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Preparing for the MCCQE Part I — tips and resources

Advice from PLE members’ experience for preparing the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part I (QE1).

PLE tip

Read

Choose one or two core references, such as Toronto Notes, and follow a realistic study plan rather than multiplying sources. Your previous courses remain useful: complement them with Canadian specifics.

PLE tip

Practise

Combine reading and question banks from the start if possible. Members’ golden rule: the MCC’s official practice tests are the priority investment. Take them several times and budget for them before any other bank. Check current question counts and prices on mcc.ca.

PLE tip

Check your readiness

Informal benchmark shared by members: if you score below 80% on the MCC practice tests, consider postponing your date. This is neither an official pass mark nor a guarantee of success.

Official requirement

Use the official objectives

The MCC examination objectives describe what is assessed. Pay particular attention to Canadian practice in public health and ethics, and to the choice of investigations and treatments.

See the MCC objectives ↗

Format, question counts, sessions and prices change: check them on mcc.ca rather than relying on figures reproduced elsewhere.

Illustrative study planner Fictional example

A six-week example to adapt. Tick completed weeks: your progress stays in this browser.

1 of 6 weeks completed

  1. Week 1

    Take stock

    Reading :
    MCC objectives — full overview
    Practice :
    50-question diagnostic test

  2. Week 2

    Internal medicine I

    Reading :
    Cardiology and respirology
    Practice :
    3 sessions of 40 questions

  3. Week 3

    Internal medicine II

    Reading :
    Infectious diseases (INESSS guides) and nephrology
    Practice :
    3 sessions of 40 questions

  4. Week 4

    Women’s health and paediatrics

    Reading :
    SOGC guidelines, general paediatrics
    Practice :
    Review mistakes + 2 sessions

  5. Week 5

    Public health and ethics

    Reading :
    Canadian specifics, CMPA resources
    Practice :
    Targeted ethics questions

  6. Week 6

    Check readiness

    Reading :
    Review weak areas
    Practice :
    Official MCC practice test

Resources cited by members

Resources cited in the PLE roadmap are mentioned by members. Listing them implies no official endorsement, affiliation, free access or equivalence with official exam material. Some require a separate subscription.

Open my roadmap

The advice shared is based in part on members’ experience and does not guarantee success. Requirements may change and vary by province. Always consult official bodies.