Thank you for your effort to read this blog post. I highly appreciate it.

You might have read my other blog My NZREX journey, if you have not, please do as your question might be answered in that post or the comments sections below it.

I decided to write this post, as I realised that so many interest about NZREX and so many questions were asked on my previous blog post. I tried to answer all the questions on the comment section but sometimes they are repetitive, and as I become more busy will take sometimes for me to finally able to answer them. So I think this post will make it easier for people to find the information.

1. Where do I find information about NZREX
Please familiar your self with the eligibility requirements, how to apply and the NZREX schedule trough New Zealand Medical Council  website here. Most of the information can be found in the website.

2. I am a specialist in my home country, do I need to sit NZREX prior to work in NZ?
Not every IMG need to sit NZREX, there are several pathways for IMGs depend on where they trained and the degree of training they have. Please do the self assessment to find out if you need to go down the NZREX pathway. Click here to take the assessment.

3. How long do I need to prepare for NZREX?
The amount of time will be all depend on how familiar you are to New Zealand medical system. How confident you are practising medicine in English. How familiar you are with New Zealand culture. How long have you been practising medicine.

There are a lot to cover and prepare. You will need more time to practice if you have not been practising medicine for more than a year, as you will need to get your confident back and your train your speed on physical exam and history taking.

For people who less familiar with New Zealand culture and medical system will need time to research about them and familiar them self with these. 

How much time you have to practice every day prior to your exam.

For general example. My study buddy and I have not practising medicine for more than five years when we were taking the exam. We both have been living in NZ for more than five years and pretty much immerse with the culture. We are fluent in English but never practise medicine in English previously. We know very little about the New Zealand medical system. It took us a full six months to be confident to take the exam, and we were practising almost every day. Most people prepare for a year. Some only 4 months.

I suggest book your exam ASAP and start preparing.

4.  How long will it take from passing NZREX to getting a house officer job
Well this is the most difficult question, as there are no exact time and there is no guarantee for you to get a job after the exam. So people can get a job immediately (less than 4 months). Some take a few years (1-5 years) Some never getting a job and gave up.

It took me 1.5 years to secure a PGY1 position, after 5 interviews, 18 weeks of observerships in NZ hospitals, Many weeks of observership in the GP practises.

Please note, passing NZREX does not guarantee position as PGY1/HO.

5. Can you please add me to viber group?
Sure. However, the group sometimes reach the limit so I unable to add more people, I will keep trying at random time, but may take time. Please be patient.

Please make sure you have opened an account with viber and send me the right phone number - the one that registered with viber - prior to requesting to be added. This will safe my time and yours.

6. Can I prepare for NZREX from my home country?
Yes. However as this is an OSCE, please find someone that you can practise face to face in your home country on top of skype study partners.

I highly recommend to come to NZ and arrange for observership prior to the exam, so you can familiar your self with NZ culture and medical system if this possible for you.

If you are from non English speaking country and never been to NZ, I highly suggest to make a visit to NZ prior to your exam or deciding to migrate to NZ.

7. How to arrange for observership?
Please contact the hospital or DHBs directly. If you are not a NZ permanent resident or citizen please check with immigration NZ what kind of visa do you need.

I hope this blog post will help answer some of your questions, feel free to ask more questions if you have. I will try to keep updating this post as required. 

Three to four weeks before the exam
From my experience the last few weeks before the exam was the most difficult time during my exam preparation. As I felt so tired from rehearsing all the materials over and over again. I started loosing interest in my study and feeling anxious  because I was not ready yet for the exam. So my study partner and I decided to take a week break after the mock exam, and we promised that we will come back with fresh mind and give the best effort to pass the exam.

As the exam exam only a few weeks away, it is natural if you feel more anxious. You may feel that you have learned everything but you keep forgetting the important information for counselling stations or particular questions in history taking, or you keep running out of time when doing physical examinations. The good news is everyone experience the same thing, so you are not alone.

The key to survive the last few weeks before your exam is to organise your study schedule well. Below is some tips from me to help you planning your last several weeks.

