What’s in the OMCQ
AOA does not publish a detailed syllabus for the OMCQ. It names four content areas and the level at which they are tested.1
Which year this covers. The figures on this page come from the AOA documents for the 2027 intake (selection run in 2026), the most recent published. AOA revises its Selection Regulations every year, so check the current documents before you rely on any date, fee or rule.2
The four content areas
| Basic orthopaedic sciences | Listed by AOA as a content area1 |
|---|---|
| Common orthopaedic conditions | Listed by AOA as a content area1 |
| Surgical approaches and anatomy | Listed by AOA as a content area. The AOA sample question, on internervous planes of the forearm, comes from here.1 |
| Orthopaedic clinical examination | Listed by AOA as a content area1 |
AOA does not say how many questions come from each area.
The level
The test is pitched at the standard expected of a competent unaccredited orthopaedic registrar who is about to start training.1 It is a test of working knowledge for someone already doing the job, not of fellowship-level detail.
What AOA suggests you use
AOA points applicants to the JDocs PGY3 competencies as reference material, and says that experience on the job is the best preparation.1
How OMCQ Prep maps the content
This section is OMCQ Prep’s own work, not an AOA document. Because AOA gives only the four headings, we built a structured syllabus under them: categories, subcategories and topics. Every question in our bank is mapped to it. It is our best reading of what an unaccredited registrar is expected to know, and AOA may examine material outside it.
Members can browse the full structure on the Syllabus tab.
OMCQ Prep has true/false questions across all four content areas, each with an explanation and reference, plus timed 50-question practice exams.
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More about the OMCQ
- What Is the OMCQ?
- Exam Format and Scoring
- Dates, Venues and Cost
- How the OMCQ Is Used
- Eligibility and Applying
- How to Prepare
References
- Australian Orthopaedic Association. Orthopaedic Multiple Choice Question (OMCQ) Test Information – 2027 Intake. https://aoa.org.au/docs/default-source/selection-documents/2026-selection-updates-to-website/omcq-information_2027-intake_final-v0-2.pdf
- Australian Orthopaedic Association. Regulations for Selection to the AOA 21 Training Program in Orthopaedic Surgery – 2027 Intake. https://aoa.org.au/docs/default-source/selection-documents/2026-selection-updates-to-website/aoa-21-selection-regulations_2027-intake_final.pdf
OMCQ Prep is an independent educational platform. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Australian Orthopaedic Association (AOA) or the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). This page summarises AOA’s published documents; where the two differ, the AOA documents are correct.