Most tested topics in the BPT written exam
Some topics come up in the RACP Divisional Written Examination year after year. These are the topics with the most past paper facts in BPTBuddy - a good place to focus when time is short.
How this list is made
BPTBuddy maps facts from past paper recalls, mock exams and study group questions to the note they belong to. The count beside each topic is how many distinct exam facts sit on that note. It is a guide to where questions cluster, not a prediction of the next paper - the exam can test anything in the curriculum.
The 30 most tested topics
- Scleroderma, limited and diffuse - Rheumatology, 75 facts
- Systemic lupus erythematosus - Rheumatology, 69 facts
- Aortic stenosis - Cardiology, 40 facts
- Cancer - breast - Oncology, 40 facts
- Mitral regurgitation - Cardiology, 40 facts
- Arthritis - rheumatoid - Rheumatology, 38 facts
- Cancer - lung - Oncology, 35 facts
- Heart failure - reduced ejection fraction - Cardiology, 35 facts
- Hyperthyroidism - Endocrinology, 35 facts
- Aortic regurgitation - Cardiology, 34 facts
- Cancer - colorectal - Oncology, 34 facts
- Mitral stenosis - Cardiology, 34 facts
- Mononeuropathies, common - Neurology, 34 facts
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - Respiratory, 33 facts
- Arthritis - crystal-associated, such as gout and pseudogout - Rheumatology, 32 facts
- Malignancies - genitourinary malignancies - Oncology, 28 facts
- Cardiomyopathy - hypertrophic - Cardiology, 26 facts
- Seronegative spondyloarthropathies - ankylosing spondylitis - Rheumatology, 26 facts
- Spinal cord compression - Neurology, 26 facts
- Thalassaemia - Haematology, 26 facts
- Aplastic anaemia or bone marrow failure - Haematology, 25 facts
- Cardiac arrhythmias - atrial fibrillation - Cardiology, 24 facts
- Arthritis - osteoarthritis, generalised and regional - Rheumatology, 23 facts
- Cancer - melanoma - Oncology, 23 facts
- Hepatitis B - Gastroenterology, 22 facts
- Immune toxicity - Oncology, 22 facts
- Vasculitis - antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis - Rheumatology, 22 facts
- Cancer - prostate - Oncology, 21 facts
- Muscular dystrophies - myotonic dystrophy - Genetic and Metabolic Medicine, 21 facts
- Infective endocarditis - Cardiology, 20 facts
Top topics by specialty
Cardiology
Physiology
- Nerve fibre classification and clinical correlates (large myelinated vs small unmyelinated) (8)
- Renal tubular acidosis - types and causes (type 1, 2, 4) (8)
- Antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin) - physiology and site of action (6)
- Determinants of DLCO (haemoglobin, altitude, haemorrhage, shunt) (6)
- Non-malignant causes of tumour marker elevation (6)
Dermatology
Pharmacology
- Immunosuppressant mechanisms of action (calcineurin inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors, antimetabolites) (14)
- Immune checkpoint inhibitor mechanism (PD-1/PD-L1, CTLA-4) (12)
- Vasopressor mechanisms of action (noradrenaline, adrenaline, vasopressin) (8)
- Osteoporosis drug mechanisms (teriparatide, denosumab/RANKL, bisphosphonates, SERMs) (5)
- Predictive biomarkers for targeted cancer therapy response (KRAS, BRAF, MSI) (5)
Endocrinology
Immunology
- Transplant rejection types - histological/immunological features (hyperacute, acute cellular, acute antibody-mediated, chronic) (19)
- MHC/HLA function in antigen presentation (18)
- Primary immunodeficiency syndromes - key syndromes and defects (XLA, CVID, DiGeorge, CGD) (15)
- Complement activation pathways and functions (classical, alternative, lectin; opsonins vs anaphylatoxins) (9)
- Autoinflammatory syndromes and the inflammasome (FMF, gout, Blau, Schnitzler, CAPS) (8)
Gastroenterology
Genetics
- Trinucleotide repeat disorders (myotonic dystrophy, Fragile X, Huntington's, Friedreich's ataxia) and genetic anticipation (8)
- Hereditary cancer susceptibility genes (BRCA1/2, TP53, PALB2, RET, VHL, MEN1) (7)
- Atypical HUS - complement regulatory gene defects (Factor H, Factor I, MCP) (5)
- Cystic fibrosis genetics (CFTR mutations, genotype-phenotype) (5)
- Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) - mechanism (PIGA gene, CD55/CD59, complement-mediated haemolysis) (5)
General Medicine
Microbiology
- Antibiotic resistance mechanisms (beta-lactamase hydrolysis, efflux, porin loss, target modification) (7)
- Haemolytic uraemic syndrome - Shiga toxin mechanism (typical HUS) (4)
- Peritoneal dialysis peritonitis - causative organisms (2)
- Zika virus - transmission and prevention (2)
- Bloodborne virus transmission risk after needlestick injury (HBV, HCV, HIV) (1)
Genetic and Metabolic Medicine
Biostatistics
- Clinical trial phases (I-IV) and their purposes (7)
- Positive predictive value calculation from prevalence, sensitivity, specificity (Bayes theorem) (2)
- Types of bias in epidemiological studies (recall, selection, confounding, information) (2)
- Blinding in clinical trials (1)
- Converting odds ratio to prevalence/risk given baseline rate (1)
Geriatric Medicine
Haematology
Immunology and Allergy
Infectious Diseases
Nephrology
Neurology
Obstetrics
Oncology
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Addiction Medicine
Respiratory
Rheumatology
New to the exam? Start with our guide to the BPT written exam - dates, format and a study plan.
Study for the BPT exam with BPTBuddy
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