1. Attend a mock exam
If you are studying in a group you can organise a mock exam. If you are not part of a study group, start asking around if there is any study group that will do a mock exam. In my experience, the mock exam was a crucial part of my preparation. The mock exam is usually design to mimic the real exam, so for the first timer, this is the best opportunity to experience the exam. You will get useful feedbacks on your performance from the past candidates who volunteer as examiners.

Mock exam is usually held at least four weeks from the real exam so you will know your weaknesses and will have time to make improvement. Cases on the mock exam are usually have high possibility to be in the real exam.

2. Make a list of cases that most likely will appear on your exam or make prediction
Predict and practice those cases. This is sound complicated and confusing but it is actually very easy. Find out what cases that have been in the previous exam up to a year back. Cases from the two previous exam are very unlikely to be on your exam so you can cross them out. Cases from a year ago, are more likely to be in your exam. Then check the remaining cases from the high yield case lists. Cases that are common in New Zealand are more likely to come than more rare cases, however in each exam usually there is one rare case. Remember that this is a prediction only, so there is no guarantee that your prediction will be 100% correct.

3. Recognise your weaknesses
Get honest feedback from your study partner or from someone who has passed the exam, look for your weaknesses and improve them.

4. Do what ever work for you
If you learn more by reading, then read your script again and again. If you learn better by practicing, then practice as much as you can with your study partner. I belief after a few months preparing for your exam, you will have an idea about the best study method that suitable for you.

5. Get in to the habit
You have accepted the allocation letter from the medical council, so you know which slot will you be in. Why this is important, because you want to start building some habits for your body to follow. For example, if you are in the morning slot, you will start your exam at 9 am. So wake up and get ready to start your practice at 9 am. Say "Good morning" when you introduce your self in every practice stations. Pace your self so you are able to last for 3.5hr in your optimal condition. Remember there is only one toilet break, so you will need to train your bladder as well. The same with the afternoon session, train your self to be able to maintain your optimum performance until around 4pm. That's means you need to have lunch before your exam. Use "Good afternoon" for every station when you practice. The main point is to get your self as comfortable as possible when you do your exam.

​6. Do your home work as early as possible
​Aim to reduce as much stress as possible near the day of your exam. Find out where you should go, choose your outfit in advance, book your ticket and accommodation for out of town candidates.
Avoid driving to the exam venue if you can. Organise for your family or friends to droop you off, or to hire a taxi. Public transport in Auckland sometimes can be a bit stressful, so avoid it if you can.

I wish you all the best with your preparation and exam. It is a tricky exam, but it is very possible to pass it with proper preparation. Good luck to all future candidates. Feel free to droop a comment or send me email if you have any questions.

It has been a privilege for me to get know people from around the world trough my blog. Recently, one of my reader informed me that she just passed her AMC-MCQ. I asked her if I can ask her some questions and share her experience with us, and she said "yes". So I sent her email and she has been generously answered all my questions.

I hope it will be useful for those who still preparing for the exam.
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Dear P.R (I am using initials for privacy reason)

Below are some questions that I have regarding your experience.

​Firstly, can you tell me a little about yourself and your medical background?
I am an IMG from the Philippines. I got my degree in 2014 and finished a year medical internship the following year. In 2016, I decided to move to New Zealand. 

How long did you need to prepare for the exam and can you tell me a little about your study plan?
Honestly, I didnt have a study plan. I began preparing for it two months prior my scheduled exam. I made it a point that I am reading at least 1 topic or answering at least 50 questions per day during my 2-month preparation.

What were the difficulties you faced during the preparation, and how did you overcome them?
I think since I am preparing on my own (self study) the greatest challenge was procastination. There were days that I was very lazy and everytime I'd read I almost fell asleep. 
Because of this, I made sure that I was pumped up with coffee and in a place that has a good ambience for studying. I also played music to keep me awake.

What were materials you used, that you found useful?
What I found very useful was the AMC blue book. I used it to familiarise myself on how the questions are asked. AMC questions are very different from what I'm used to. I also answered recall questions. For the topics that I did not understand, I referred back to Murtagh's.

