The MedEx Family Medicine is an entrance examination for Master's programmes for Family Medicine specialty training in Malaysia. I took MedEx Family Medicine for the 1st time in November 2025, and I managed to pass it with Band 4.
Here, I would like to share some tips for passing the MedEx Family Medicine. These tips are also relevant for the MInTFM Clinical Entrance Test, which has a similar format with MedEx Family Medicine. I am writing the tips based on how I revised for the exam previously. However, different individuals may have different learning styles, so you should just take this as a guide.
The MedEx Family Medicine is in the form of a Single Best Answer (SBA) examination. For each question, there are 4 answer choices and you have to choose the most appropriate answer. The questions may include images such as clinical photos, ECGs, X-rays or ultrasounds, and you have to interpret them.
You have to start your revision no less than 3 months before taking the MedEx Family Medicine. You should revise consistently, ideally every day.
The following specialties will be tested in the MedEx Family Medicine:
- Internal Medicine
- Paediatrics
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine (11th Edition)
- Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties (11th Edition) (the Ophthalmology, ENT, Dermatology, Orthopaedics and Psychiatry chapters)
- Illustrated Textbook of Paediatrics (6th Edition)
- Obstetrics & Gynaecology by Lawrence Impey & Tim Child (5th Edition)
Start by studying the textbooks. You should cover all of the materials in the textbooks, although more emphasis should be placed on the more common conditions in Malaysia. Of particular importance are the risk factors, pathophysiology, diagnosis, investigations, management and complications for each condition. When studying the textbooks, I recommend going chapter by chapter. Finish all topics in a particular chapter before moving on to the next chapter.
After studying the textbooks, proceed with studying the Malaysian guidelines and protocols. You should look up the latest clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) on the Ministry of Health website. Only CPGs with the status of Current CPG should be followed. Do not follow CPGs with the status of "CPG Need to be Updated". For CPGs that come with a Quick Reference (QR), it is sufficient to study the QR without studying the full CPG. You should also read the latest Paediatric Protocols for Malaysian Hospitals and the Ministry of Health Malaysia Handbook of Obstetrics Guideline.
Where there are differences in facts between the textbooks and the current Malaysian guideline or protocol, you should follow the current Malaysian guideline or protocol. However, do note that the guidelines and protocols only contain some of the important information covered in the textbooks, so it is not sufficient to study the guidelines and protocols on their own without the textbooks. You should complete at least 3 full rounds of revision of the textbooks, guidelines and protocols if possible.
It is important to do practice questions for MedEx Family Medicine. There are no question banks for MedEx Family Medicine, but you may use the question bank for MRCGP AKT on PassMedicine or Pastest. MedEx Family Medicine questions are similar in style to MRCGP AKT questions. Start doing practice questions after you have completed at least 1 full round of revision of the textbooks, guidelines and protocols. After finishing each practice question, check the correct answer and explanation and make sure you understand the reasoning behind every correct or wrong answer. However, do take note of any differences with the current Malaysian guideline or protocol, and remember to follow the current Malaysian guideline or protocol.
You should study for MedEx Family Medicine mainly through understanding, not memorising. Basically, for every fact you come across in your revision, try to think "Why is this the case?" If there is an explanation, read it and make sure you understand what it says. If there is no explanation, try to come up with your own explanation based on your knowledge. You can also look up the internet for an explanation. The fact is that, when you actively seek an explanation for a fact, you will end up remembering the fact much better and your revision will also become more interesting. This is so much more effective than simply memorising the facts. However, do note that not everything can be studied this way. Certain facts have no possible explanation at all, so the only way to study them is by memorising.
You do not need to memorise the normal range of values for investigations as it will be provided in the questions during the exam. You are not allowed to use a calculator during the exam. All calculations that you need to perform will be simple calculations that do not require using a calculator.
You will have an average of 90 seconds to answer each question in the MedEx Family Medicine. Although that is quite a plenty amount of time, you should still be careful not to run out of time. Time yourself when doing the practice questions. As you are reading the question, you should already be thinking of the diagnosis so that you can get to the answer faster. Even if you are unsure of the correct answer, you can try to eliminate the wrong answer choices one by one to help you reach the correct answer.
All the best in your revision! I hope you will do well in the exam.
Tips for the MRCP Part 1 and Part 2 and MedEx Internal Medicine can be found here:
https://www.daniellimjj.com/2024/09/tips-for-mrcp-part-1.html
