The RACP BPT written exam: a complete guide
What is the written exam?
The Divisional Written Examination (DWE) is the written exam of RACP Basic Physician Training. It assesses whether your knowledge of adult internal medicine has reached the standard needed to complete Basic Training. Most trainees know it simply as "the written", and passing it is the step before the Divisional Clinical Examination (DCE).
Upcoming exam dates
October 2026
- Exam: Tuesday 20 October 2026
- Results: Thursday 19 November 2026, 3pm AEDT
February 2027
- Applications open: Monday 23 November 2026, 10am AEDT
- Applications close: Tuesday 8 December 2026, 5pm AEDT
- Exam: Tuesday 9 February 2027 (reserve date Tuesday 9 March 2027)
- Results: Thursday 11 March 2027, 3pm AEDT
The application window is short - put it in your calendar now. Fees for February 2027 had not yet been published at the time of writing.
Exam format
The exam is two papers, sat on the same day - 170 questions in all.
- Clinical Applications: 100 questions (92 multiple choice, 8 extended matching), 3 hours 10 minutes.
- Medical Sciences: 70 questions (66 multiple choice, 4 extended matching), 2 hours 10 minutes.
Each correct answer is worth one mark, with no penalty for wrong answers, and your score is the sum across both papers. The exam is paper-based, sat in person at venues across Australia and New Zealand.
Who can sit it?
For the October 2026 sitting, candidates needed 24 months full-time equivalent of certified Basic Training completed before 31 August 2026, along with the RACP's other eligibility requirements. The RACP has announced revised eligibility criteria for first-time candidates from 2027 - check the RACP's DWE page for the current rules before you apply.
The two papers need different preparation
Clinical Applications rewards broad clinical knowledge: diagnosis, investigation and management across every specialty, often in the form of a short case. Your day-to-day work helps here, especially if you read up on the patients you see.
Medical Sciences tests the science underneath - pharmacology, physiology, immunology, genetics, and statistics and epidemiology among others. It is the paper that tends to catch trainees out, because ward work does little to prepare you for it. Give it dedicated study time rather than leaving it to the end.
A study plan for February 2027
About 18 weeks, around a full-time job. Adjust it to your rotations and leave.
- October - build the map. Work through the curriculum one specialty at a time, starting with the ones you have not rotated through. Start five to ten flashcards a day.
- November - cover the ground. Finish a first pass of every specialty. Begin a weekly Medical Sciences block. Apply in the window (23 November - 8 December).
- December - second pass. Revisit the most tested topics, and the practice changers of the past year - new evidence turns up in questions.
- January - practise under time. Past paper recalls and timed blocks. Every wrong answer becomes a flashcard or a note.
- The last two weeks - consolidate. Review the facts that past papers test, your highlights and weak areas. No new topics. Sleep.
Make past papers your guide
The exam does not test everything equally - some topics come up again and again. Knowing which ones, and exactly what was asked about them, is the most efficient way to spend limited study time. See our guide to the most tested topics.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next BPT written exam?
The next sittings are Tuesday 20 October 2026 and Tuesday 9 February 2027. For February 2027, applications open on 23 November 2026 and close on 8 December 2026.
How many questions are in the BPT written exam?
170 in total, across two papers: Clinical Applications (100 questions, 3 hours 10 minutes) and Medical Sciences (70 questions, 2 hours 10 minutes).
Is there negative marking?
No. Each correct answer earns one mark, there is no penalty for a wrong answer, and your score is the total across both papers - so answer every question.
Is the exam computer-based?
No. It is a paper-based exam, sat in person at venues in capital cities and regional centres across Australia and New Zealand.
How long should I study for the written exam?
Most trainees allow three to six months of focused study alongside work. Starting earlier, with a little each week through BPT, makes the final months far lighter.
Sources
Dates and format are from the RACP: DWE February 2027 and DWE October 2026, checked 6 October 2026. Always confirm with the RACP before applying. BPTBuddy is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the RACP.
Study for the BPT exam with BPTBuddy
Notes across the curriculum, the facts past papers test, flashcards and the year's practice changers - one search away, from your first term of BPT to the written exam.