If you do not mind me asking, how many times did you sit the AMC MCQ, and what led you to success?
I was not successful on my first attempt. It shattered my confidence and said to myself that maybe I am not good enough for this.
I am not sure on how I regained my confidence back. One day I said to myself that I need to be doing something for me to be able to move forward. So I scheduled my next exam and that was it - no turning back. With God's grace, I passed.

Is there anything that you regret doing in term of your preparation?
I think if I prepared more seriously and had a study schedule that I strictly followed, the outcome would have been better. 

Finally, what is your suggestion,or tips for those who are preparing for the exam?
-First would be to book for the exam. If you have booked your exam, you will prepare more seriously.
-Second, dont be afraid to ask questions about the things you are unsure of. There are a lot of online groups who are willing to help to answer your queries. Like Imelda, I used to asked her a lot of questions about AMC and about practising medicine in New Zealand. She provides very useful information and I really appreciate her for doing this.
-Third, familiarise yourself with the form of questions in AMC-MCQ. Read the blue book and answer recall questions. When in doubt, always consult John Murtagh's.
-Lastly, pray. As I am Catholic, I prayed to God that He would prepare my mind and body for this exam. I prayed and asked Him to be with me throughout this journey. 
   
Congratulation again on passing the AMC MCQ, and thank you so much for dedicating your time answering questions about your preparation and exam experience to help others that will go on the same path. Good luck on your NZREX, I look forward to hearing more good news from you.
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My NZREX journey started in February 2016. I studied blindly since there is not enough information about the exam itself. I started by reading John Murtagh's, since some people advised me to do so.

After a month reading John Murtagh's for the second time, (I read this book for my AMC-MCQ preparation in the previous year), I was invited to an NZREX vibre group, which changed my journey into a success story. This vibre group connects some doctors who have passed NZREX and who are still preparing for the exam, to share experience and help each other to pass the exam. There are also regular classes organised through this group to discuss common cases in NZREX. I met some wonderful people in this group and joined a smaller study group which I think is crucial for anyone preparing for NZREX. (Please leave me a message if you want me to invite you to this group).

I started in a study group of three, which later grew to six people and we met two times a week for role-play. I enjoyed practising with this group and learned a lot from more senior doctors in our group and from those who have more experience about NZREX it self. However, after a few weeks I felt that the study pace was not suitable for me, since I was very new to the exam format and need more repetition than the others. Apart from that, I also started an observer-ship in a GP clinic, that made me so busy and I felt tired during the practice time. After a lot of consideration, I decided to take a break from the study group.

In April 2016 I met a surgeon from Fiji that was also sitting her NZREX in November 2016, so we decided to be study buddies. I organised our study plan for the next few months and aimed to finish a month before our exam.

My study plan

• 1 month of reading John Murtagh
• 5 weeks history taking practice (aim to finish in 8min/case)
• 2 weeks counseling practice (aim to finish in 8 min/case)
• 2 weeks physical exm practice (aim to finish in 8 min/case)
• 6 weeks of systematic study 
• Random cases as long as possible
• Mock exam (4 weeks before the exam)
• continue with random cases

(read more about my study plan here).

We met twice a week during history taking practice, and three times a week for physical examination and counceling, and only on Saturday during the systematic study.

I was delighted to receive my result at the end of Novenber and to know that my study buddy also passed the exam. At the moment, I am tutoring another doctor to help her to pass the exam.

Insight to NZREX

NZREX is an OSCE, it is similar to all other OSCE but somehow also very different. It is designed to test wheather you are ready to work in New Zealand as a house officer. Some overseas graduates found it very difficult, as they are not familiar with NZ medical system and culture.

You can practice OSCE like you are preparing for AMC clinical or USMLE step 2 CS, since the cases are quite similar. However, do familiarise your self with the NZREX format and with New Zealand culture since in NZREX the way you communicate with patients is very important. I found that doing an observer-ship is the most effective way to get insight to NZ cultur and to polish-up your communication skills.

