RACP Paediatrics (DWE + DCE): question practice and revision.

Choose a topic for focused revision and check your plan against the official specification.

• Neonatology — prematurity, jaundice, sepsis, respiratory distress, congenital conditions
• Paediatric infectious diseases — sepsis, bronchiolitis, meningitis, returning traveller
• Paediatric cardiology — congenital heart disease, arrhythmias, Kawasaki, rheumatic fever
• Paediatric respiratory — asthma, bronchiolitis, CF, recurrent infection
• Paediatric gastroenterology and hepatology — coeliac, IBD, liver disease, GI bleeding
• Paediatric endocrinology — T1DM, growth disorders, thyroid, adrenal, puberty
• Paediatric haematology and oncology — leukaemia, lymphoma, anemia, coagulation
• Paediatric neurology — seizures, headache, cerebral palsy, neuromuscular
• Paediatric nephrology — UTI, AKI, CKD, nephrotic, hypertension
• Paediatric rheumatology and immunology — JIA, SLE, immunodeficiency
• Developmental paediatrics — autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, child development
• Adolescent health — mental health, eating disorders, substance use, sexual health
• Child protection, safeguarding, NAI recognition, mandatory reporting
• Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori child health and cultural safety
• Statistics, EBM, ethics, communication with children and families

Drawn from the RACP Paediatrics Curriculum, eTG Paediatrics, Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group (APEG), Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ), and item density across the iatroX bank.

• Neonatal resuscitation — Australia New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation (ANZCOR) Neonatal Life Support algorithm, Apgar scoring nuances, recognising abnormal vital signs in newborns, prematurity-specific management
• Sepsis in children — paediatric sepsis recognition (PEWS or similar), Australian/NZ paediatric sepsis bundles, antimicrobial stewardship per eTG, recognising the deteriorating child
• Paediatric asthma — Australian National Asthma Council guidelines for children, salbutamol via spacer, severity assessment, when to escalate to PICU, asthma action plans for school
• Type 1 diabetes — APEG guidelines, insulin pump and CGM access in Australia, DKA pathway (cerebral oedema risk especially in younger children), sick day rules, transition to adult care
• Developmental milestones and red flags — age-appropriate developmental targets, autism spectrum recognition (M-CHAT, ADOS-2), ADHD diagnosis (DSM-5 criteria), school readiness
• Child protection — recognising NAI patterns (TEN-4-FACESp bruising rule, fractures inconsistent with developmental stage), mandatory reporting under state child protection laws (state-specific), fabricated/induced illness, Family and Community Services pathways
• Indigenous and Māori child health — disproportionate burden of disease, otitis media (high in Aboriginal communities), rheumatic heart disease (high in Aboriginal/Māori), trachoma, social determinants
• Common DCE long-case themes — multi-system complex child (cystic fibrosis, CHD, chronic neurodisability), adolescent transition, child with disability + family complexity, breaking bad news to a family

Observations from recent RACP Paediatrics Basic Training graduates. Verify against the current RACP Paediatrics Curriculum and Australasian paediatric guidelines.

Candidate-reported observations — not official guidance.

1. Paediatric drug dosing under exam pressure — weight-based mg/kg dosing for paracetamol (15 mg/kg), ibuprofen (5-10 mg/kg), salbutamol (4-10 puffs via spacer for moderate-severe asthma), common antibiotics. Calculation speed under time pressure.
2. DCE long-case with the family — paediatric long cases include the child AND parents/carers. Communication, family-centred care, dealing with parental anxiety, age-appropriate language with the child. Tested directly.
3. Indigenous and Māori child health under-preparation — disproportionate burden of specific conditions (otitis media, rheumatic heart disease, trachoma, type 2 diabetes in younger ages). Cultural safety in paediatric encounters. Often under-prepared.
4. Child protection — mandatory reporting is state-specific in Australia (different state legislation). Knowing the reportable concerns, recognising NAI patterns, working with Family and Community Services pathways.
5. Australasian-specific tropical paediatrics — melioidosis (northern Australia), rheumatic fever (high incidence in Indigenous communities), arboviral infections (Ross River virus, dengue), measles outbreaks (immunisation gaps).
6. Adolescent health — Australian Mental Health framework for adolescents, eating disorders (anorexia nervosa with refeeding syndrome), substance use, sexual health, suicide risk in adolescents. Often emerges in DCE long-cases.
7. Common neurodevelopmental conditions — autism spectrum (recognising vs other developmental differences), ADHD (DSM-5 vs strict criteria use), intellectual disability assessment. Knowing the assessment frameworks and pathways.
8. Time-to-Advanced-Training in paediatric subspecialties — passing DWE+DCE on first attempt accelerates entry into Advanced Training. Failed attempts delay paediatric subspecialty career start.

