MCCQE Medical Council of Canada MCCQE Part 1 Exam Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

This patient has hypercalcemia with suppressed PTH, ruling out primary hyperparathyroidism. The differential includes malignancy-associated hypercalcemia, vitamin D intoxication, and medications. Given the low PTH and normal vitamin D level, malignancy (e.g., multiple myeloma) is a leading concern. Serum protein electrophoresis and urine for Bence-Jones proteins (light chains) are appropriate next steps.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Endocrinology, “Hypercalcemia”:

“PTH-independent hypercalcemia should prompt investigation for malignancy. Multiple myeloma is a common cause in older adults—order SPEP and UPEP.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (Endocrinology > 37-1: Calcium Disorders):

“Candidates must investigate non-PTH mediated hypercalcemia, including consideration of multiple myeloma.”

A (urine calcium) helps in familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia, but this is unlikely given low PTH. B (calcitriol) would worsen hypercalcemia. C is inappropriate because PTH is suppressed. D (changing HCTZ) may help, but malignancy must be ruled out first.

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The findings of exophthalmos (bulging eyes), conjunctival inflammation, and periorbital swelling are hallmark features of Graves ophthalmopathy, a manifestation of autoimmune hyperthyroidism.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Endocrinology, “Thyroid Disorders”:

“Graves ophthalmopathy: proptosis, periorbital edema, conjunctivitis, and diplopia due to extraocular muscle involvement. Often independent of thyroid levels.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (Internal Medicine > 36-1: Thyroid Disease):

“Candidates must recognize and manage Graves disease and its ocular manifestations.”

Myasthenia gravis may cause diplopia but not proptosis or swelling. Pseudotumor and cellulitis are painful and acute. Allergic conjunctivitis is itchy but lacks proptosis.

The clinical picture suggests an obstructive anomaly of the female reproductive tract, such as imperforate hymen or vaginal outflow tract obstruction, leading to hematocolpos. The first essential step is physical examination of the external genitalia.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Pediatrics and Gynecology, “Amenorrhea” Section:

“In girls with primary amenorrhea and cyclic abdominal pain, perform an external genital exam to rule out obstructive anomalies (e.g., imperforate hymen or transverse vaginal septum). Examination should always precede imaging.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (Pediatrics > 78-3: Puberty and Menstrual Disorders):

“Candidates must evaluate delayed menarche with physical exam, including inspection of the genitalia to rule out anatomic obstruction.”

Pelvic ultrasound (D) is helpful but should follow physical exam. Radiography (B), hCG (C), and urinalysis (E) are not primary steps in evaluating amenorrhea with a mass.

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In cross-cultural care, especially for recent immigrants, it is essential to build rapport and respect patient preferences regarding family involvement. Involving family in the interview respects cultural norms and improves trust. A trained interpreter should be used to maintain confidentiality and accuracy, but collaboration with the family initially may encourage later private disclosure.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Ethics and Communication, “Cultural Competence”:

“When encountering language or cultural barriers, patient comfort and cultural context must be respected. Interviewing the patient and family together may facilitate trust, after which individual conversations may be possible.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (ELOM > 90-1: Communication and Patient-Centered Care):

“Candidates must approach patients in a culturally sensitive manner, particularly recent immigrants or those with language barriers, and foster trust.”

Insisting on a private interview (A) may alienate the patient. Family members should not act as interpreters (C). Written accounts (D) are inefficient and impersonal in acute mental health settings.

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Button batteries lodged in the esophagus require urgent endoscopic removal due to risk of tissue necrosis, perforation, and tracheoesophageal fistula within hours. Batteries beyond the esophagus may pass spontaneously if the child is asymptomatic.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Pediatrics, “Foreign Body Ingestion”:

“Button batteries in the esophagus are medical emergencies and must be removed immediately. Batteries in the stomach or intestines may be observed if the child is asymptomatic.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (Pediatrics > 78-2: Gastrointestinal Emergencies):

“Candidates must identify when foreign body ingestion poses immediate risk and requires emergency intervention.”

Batteries in the stomach or intestines (A–C, E) usually pass without complication, especially if the child is asymptomatic and the battery is <2 cm.

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When encountering vaccine hesitancy, the first and most effective step is to open a non-judgmental conversation and explore the patient’s reasons. This helps build trust and tailor subsequent education and counseling.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Immunization:

“Addressing vaccine hesitancy requires understanding parental concerns. Begin with open-ended questions to identify underlying beliefs and information gaps.”

MCCQE1 Objectives – Preventive Medicine > Immunization:

“Candidates must demonstrate effective communication with vaccine-hesitant parents, beginning with eliciting their rationale before providing evidence-based recommendations.”

Jumping to education (B) or punitive measures (C, D) may close communication. The patient is an adult; speaking with her parents (E) violates her autonomy.