The exam consists of 16 stations: four history taking stations, four counceling stations, four physical examination and four static stations. Since 2015 there are some integrated stations included in the exam, which means you need to prepare to perform a focus history taking, focus physical exam and conseling in one station. Time management is key to successfully completing these stations.

Time allocated for each station is 10 minutes with two minutes reading time in between stations. There is a 15 minutes toilet break after the 8th station, and drinking water is provided in static stations without extra time for water break. (More information about the exam format can be found on MCNZ website).

The only way to pass this exam is to prepare well. The preparation time required will depend on your medical knowledge, your communication skills and how familiar yourself to New Zealand medical system. (read a more complete tips for NZREX here).

Thank you for reading my blog, I wish you well with your preparation. Do share your experiences, I would be happy to read them. If you want me to write in more detail about NZREX please let me know by writing a comment below.

Check out the list of high yield cases in NZREX history taking stations here.
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Hi, thank you for your interest to my story. Since I have been too busy lately it take me longer to reply to your comment. So I wrote some of the most common questions here please check it out.

​Please also read some comments attached to this post as your questions might have been answered there. I will try to reply to all your messages and emails, but may take me some time before I able to.

For those who requesting to be added to viber group please be aware that the group is fully saturated at times, I will try to add at random times, and please make a viber account and send me the right phone number so I can add you. This will save your time and mine.

Thank you for your understanding. I hope you find my blog is helpful and all the best with your own journey.

I received many questions related to my experience of registering as a medical doctor in New Zealand. So I think I will share a bit of my long story here.

In March 2011, I arrived in Auckland as what they call an IMG - International Medical Graduate, a title that is affixed to every doctor who gained medical degree in different country. I have never imagined this would be the start of a long, exhausting journey. To be able to enter a New Zealand specialist program, one has to be registered in New Zealand as a doctor and have one year of clinical experience. The first step to be registered is to pass one of these exams: the USMLE step 1 & 2; AMC-Australian Medical Council exam part 1 or PLAB.

My first few months lived in Auckland went smoothly: I stayed with a nice homestay family who become my new family in Auckland, I attended a USMLE preparation course at Kaplan International and my study went really well despite the limited facilities at Kaplan-Auckland due to the Christchurch earthquake which closed the Kaplan Centre in Christchurch. 

Four months after I started my course, I begun the registration process for the USMLE that includes registering my self to the ECFMG and contacting Christian University of Indonesia, where I gained my medical degree, to release my credentials to ECFMG in America. This was a long and complicated process and took one and half years. 

By the end of my first year in New Zealand, I faced financial difficulties, I had spent almost all my saving to pay my accommodation and someone stole my credit card details which left me with additional bills to pay. I was in crisis and needed to find a job immediately, this made me step out of my comfort zone. I applied for jobs that I had never done before, to get free accommodation, and extra income, to enable me to stay in Auckland. 

There were so many things that happened in the last few years: I managed to find a job as an Au-pair that not only gave me place to stay and some pocket money, but also another family to share my ups and downs. I got engaged in 2012 after going out for a year and got married in 2013. Unfortunately, my study was not going as well as other aspects in my life. ECFMG accepted my credentials at the beginning of 2012 and I sat my USMLE exam at the end of the year, but once again I faced disappointment: I failed.

It was really difficult to find balance between study and work, so I decided to focus on working for a year which later extended to two years. Finally, In January 2015, I had a strong will to concentrate on my study to pass the AMC (Australian Medical Council) Exam as part of the New Zealand Medical Council registration requirements. I started studying from the beginning of January 2015, for at least ten hours per day while working part-time and from March 2015, a month before my exam, I dedicated all my time to study. My hard work finally paid off when I passed in May 2015.

Here some useful link for IMGs who want to work or continue their study in NZ:
New Zealand Medical Council
Eligibility requirment for NZREX clinical
Australian Medical Council MCQ
Kaplan Medical - USMLE course
USMLE course in Auckland
IELTS course with ELA

I will be glad to answer any questions about study schedule or useful materials for USMLE or AMC-MCQ.
​Also read my post about my experience preparing for NZREX here.