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Overview

General information for the Psychiatry ABMS-S MCQ Examination (2025).

Last updated 24 April 2025

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Introduction
Purpose of the examination
MCQ Examination Committee
Computer-based testing

Introduction

The Psychiatry MCQ Examination (PS Examination (MCQ)) 2025 is a postgraduate examination for exit certification. Completing the PS Examination (MCQ) is one of the requirements for exit certification and for specialist registration as determined by the Specialists Accreditation Board (SAB). The examination is jointly developed by the ABMS Assessment Services (ABMS-AS), LLC, the relevant Member Board of its affiliate, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), and the Ministry of Health, Singapore (MOH).

ABMS is a not-for-profit organisation that assists the American medical specialty boards in the development and use of standards in the evaluation and certification of specialists.

MOH has collaborated with ABMS-AS to develop specialty-specific psychometrically validated multiple-choice-question (MCQ) examinations for Singapore. The examination blueprints have been designed to ensure that the content is relevant to the practice of medicine in Singapore. The PS Examination (MCQ) will complement the structured formative training of the residency programme and other clinical assessments required in the programme.

Any specialty certificate issued by MOH does not entitle the holder to reciprocal certification privileges in the U.S.

Purpose of the examination

The SAB determines the qualifications, experience and training programmes which are to be recognised for registration as specialists under the Medical Registration Act, and grants Certificates of Specialist Accreditation to persons who meet these requirements. You can obtain current information from the section on specialist accreditation in Singapore.

To receive the Certificate of Specialist Accreditation in a specialty, a doctor must meet the graduate medical education training requirements, demonstrate clinical competence in the care of patients, meet the licensure requirements with the Singapore Medical Council (SMC), and pass the required postgraduate examinations.

The Psychiatry Examination (PS Examination)

The PS Examination, comprising 2 components, shall be the exit examination for R5 residents.

  • PS Examination (MCQ) will comprise 200 multiple-choice-questions (MCQs). Only candidates who have attained a pass in PS Examination (MCQ) will be allowed to proceed with PS Examination (Viva).

  • PS Examination (Viva) will comprise a clinical vignette (20 mins) and three short scenarios (10 mins each) based on the following – clinical, professional, medico-legal, and ethical issues.

The PS Examination is mandatory for Psychiatry Residents for exit certification, subject to completion of required postings and attestation by the Programme Directors.

MCQ Examination Committee

The Psychiatry MCQ Examination Committee comprises medical educators and senior clinicians who are appointed as subject matter experts to be involved in the joint development of the examination materials with ABMS-AS. The examination materials are protected by copyright laws and are intended to be delivered in a secured test environment.

Computer-based testing

The PS Examination (MCQ) is a multiple-choice examination administered by computer. The code used for this examination is PS Examination. Pearson VUE is the designated Test Vendor for administering the computer-based examination in a secured test environment. Upon successful scheduling of the examination with Pearson VUE, candidates will receive a Confirmation Email which will indicate the location of the allocated Test Centre.