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Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

Postpartum psychosis is strongly associated with bipolar disorder and other mood disorders. A personal or family history of bipolar disorder significantly increases the risk. It typically presents within the first 2 weeks postpartum and is a psychiatric emergency.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Psychiatry, “Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders”:

“Risk factors for postpartum psychosis include personal or family history of bipolar disorder or postpartum psychosis.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (Psychiatry > 71-3: Mood Disorders):

“Candidates must recognize risk factors for postpartum psychiatric illness, particularly the association with bipolar spectrum disorders.”

Advanced maternal age (A), multiparity (B), and panic disorder (D) do not significantly increase the risk of postpartum psychosis.

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It is essential to balance medical guidelines with trauma-informed, patient-centered care. This includes offering future discussion while respecting boundaries. Acknowledging distress and offering to explore more in the future (B) preserves trust and autonomy.

Toronto Notes 2023 – ELOM and LGBTQ2S+ Health Section:

“For transgender individuals, screening decisions should be personalized. Trauma-informed care includes validating distress and deferring invasive exams when not urgent.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (ELOM > 99-2: Cultural Safety):

“Candidates must prioritize patient-centered communication and consent, particularly when distress or marginalization may influence healthcare interactions.”

Option A is coercive. Option C is documentation only and lacks engagement or exploration.

Referrals should be medically indicated. Physicians are not obligated to refer simply because a patient (or colleague) requests it, especially when it may lead to unnecessary care. The ethical and appropriate action is to explain your medical reasoning and decline an unwarranted referral.

Toronto Notes 2023 – ELOM, “Professionalism and Resource Stewardship” Section:

“Physicians have a responsibility to act as gatekeepers to specialist services and should not refer patients when criteria are not met. Explaining the reasoning and declining the request respectfully is appropriate.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (ELOM > 99-1: Professionalism and Clinical Judgment):

“Candidates must demonstrate ethical reasoning in managing requests for unwarranted interventions.”

Involving the emergency department (B) or another physician (C) is not appropriate unless there's a true conflict of interest. Calling a consultant (E) may be unnecessary if no medical reason exists.

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This patient has classic features of exertional heat stroke—hyperthermia, hypotension, CNS symptoms (collapse), and hot, dry skin. A key complication of heat stroke is rhabdomyolysis, which can cause renal failure. Serum creatine kinase (CK) is the best next diagnostic step to confirm muscle breakdown.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Emergency Medicine, “Environmental Exposures”:

“In heat stroke, check for rhabdomyolysis (↑CK), renal impairment, and coagulopathy. Prompt cooling and hydration are critical.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (Internal Medicine > 59-3: Environmental and Toxic Exposures):

“Candidates must recognize heat-related illnesses and investigate for complications such as rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury.”

CT head (C) is not indicated unless persistent neurological symptoms. TSH (B), CRP (D), and blood cultures (E) are irrelevant to acute exertional hyperthermia.

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Calculating food-specific attack rates (i.e., number of people who became ill after eating aparticular food divided by the total number who ate that food) is the most effective method to identify the probable source of infection in a known cohort outbreak.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Public Health, Outbreak Investigations:

“Foodborne outbreaks are best analyzed using food-specific attack rates to determine associations between individual foods and illness.”

MCCQE1 Objectives – Preventive Medicine > Epidemiologic Principles:

“Candidates must use epidemiologic tools, such as attack rates, to identify probable sources during outbreak investigations.”

Cohort study (C) is also acceptable but more time-intensive. Stool and food cultures (B, D) confirm the pathogen but not the source. HACCP (E) is a preventive method, not a tool for outbreak investigation.

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When a competent patient declines dialysis, the next step is to support shared decision-making and explore options that align with their lifestyle. Peritoneal dialysis may allow more flexibility and autonomy compared to hemodialysis, making it more acceptable to patients with demanding schedules.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Nephrology, Chronic Kidney Disease Section:

“Peritoneal dialysis offers the advantage of home-based treatment and flexible scheduling. Patient education and peer support can improve acceptance and adherence to dialysis initiation.”

MCCQE1 Objectives – Internal Medicine > Nephrology:

“The candidate should explore treatment alternatives collaboratively, emphasizing patient autonomy, while addressing misconceptions and lifestyle concerns related to dialysis.”

Simply warning the patient or withdrawing engagement (Options B and C) may undermine rapport. Access to medical records (D) is a right, but does not actively address treatment planning. Exploring new employment (E) is inappropriate at this stage.

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The patient’s pain is no longer medically justified for opioids, but there is no evidence of misuse. The most appropriate and supportive action is to explain concerns, provide education about opioid tapering or dependency, and transition care to her family physician for ongoing management.

