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[ MDster Editorial Team ](https://mdster.com/about) · Sep 08, 2026 · 6 min read · 23 [ Reviewed by Dr. Ali Ragab, MBBCH, MSc, MCAI ](https://mdster.com/medical-reviewers/dr-ali-ragab) [Editorial Policy](https://mdster.com/editorial-policy) | [Corrections Policy](https://mdster.com/corrections) [ Emergency Medicine ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=emergency-medicine) [ Study Tips ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=study-tips) [ ACEM Primary Exam ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=acem-primary-exam) [ Integrated Viva ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=integrated-viva) ![Fellowship of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (Primary Oral Exam (Integrated Viva)): Study Tips](https://mdster.com/storage/blog/images/fellowship-of-the-australasian-college-for-emergency-medicine-primary-oral-exam-integrat-1.jpg) Share this article Share this post On this page 1. [ 1. Prepare for integrated stations, not separate subject exams ](#1-prepare-for-integrated-stations-not-separate-subject-exams) 2. [ Understand the scoring without targeting the minimum ](#understand-the-scoring-without-targeting-the-minimum) 3. [ 2. Build revision around connected questions ](#2-build-revision-around-connected-questions) 4. [ Example: create a breathlessness practice sheet ](#example-create-a-breathlessness-practice-sheet) 5. [ Give each resource one job ](#give-each-resource-one-job) 6. [ 3. Rehearse short answers and responsive follow-ups ](#3-rehearse-short-answers-and-responsive-follow-ups) 7. [ 4. Use a shift-compatible Study Schedule Template ](#4-use-a-shift-compatible-study-schedule-template) 8. [ Common pitfalls to avoid ](#common-pitfalls-to-avoid) 9. [ Key Takeaways: Your actions this week ](#key-takeaways-your-actions-this-week) 10. [ Finish with measurable progress ](#finish-with-measurable-progress) 11. [ Frequently Asked Questions ](#blog-faqs) 12. [ References ](#references-heading) On this page 1. [ 1. Prepare for integrated stations, not separate subject exams ](#1-prepare-for-integrated-stations-not-separate-subject-exams) 2. [ Understand the scoring without targeting the minimum ](#understand-the-scoring-without-targeting-the-minimum) 3. [ 2. Build revision around connected questions ](#2-build-revision-around-connected-questions) 4. [ Example: create a breathlessness practice sheet ](#example-create-a-breathlessness-practice-sheet) 5. [ Give each resource one job ](#give-each-resource-one-job) 6. [ 3. Rehearse short answers and responsive follow-ups ](#3-rehearse-short-answers-and-responsive-follow-ups) 7. [ 4. Use a shift-compatible Study Schedule Template ](#4-use-a-shift-compatible-study-schedule-template) 8. [ Common pitfalls to avoid ](#common-pitfalls-to-avoid) 9. [ Key Takeaways: Your actions this week ](#key-takeaways-your-actions-this-week) 10. [ Finish with measurable progress ](#finish-with-measurable-progress) 11. [ Frequently Asked Questions ](#blog-faqs) 12. [ References ](#references-heading) You can recognise the correct pharmacology answer on paper, yet struggle when someone asks you to explain it aloud. Before adding another textbook chapter, record a two-minute explanation without notes and identify exactly where your answer loses structure. Use the plan below to turn those gaps into targeted practice. Exam details were checked on 8 September 2026; confirm your sitting’s instructions before finalising your preparation. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") 1. Prepare for integrated stations, not separate subject exams -------------------------------------------------------------- Build your mock circuit around **four 10-minute verbal stations**, allowing approximately one hour including examiner marking time. You must pass the Primary Written Examination before attempting the viva. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Importantly, do not assign one basic science to each station. Every station is scored across anatomy, pathology, physiology, pharmacology and Clinical Building Blocks, so organise your practice to cross subject boundaries. [\[2\]](#cite-2 "Reference [2]") ### Understand the scoring without targeting the minimum Each of the five components receives a score out of six, giving 30 marks per station. Passing requires at least 15/30 in at least two stations **and** at least 60/120 overall; use these requirements to recognise why both breadth and recovery after a difficult station matter. [\[2\]](#cite-2 "Reference [2]") Ask your practice examiner to record omissions under all five headings rather than simply saying you sounded confident. Treat this as diagnostic feedback, not a validated prediction of your examination score. Keep your answers anchored in basic science relevant to emergency medicine—the stated Primary Examination objective. When practising a clinical presentation, explain the underlying mechanism rather than defaulting to a lengthy management plan. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") 2. Build revision around connected questions -------------------------------------------- Use the current ACEM curriculum as your coverage checklist, then prioritise objectives you cannot explain without prompting. Start with topics that let you practise several domains together, but do not mistake the examples below for predictions of examination frequency. ### Example: create a breathlessness practice sheet Write questions, not miniature textbook chapters: - **Anatomy:** Describe the pleural reflections and relevant anatomical relationships. - **Physiology:** Explain ventilation–perfusion relationships and oxygen transport. - **Pathology:** Describe the pathological processes underlying pulmonary embolism. - **Pharmacology:** Compare the mechanisms and adverse effects of selected anticoagulants. - **Clinical application:** Explain how the underlying science accounts for a finding in your chosen case. Use this as a self-designed integration exercise, not an official station template. Create equivalent sheets for another respiratory presentation, a limb injury and an altered-consciousness presentation, checking each question against your curriculum. ### Give each resource one job - **Official materials:** Find past papers and examination reports in ACEM eLearning under Resources for Trainees; use them to calibrate practice. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") - **Basic-science textbooks:** Resolve one identified gap, then close the book and explain the answer again. - **Question banks:** Hide the options and justify the answer aloud before checking the explanation. - **Anatomy atlases:** Cover labels, identify structures and describe relationships verbally. - **Courses and study groups:** Choose sessions offering timed candidate turns and specific feedback; ask about practice time before committing. 3. Rehearse short answers and responsive follow-ups --------------------------------------------------- Repeated retrieval with feedback improved long-term retention compared with repeated study in a randomised medical education trial. Apply that principle through closed-book oral practice, while recognising that the research does not establish an ACEM-specific preparation schedule. [\[3\]](#cite-3 "Reference [3]") Try this answer sequence during practice: 1. **Answer directly:** Give the definition, structure or mechanism requested. 2. **Organise:** Introduce two or three relevant categories. 3. **Explain:** Add the causal steps or anatomical relationships. 4. **Pause:** Allow the next question rather than delivering everything you know. As a coaching drill, aim for a 30–45-second opening answer—not an official timing rule. Ask your partner to interrupt with a follow-up, request clarification or change domains so you practise responding rather than reciting. > **Pro Tip:** Record one station weekly. Mark where you first answer the actual question, then remove any unnecessary preamble on your second attempt. If you lose your place, briefly restate the question and give the part you know accurately. Avoid inventing a receptor subtype or anatomical relationship; practise acknowledging a specific uncertainty and responding to the next prompt. 4. Use a shift-compatible Study Schedule Template ------------------------------------------------- Try this six-week template after your written preparation, extending it if your baseline mock reveals substantial knowledge gaps. The workload is a starting point, not a required or proven study dose. PeriodMain taskWeekly practice targetWeeks 1–2Map gaps across five domainsThree 25-minute drills; two timed stationsWeeks 3–4Mix topics and follow-up questionsThree 25-minute drills; four timed stationsWeeks 5–6Rehearse complete circuitsOne four-station circuit; two targeted repair sessions Use each 25-minute drill for five minutes of recall, ten minutes of questioning and ten minutes of correction. Revisit corrected questions after two days and again the following week; shorten sessions during heavy shift blocks rather than abandoning oral practice. For group sessions, rotate candidate, examiner and observer roles. Have the observer document the precise omission, the corrected explanation and whether it is answered independently at the next session. Common pitfalls to avoid ------------------------ - **Revising only favourite subjects:** Track omissions separately across all five domains. - **Memorising complete scripts:** Change the opening question and follow-up order. - **Turning physiology questions into management answers:** Practise identifying the requested task before speaking. - **Debriefing during a mock circuit:** Save corrections until all four stations are complete. - **Collecting more notes:** Require every new note to generate a closed-book oral question. Key Takeaways: Your actions this week ------------------------------------- - Complete one baseline 10-minute station with a colleague. - Build three integrated question sheets from curriculum objectives. - Book two practice sessions with protected candidate turns. - Create an error log with one column per assessed domain. - Re-answer your weakest questions without notes after feedback. Finish with measurable progress ------------------------------- Judge your next week by what you can explain accurately without prompting, not by pages completed. Start with one recorded station, repair its three clearest gaps and repeat it before adding more material. Frequently Asked Questions ---------------------------- ### How can I practise when no study partner is available? Record a timed response to an unseen prompt, then compare it with a checked reference. Keep a list of unanswered follow-ups for your next colleague-led session. ### Should I stop using MCQs after passing the written examination? Use them selectively to expose knowledge gaps. Hide the options, explain your reasoning aloud and turn errors into follow-up questions rather than relying on recognition alone. ### How should I adapt preparation for a repeat attempt? Start with your available examination feedback and a fresh observed mock. Separate knowledge omissions from answer-structure problems, then assign each a specific repair task and retest. References (3) ------------------ 1. 1. [ ACEM. Examinations: Primary Examination information and preparation resources. ](https://acem.org.au/exams) [↩](#cite-ref-1-1 "Back to text") 2. 2. [ ACEM. FACEM Training Program Handbook, February 2026, section 7.4. ](https://acem.org.au/getmedia/696cd7e3-0d43-4357-bb58-151b73623a46/FACEM-Training-Handbook-2022) [↩](#cite-ref-2-1 "Back to text") 3. 3. [ Larsen DP, Butler AC, Roediger HL. Repeated testing improves long-term retention relative to repeated study: a randomised controlled trial. Medical Education. 2009;43:1174–1181. ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19930508/) [↩](#cite-ref-3-1 "Back to text") Next Get faster at Emergency Medicine decision‑making -------------------------------------------------- - Rapid, exam‑style questions across core ED topics - High‑yield differentials and next‑step management - Target weak areas with smart review [ Start practicing ](https://mdster.com/user/dashboard) [ Emergency Medicine ](https://mdster.com/speciality/emergency-medicine) [ View pricing ](https://mdster.com/pricing) [ Explore features ](https://mdster.com/features) No credit card required. Full access to all features\*. No commitment. Cancel anytime. \*AI SOE Examiner is limited to 10 cases monthly for Advanced & Bundle subscribers. 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