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[ Home ](https://mdster.com) 2. [ Blog ](https://mdster.com/blog) 3. [ Study Tips ](https://mdster.com/blog?category=study-tips) 4. How to Pass The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (Divisional Written Examination (Paediatrics & Child Health)) [ Study Tips ](https://mdster.com/blog?category=study-tips) How to Pass The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (Divisional Written Examination (Paediatrics & Child Health)) ============================================================================================================================ A blueprint-led, question-first study plan for paediatric trainees who need efficient preparation, better recall, and calmer exam-day execution. [ MDster Editorial Team ](https://mdster.com/about) · Apr 14, 2026 · 6 min read · 45 [ 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) [ Pediatrics ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=pediatrics) [ Study Tips ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=study-tips) [ Exam Preparation ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=exam-preparation) [ RACP ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=racp) [ Paediatrics & Child Health ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=paediatrics-child-health) [ Pediatrics Boards ](https://mdster.com/blog?tag=pediatrics-boards) ![How to Pass The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (Divisional Written Examination (Paediatrics & Child Health))](https://mdster.com/storage/blog/images/how-to-pass-the-royal-australasian-college-of-physicians-divisional-written-examination-pa.jpg) Share this article Share this post Most candidates who struggle with the RACP Paediatrics & Child Health written exam are not weak trainees. They usually make one of two mistakes: they revise like they are preparing for ward rounds, or they read far more than they retrieve. That is a problem because, as of April 2026, the Divisional Written Examination is still a **paper-based** exam with **2 papers**, **170 total questions**, and a mix of **MCQs and EMQs** that reward breadth, speed, and clean clinical reasoning across the curriculum. Your preparation has to look like the exam you are sitting, not the clinical exam you will do later. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Start with the exam’s scoring reality ------------------------------------- Build your study plan around the actual structure: **Clinical Applications** is **100 questions in 3 hours 10 minutes**, and **Medical Sciences** is **70 questions in 2 hours 10 minutes**. MCQs have **4 options**, and the exam includes a smaller number of EMQs. RACP also states the exam is **criterion-referenced**, not curved, with a historically set pass mark usually in the **55% to 65%** range. That means your job is not to be exceptional in a few topics; it is to be consistently safe across many topics. Spend **slightly more study time on Clinical Applications**, but keep a protected block each week for pharmacology, epidemiology, and basic sciences because Medical Sciences is large enough to sink an otherwise good paper. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Prioritise the blueprint, not your comfort topics ------------------------------------------------- The Paediatrics & Child Health blueprint is your map. Most major domains carry **10–12 target MCQs**: cardiology, emergency medicine, endocrinology, gastroenterology, general/community paediatrics, genetics/metabolic medicine, haematology/oncology, immunology/allergy, infectious diseases, neonatal/perinatal medicine, nephrology/urology, neurology, respiratory/sleep medicine, plus **clinical sciences pharmacology** and **clinical sciences epidemiology**. By contrast, adolescent medicine and rheumatology are **4–7**, and dermatology is **1–2**. So stop giving rare or favourite topics equal time. Rank topics into three bands and revise accordingly. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Use this simple priority system: - **Band 1:** all 10–12 item domains; these should dominate your weekly rotation. - **Band 2:** adolescent medicine and rheumatology; revise them efficiently with summary sheets and question sets. - **Band 3:** very small domains like dermatology; cover them, but do not let them steal time from neonatal medicine or infectious diseases. > **Pro Tip:** Put **pharmacology and epidemiology** into your weekly plan from day one. Candidates often delay them because they feel less clinical, but the blueprint gives them the same weight as many organ-system specialties. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Build a question-first study loop --------------------------------- For this exam, reading should support questions, not replace them. Start each study block with **15–20 timed questions** on one blueprint area. Then review every incorrect or guessed question and write a one-line “why I was wrong” note: wrong diagnosis trigger, wrong investigation sequence, drug adverse effect missed, epidemiology concept confused, and so on. Turn only those misses into flashcards or a short error log. This combines retrieval practice with spaced review, which is consistently supported as a high-utility learning strategy and has growing evidence in medical education specifically. [\[2\]](#cite-2 "Reference [2]") Use resources in this order: 1. **RACP blueprint and Knowledge Guides** to decide what matters. 2. **Official sample papers and practice questions** to calibrate wording and standard. 3. **One core paediatrics reference** for filling gaps, not for cover-to-cover reading. 4. **Local guidelines** for high-frequency management decisions you keep missing. 5. **A small study group** for one weekly session focused on explanation and accountability, not passive note-sharing. