What to study for the APC Written Assessment: a competency checklist
Turn the APC Written Assessment competencies into a practical study checklist, with domain examples and a way to identify what needs more practice.
Published 2026-10-10.
A useful study plan needs two views: the clinical topics you have covered and the decisions you can make with that knowledge. Reading a chapter on stroke does not, by itself, tell you whether you can choose an appropriate assessment, respond to a change in the patient or justify a discharge plan.
Start with the APC’s published Written Assessment competencies. The short checklist below paraphrases their eight selected competencies; it is a study aid, not an additional official syllabus. The examples and suggested routine are our own preparation approach.
The eight competency areas to track
Use the linked APC document for the full wording. These areas are connected: a management decision may also involve communication, consent, risk and resource constraints. This checklist does not assign an exam weighting or predict the number of questions in any area.
| APC competency | Study focus |
|---|---|
| 1.1 | Assessment that fits the person, context and clinical problem. |
| 1.2 | Safe, evidence-informed care planned with the patient and relevant others. |
| 1.3 | Reviewing care and supporting participation in everyday life. |
| 2.2 | Professional and ethical decisions. |
| 4.3 | Finding, judging and applying research. |
| 4.4 | Managing risk and improving care quality. |
| 4.5 | Recognising limits of expertise and taking timely action. |
| 7.1 | Prioritising workload and resources, independently and within a team. |
Cross the competencies with clinical subjects
Make a simple worksheet with musculoskeletal, neurological and cardiorespiratory topics down one side. Across the top, put assessment, management, review and professional decisions. Add rows for populations or settings you find difficult, such as children, older adults and acute care.
For each cell, write one decision you should be able to explain. In the app, Professional Practice & Ethics is also a separate study category for convenience; that does not mean the official assessment has a separate fourth clinical paper.
| Practice scenario | A useful question to ask yourself |
|---|---|
| Musculoskeletal: persistent knee pain | Which findings and patient goals would change the initial plan? |
| Neurological: mobility after stroke | What would make this transfer suitable for the planned level of assistance? |
| Cardiorespiratory: inpatient rehabilitation | What information is needed before starting or progressing activity? |
| Professional practice: a delegated session | What may the assistant do, and which changes must be escalated? |
Give each topic a useful status
“Read” records exposure. For planning, use a more demanding set of labels: not yet studied; can explain with notes; can apply independently; needs reassessment after an error. These are personal study labels, not a validated measure of exam readiness.
To move a topic forward, answer a new question without the explanation open. Then describe the case finding that supports your choice and why the closest alternative is less appropriate. If you cannot do that, keep the topic in your review queue even if you selected the correct letter.
Avoid testing yourself only on an item you have just read. Familiar wording can make recognition feel like understanding. Try a different patient context before deciding the gap is resolved.
Use one session to connect a note, a question and a case
For example, a learner may remember a balance measure but still struggle to choose it for a patient’s goal. More memorisation of the measure’s name will not address that gap. Their next task is to compare possible measures in several patient contexts and explain what each result would change.
- Choose one small objective, such as deciding what information is missing before progressing mobility.
- Read the relevant note and write two or three questions you expect it to answer.
- Attempt a short set of practice questions without looking at the explanations first.
- Work through a linked case and check whether your reasoning remains consistent as information changes.
- Record the decision you missed and schedule another attempt in a later session.
Choose next week’s priorities from evidence
Review your worksheet alongside recent mistakes. Pick a recurring weakness and a neglected area, then leave room for mixed practice across the other subjects. A low result from a tiny sample is a reason to investigate, not a complete diagnosis of your ability.
Keep a short source list for rules that depend on Australia’s practice context. Use the APC for assessment requirements, Ahpra and the Physiotherapy Board for professional standards, and appropriate Australian guidance for clinical topics. Record when you checked a rule that may change.
You do not need to finish every possible textbook before answering cases. You do need a way to notice what you cannot yet explain, return to an appropriate resource and check whether the next attempt is better.
Questions people ask
- What should I use as the starting point for APC Written Assessment study?
- Use the APC’s published Written Assessment competencies and current candidate information. Map those requirements to clinical topics and decisions you need to practise. This article’s checklist is a preparation aid, not an official exam blueprint.
- Should I study topics or practise cases?
- Use both. Topic study helps address a specific knowledge gap; questions and cases let you check whether you can use that knowledge. Choose the balance from the errors you are actually making.
- Does completing this checklist mean I am ready to pass?
- No. It is a way to organise study and expose gaps, not a validated prediction of your assessment result. Revisit weak decisions using unfamiliar questions and current official guidance.
Sources
- APC — Written Assessment competencies (official competency selection)
- APC — Written Assessment Information Booklet (official assessment information)
Sources checked on 10 October 2026. The worksheet, examples and study routine are APEP Exam Prep suggestions, not official APC instructions.