A pragmatic phased approach used by recent RACP Paediatrics Basic Training graduates.

1. Months 1–6 (foundation)

   Foundation pass across all 15 blueprint topics. 30 questions/day with the iatroX adaptive engine. Read APEG, CSANZ, eTG Paediatrics paired to weak topics. Daily neonatal resuscitation, paediatric sepsis, paediatric asthma protocols.

2. Months 7–12 (DWE focus)

   Targeted weak-area drilling. Daily Australian/Indigenous paediatric health and cultural safety reading. Statistics block. Common acute paediatric emergency drills (DKA, status epilepticus, anaphylaxis, sepsis). Mock DWE papers monthly.

3. Months 13–15 (DWE final + DCE prep)

   Two DWE mock papers per week. After DWE pass, transition to intensive DCE preparation — daily paediatric examination practice with senior staff. Communication with families, age-appropriate language with children.

4. Months 16–18 (DCE final preparation)

   Full mock DCE assessment cycles with consultants. Refine paediatric long-case structured presentation (history with parent + child, examination, management). Short-case examination technique on real paediatric patients. Confirm DCE booking. Sleep, hydrate.

Dedicated RACP Paediatrics (DWE + DCE) question practice with answer explanations, guided Tutor review and study planning.

• Focused question practice — Choose the relevant bank and use your answers to identify what to study next.
• Guided reasoning — Explore a difficult answer with Tutor, then apply the distinction independently.
• Review and timed practice — Return to important mistakes and choose a timed practice set where available.

Choose the relevant bank and use the official exam guidance to plan your preparation.

Three-phase pathway: (1) Basic Training (~3 years post-internship) culminating in DWE + DCE Paediatric exams; (2) Advanced Training (~3 years) in chosen paediatric subspecialty; (3) FRACP award after successful completion. The DWE+DCE gate progression from Basic to Advanced Training.

9 February 2027; applications run from 23 November to 8 December 2026. The DWE has February and October sittings. Check RACP separately for DCE dates and your eligibility.

The structural format is similar (two written MCQ papers + clinical long/short cases) but content differs. Paediatric DWE tests across paediatric subspecialties (neonatology, paediatric cardiology, paediatric oncology, developmental paediatrics, etc.). Paediatric DCE long cases include the child + parent/carer (family-centred). Adult DWE/DCE tests adult internal medicine.

Many subspecialties: general paediatrics, paediatric cardiology, paediatric endocrinology, paediatric gastroenterology, paediatric haematology/oncology, paediatric infectious diseases, paediatric nephrology, paediatric respiratory, paediatric rheumatology, neonatal-perinatal medicine, paediatric intensive care, paediatric emergency medicine, community child health, developmental paediatrics, child and adolescent psychiatry (joint with RANZCP), and others.

Examined directly across both DWE and DCE. Recognising disproportionate burden of disease (otitis media, rheumatic heart disease, trachoma in Aboriginal communities; diabetes in younger ages in Māori children), cultural safety in paediatric encounters, working with Aboriginal/Māori health workers. Increasing emphasis in recent diets.

Yes. Mandatory reporting frameworks for child protection vary by state in Australia (each state has its own child protection legislation, child welfare agency, and notification process). New Zealand has its own framework via Oranga Tamariki. Practitioners must know the framework applicable to their jurisdiction.

Full RACP Paediatrics (DWE + DCE) bank access is included in all-access. Up to 10 new sample questions per day are shared across exams, with no account required. A verified free account includes one guided Tutor session; continued Tutor use is included in all-access.