Primary Examination: Changes in SAQ marking and invitation criteria for viva examination

Following the Australian Medical Council (AMC) accreditation in 2022, a review of examination outcomes, standards and quality assurance processes of the primary exam has led to a change in the invitation to viva criteria.  

The Primary Exam Subcommittee (PESC) has considered these recommendations in collaboration with Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), and with the approval of the Education Executive Management Committee (EEMC), the changes will be implemented in the 2026.2 Primary Exam.

The revisions to the SAQ marking scale and viva invitation threshold reflect a continued commitment to maintaining examination standards while protecting candidate welfare and enhancing the sustainability of the examination process.

1.    SAQ Marking Scale

• The SAQ will now be marked out of 10 marks per question, rather than the current 5 marks per question. 
• The final SAQ score will continue to contribute 50 marks (50%) towards the total examination score of 100 marks.
• This change provides greater granularity in marking, allowing examiners to more accurately differentiate levels of candidate performance and recognise partial knowledge and clinical reasoning.
• The revised marking scale supports more precise assessment and strengthens the alignment between SAQ performance and overall examination outcomes.

2.    Viva Invitation Threshold

The minimum SAQ score required for invitation to the viva examination will increase from 40% (30/75) to 42.7% (32/75).

• Candidates will now require a minimum score of 32/75 in the SAQ to progress to the viva examination.
• Retrospective analysis of candidates scoring between 30 and 32 marks out of 75 demonstrated that these candidates were statistically highly unlikely to achieve an overall pass, even after proceeding to the viva examination.
• The revised threshold reflects a stronger emphasis on maintaining examination standards while protecting candidate welfare and enhancing the sustainability of the examination process.
• Retrospective analysis of previous examination cohorts identified that candidates scoring within the lower mark ranges were statistically very unlikely to achieve an overall pass following the viva component. 

These changes are intended to ensure that assessment outcomes remain robust, fair, and aligned with the level of knowledge and performance expected of successful candidates.

Please note the overall format of the examination and the pass criteria have not changed. 

Should you have questions, please contact the primary exam team at [email protected].