• Chest X-ray interpretation.

• Applied anatomy relevant to injuries & nerve damage patterns.