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") A good group session is simple: one person brings 10 questions, one person explains a tough pharmacology concept, and one person teaches a visual diagnosis set. If your group mainly swaps PDFs and complains about workload, it is not helping. Study Schedule Template ----------------------- RACP advises candidates to start early, and many successful trainees begin well ahead of the sitting. If you are within a realistic **12-week run-in**, use this structure. [\[3\]](#cite-3 "Reference [3]") WeeksMain goalWeekly output12-9Cover Band 1 domains once2 major topics/week, 80-100 questions, 1 visual session, 1 pharmacology/epi block8-5Second pass + error correction100-120 questions/week, rewrite weak areas, 1 mixed-paper timed block4-2Exam simulation2 timed half-papers/week, EMQ drills, image interpretation, rapid review notes onlyFinal 7 daysConsolidate, don’t expandRe-do errors, review flashcards, 1 light mixed set, logistics check A workable weekly rhythm for full-time trainees is: - **3 weekday sessions:** one topic block each - **1 short session:** pharmacology or epidemiology only - **1 group session:** questions out loud - **1 weekend timed block:** mixed questions under exam conditions - **1 review block:** error log and flashcards Use a paper-exam answering strategy ----------------------------------- Because you have just under **2 minutes per question** in both papers, you cannot solve the exam by perfectionism. Practise in three passes: first answer the direct questions, second return to the longer stems and EMQs, third use the final minutes to check marked items. For EMQs, read the **lead-in** and option list before the stems. For visuals, do short daily drills with x-rays, CT/MRI, ECGs, blood films, EEG/EMG reports, and echo reports because RACP explicitly states visual material is part of the exam. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Common Pitfalls --------------- The biggest mistake is **over-reading**. If you spent 2 hours with a textbook chapter and answered no questions, you probably improved confidence more than performance. The second mistake is **studying for the clinical exam too early**: long case discussions, communication scripts, and physical exam polish will not rescue a weak written-paper score. The written exam is about broad, exam-speed knowledge sampling across specialties and basic sciences. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Another common error after a failed attempt is repeating the same method with more hours. RACP specifically advises candidates re-attempting the exam to meet with their **DPE or mentor**, review what worked, and use a structured improvement plan. If that is you, get external review early and ask for topic-by-topic feedback rather than vague reassurance. [\[3\]](#cite-3 "Reference [3]") Key Takeaways ------------- - Print the blueprint and mark every topic as Band 1, 2, or 3. - Give **Band 1 topics** and **clinical sciences** the bulk of your time. - Start every session with questions, then review errors. - Practise **timed paper blocks** every week from at least 8 weeks out. - Add a **daily visual drill** and a separate **pharmacology/epidemiology** slot. - If you have failed before, book a **DPE/mentor review** this week. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") This exam is demanding, but it is also predictable. If you follow the blueprint, train with questions, and practise the written format instead of hiding in passive reading, you give yourself the best chance of passing on the first attempt. Frequently Asked Questions ---------------------------- How should I divide study time between Clinical Applications and Medical Sciences? Bias your time slightly toward **Clinical Applications** because it carries **100 of 170 questions**, but protect a weekly Medical Sciences block because pharmacology and epidemiology are prominent in the blueprint. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Are EMQs important enough to practise separately? Yes. There are fewer EMQs than MCQs, but they test clinical reasoning differently. Practise reading the lead-in and options first so you do not lose time in long stems. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Which topics should I prioritise first? Start with the **10–12 item blueprint domains** and the two clinical sciences areas: pharmacology and epidemiology. Leave lower-volume topics like dermatology until your core areas are secure. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") Should I prepare for this written exam the same way I prepare for the clinical exam? No. The written exam rewards broad recall, question technique, and speed across many specialties; the clinical exam tests bedside and interpersonal performance. Your written prep should therefore be question-heavy and timed. [\[1\]](#cite-1 "Reference [1]") What should I do if I failed a previous sitting? Meet your **DPE or mentor** early, review your prior performance by topic, and build a focused improvement plan rather than simply increasing study hours. [\[3\]](#cite-3 "Reference [3]") References (3) ------------------ 1. 1. [ www.racp.edu.au/trainees/examinations/divisional-written-examination/october-2026 ](https://www.racp.edu.au/trainees/examinations/divisional-written-examination/october-2026) [↩](#cite-ref-1-1 "Back to text") 2. 2. [ journals.sagepub.com/stoken/rbtfl/Z10jaVH/60XQM/full ](https://journals.sagepub.com/stoken/rbtfl/Z10jaVH/60XQM/full) [↩](#cite-ref-2-1 "Back to text") 3. 3. [ www.racp.edu.au/trainees/examinations/divisional-written-examination/dwe-february-2026 ](https://www.racp.edu.au/trainees/examinations/divisional-written-examination/dwe-february-2026) [↩](#cite-ref-3-1 "Back to text") Next step Practice Pediatrics the way boards test ----------------------------------------- - Age‑specific differentials and management - Growth, development, and immunizations - Target weak areas with smart review [ Start practicing ](https://mdster.com/user/dashboard) [ Explore Pediatrics ](https://mdster.com/speciality/pediatrics) [ 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. 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