No, the ACEM written exams are not computer-adaptive. Their written components are linear, fixed-form exams in which the difficulty does not respond to your answers, and every candidate sitting a paper faces the same questions.
What the ACEM format actually is
The Australasian College for Emergency Medicine assessments include written components using multiple-choice and short-answer questions, alongside separate clinical and structured components. The written papers are fixed sets of questions, so everyone sitting a paper faces the same items, unlike an adaptive test. Confirm current question counts and timings on the ACEM website.
How the pass mark is set
The ACEM written papers are standard-set to a defined level of competence, so the raw mark needed can vary between sittings while the standard stays constant. For how this compares across exams, see how medical exam pass marks are set.
What would be different if it were adaptive
If the ACEM exams were adaptive, they would select each question based on your running ability and every candidate would see a different paper, as in the AMC CAT, explained in how computer-adaptive testing works. The ACEM written papers are fixed papers measured against a standard.
How to prepare
With fixed papers, target your weak areas and space your revision. iatroX offers adaptive ACEM practice, with free sample questions to try at iatroX.
Frequently asked questions
Are the ACEM exams adaptive? No. Their written components are linear, fixed-form exams of multiple-choice and short-answer questions. Difficulty does not change based on your answers.
What question types does ACEM use? Multiple-choice and short-answer questions in its written components, alongside separate clinical and structured components.
How are the ACEM written papers marked? By criterion-referenced standard-setting to a defined competence level, so the mark needed can vary between sittings while the standard is constant.