Toronto Notes 2023 – ELOM, “Safe Prescribing and Opioid Stewardship” Section:

“When opioids are no longer indicated, engage the patient in a conversation about tapering and arrange appropriate follow-up. Coordinate care with primary providers when long-term management is needed.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (ELOM > 99-1: Professionalism and Substance Use):

“Candidates must address the risk of dependency, counsel the patient, and ensure a safe transition to appropriate care without abrupt termination.”

Methadone (E) and fentanyl (A) are for opioid use disorder or chronic pain, not for tapering in low-risk patients. Discharging the patient (B) or reporting (C) is punitive and unnecessary.

In Canada and in most jurisdictions internationally, physicians have a professional and in some cases legal obligation to provide emergency assistance. Documentation should be done in your own records afterward. Aviation laws and Good Samaritan protections offer liability coverage for health professionals acting in good faith.

Toronto Notes 2023 – ELOM, “Physician Obligations and Medical-Legal Responsibility”:

“Physicians should respond to in-flight or public emergencies when capable. Documentation should be completed after the event, and liability is protected under Good Samaritan laws.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (ELOM > Professionalism > 90-1):

“Candidates must demonstrate appropriate professional behavior, including willingness to assist in emergencies and understanding of legal protections.”

Avoiding assistance (A), or placing conditional barriers (D), is unethical and inappropriate.

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Laryngomalacia is the most common cause of chronic stridor in infants. It presents with inspiratory stridor that worsens with feeding, supine positioning, or agitation. The child remains otherwise well and meets developmental milestones.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Pediatrics, Airway Disorders:

“Laryngomalacia presents with intermittent inspiratory stridor, typically beginning in the first few months of life. Diagnosis is clinical and prognosis is usually good.”

MCCQE1 Objectives – Pediatrics > Respiratory Disorders:

“Candidates must recognize the typical presentation of laryngomalacia and differentiate it from other causes of pediatric stridor.”

Vascular ring (A) or subglottic hemangioma (C) often present with more severe or progressive symptoms. Foreign body aspiration (D) presents acutely. TE fistula (E) usually causes feeding difficulties from birth.

Elevated hemoglobin in the absence of polycythemia vera can be due to secondary causes such as chronic hypoxia. Central sleep apnea, often associated with diabetes or neurologic conditions, leads to intermittent hypoxia and compensatory erythropoiesis.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Hematology and Respiratory Medicine, “Polycythemia” Section:

“Secondary erythrocytosis may result from hypoxic conditions including sleep apnea, COPD, or high altitude. Assess for sleep-disordered breathing in patients with elevated hemoglobin and no myeloproliferative features.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (Internal Medicine > 76-7: Hematologic Abnormalities):

“Candidates must investigate secondary causes of elevated hemoglobin, including hypoxia-related conditions.”

Hypertension (A), hypothyroidism (C), and cirrhosis (D) do not cause polycythemia. Alcohol (B) typically causes macrocytosis and anemia.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:

This patient has tardive dyskinesia, a late-onset, often irreversible movement disorder caused by chronic dopamine receptor blockade (e.g., haloperidol). It is especially common in older adults and may not resolve after stopping the drug.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Psychiatry, “Extrapyramidal Symptoms”:

“Tardive dyskinesia is often irreversible and typically occurs after prolonged antipsychotic use. Elderly patients are at greater risk.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (Psychiatry > 71-5: Side Effects of Psychotropics):

“Candidates must recognize tardive dyskinesia and understand that it can persist or worsen even after discontinuation of antipsychotics.”

Anticholinergics may worsen it (D). The condition does not reliably improve with age (C). It does not affect a majority of patients (A).

This child likely has infectious mononucleosis caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), characterized by fever, sore throat, cervical lymphadenopathy, fatigue, and splenomegaly. A palpable spleen is a hallmark of EBV in children.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Pediatrics, “Infectious Mononucleosis”:

“Key features include fever, pharyngitis, lymphadenopathy, and splenomegaly. Children may have milder symptoms but often exhibit palpable spleen.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (Pediatrics > 75-2: Infectious Disease):

“Candidates should recognize common viral syndromes such as EBV and identify complications including splenomegaly.”

Other options (renal mass, ascites, etc.) are inconsistent with this viral presentation.

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Recruiting participants from an autism seminar introduces selection bias. This non-random selection increases the likelihood of overestimating associations due to pre-existing beliefs or exposures in that subgroup.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Epidemiology:

“Selection bias occurs when participants are not representative of the general population, as in recruitment from disease-specific support groups.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (Population Health > 65-2: Study Design and Appraisal):

“Candidates must recognize sources of bias in epidemiologic studies, including selection bias due to non-representative recruitment.”

Recall bias (D) is more of a concern in retrospective studies. Sponsorship (B) may create perception bias but is not a flaw in methodology itself. Standard error reporting (A) is normal. Not accounting for confounders (E) matters but recruitment source is more directly biasing.

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